The National 863 Program project "Deepwater Controlled-Source Electromagnetic Exploration System," organized and implemented under the leadership of BGP (Eastern Geophysical), has undergone five years of research and development and recently passed acceptance by the Ministry of Science and Technology, obtaining more than 20 authorized and accepted patents.
The project was initiated in 2012 with the aim of developing a controlled-source electromagnetic (CSEM) exploration system to meet the needs of exploration and evaluation of oil and gas resources in deepwater areas, forming a practical popularization and application plan, and providing technical support for China's deepwater oil and gas resource exploration and maritime national security strategy. The implementation of this project broke foreign restrictions on software and hardware technologies for marine controlled-source electromagnetic exploration systems and filled a domestic gap.
Yu Gang, a "Thousand Talents Plan" expert at BGP, served as the overall project leader. The Comprehensive Geophysics and Geochemistry Department of BGP was responsible for coordinating the scientific and technological resources of the project's participating units and for organizing and managing the sub-topics undertaken by the collaborative units. Also participating in the project research were China University of Geosciences, Jilin University, Central South University, the 710th Research Institute of China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, the University of Science and Technology of China, China University of Petroleum (East China), and other research institutes.
BGP established a project leading group headed by CNPC expert He Zhanxiang and including relevant experts, providing strong support in terms of personnel, funding, and policy. The company's Science and Technology Information Department and Comprehensive Geophysics and Geochemistry Department actively contacted resources from all parties, proposed implementation plans, actively organized implementation, and conducted project reviews every six months, ensuring the smooth progress of the project research.
Since the implementation of the project, all participating units have worked together in close cooperation. In January 2016, the first sea trial was conducted in the Liuhua area of the South China Sea at water depths of 650 to 800 meters, obtaining a 17-kilometer profile and 4 controlled-source electromagnetic survey points, gaining valuable experience. In March 2017, the second sea trial was conducted in the Liuhua and Liwan target areas of the South China Sea at water depths of 650 to 1,600 meters, completing a total of 3 survey lines with 44.5 kilometers of profiles and obtaining seabed controlled-source electromagnetic data from 39 survey points. The two sea trials showed that the system met the design requirements, and the project completed the research content and assessment indicators specified in the task statement.
At present, the magnetic rod development technology of the Institute of Electronics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has been established at the Xi'an Geophysical Equipment Branch of PetroChina Eastern Company and is being mass-produced there for magnetic rods used in actual exploration and production. Through the implementation of this project, BGP has further consolidated its position in global exploration business capabilities while injecting new momentum into China's efforts to accelerate marine energy exploration and development.