Q1-2015 Editorial Announcements Success Story

Q1-2015
Editorial
Dear OGEO subscriber,
Welcome to the first edition of OGEOzine in 2015. Satellite data is becoming more accessible and more quickly each year. An example
of this is the news that near real-time Landsat-8 data are available for everyone via Amazon Web Services. This, together with access to
the Sentinel data, raises the question whether or not 2015 will be a defining moment in not only how satellite data are used, but also how
geospatial information is delivered.
Richard Hall
(Chairman OGEO)
Announcements
Two important announcements this month; regarding the OGEO Portal and the ESA TEP on polar regions.
Polar View Earth Observation Limited (Polar View) is developing a Polar Thematic Exploitation Platform (P-TEP) for the
European Space Agency (ESA). P-TEP will provide polar researchers with access to computing resources, earth observation
(EO) and other data, and software tools in the cloud. This new approach will remove the need to transfer large EO data sets
around the world, while increasing the analytical power available to researchers and operational service providers. ESA’s
Thematic Exploitation Platform (TEP) concept aims to provide a working environment where users can access algorithms and
data remotely, providing them with computing resources and tools that they might not otherwise have, and avoiding the need to
download and store large volumes of data. This new way of working will encourage wider exploitation of EO data. The
Polar-TEP will provide users with specific tools for the polar regions at a time when climate change is having a profound impact
and excitement about new economic opportunities is driving increased attention and traffic, resulting in concerns about the state
of the region’s delicate ecosystems.
The OGEO Portal will shortly be upgraded to bring new and better functionality to this Community tool. We shall provide specific
details once the upgrade is completed but it will provide you with new means to exchange on the OGEO and EO content. The
look and feel will remain the same although the editing interface will alter to hopefully provide an easier way to add your own
pages or comments. One of our reasons for the upgrade is to prepare to launch a new area dedicated to the results of the
EO4OG projects. As we have announced before, we wish to move from the project oriented presentation of the results to a more
information-centric style. This will involve a new layout for the "EO4OG home" page giving easier access to the product sheets
and the case studies. We are excited about the change and look forward to sharing it with you shortly. In the meantime, in the
next few days the first stage of this project will be completed with the Portal upgrade to V3. Look out for an email telling you that
the new Portal is available.
Success Story
Surface geological mapping: Gulf of Suez, Egypt
Reservoir mapping in the Gulf of Suez is challenging due to rifting
which has broken up the reservoirs through transform and cross
faults. Identification of geological features from Earth Observation
(EO) data can give an early and reasonable indication of likely
reservoir locations. These are more easily seen in clear or deserted
regions, but areas of forested / agricultural land where the surface is
covered or artificially modified are not as suitable for surface
geological modelling. Multispectral satellite data (landsat 7 ETM)
used in combination with elevation mapping from a Digital Elevation
Model (DEM) dataset was used in this study.
A seismic survey conducted by WesternGeco in this area in Egypt
found that the surface wave data had a high correlation with the EO
data at the surface. Using reservoir modelling software Petrel
(1) these data sets have been combined and interpreted for shallow
drilling risk related to fault outcrops.
(1) Petrel is a Schlumberger software
Figure 1: Case study location
(1) http://earthdoc.eage.org/publication/publicationdetails/?publication=49836
(2) https://www.slb.com/~/media/Files/resources/oilfield_review/ors99/sum99/manage.pdf
Oilfield performance study: Ghawar oilfield
(Saudi Arabia)
In 2008 GeoVille was contracted by Sanford C. Bernstein to conduct
a study examining the drilling activity over the Ghawar oilfield, one of
the largest conventional oilfields in the world (Figure 1).
The aim of the project was to analyse the performance and assess
the efficiency of the Ghawar oilfield based on multi-temporal
high-resolution optical satellite imagery. Especially drilling and
construction activities, i.e. position and number/density of rigs working
in the oil fields, were mapped for different points in time throughout
the Ghawar oilfield. Furthermore, rig spacing and location of the rig
activity within the field gave indication of what the oil producer was
doing and how intensive the company was developing the field in this
time period.
Figure 1: Case study area – Ghawar oil field
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France guaranteed access to Sentinel data
GAF to implement its electronic mining cadastre framework eMC+ in the Republic of Tajikistan
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Preparing For Operation IceBridge Arctic 2015
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The Democratization of GIS
The first trade show on Unmanned Systems to be held in The Hague
The European Commission has launched a public online consultation (EU survey) on Earth observation in a global context, GEO
& GEOSS
Thoughts on the new proposed FAA rules for UAS
W3C and OGC collaborate to integrate spatial data on the Web
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2015 Arctic Sea Ice Maximum Annual Extent Is Lowest On Record
Find more interesting articles related Earth observation at EARSC website
Facts, Quotes and Projects
EARSC is looking at how to present the results of the EO4OG projects in a way which centres on the information; the
challenges, the EO product sheets and the case studies. In the main time, a new, interim version of the OGEO / EO4OG
Projects Page was prepared pending the upgrade of the Portal after which we are expecting to take an important step towards
better vizzualization of the results. Learn More »
On-shore EO products sheets could be found at the next link
Off-shore EO products sheets could be found at the next link
Off-shore: C-Core Challenges
Off-shore: CLS Challenges
On-shore: Hatfield Challenges
On-shore: OTM Challenges
Please find the link to the English version of the Norwegian Clean Seas Association for Operating Companies (NOFO) Oil On
Water 2014 exercise. There is a clarification note on the cover page.
The GRSG North America Committee in collaboration with the American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
(ASPRS) is holding a series of special sessions on geological applications of photogrammetry and remote sensing at the
Imaging and Geospatial Technology Forum (IGTF) (formerly the ASPRS Annual Conference) to be held at the Tampa Marriott
Waterside Hotel, Tampa, Florida, May 4 through May 8, 2015. More info at the link
ESA Professional Training Course will provide an opportunity for staff in the offshore oil and gas industry, especially from
operators, to receive appropriate training in the latest products and services across the technical sectors studied during the
EO4OG project. Professional Training Course Offshore Applications. This aims to establish the current capabilities and uses of
satellite based Earth Observation for the oil and gas sector. The training will be held at the end of 2105
You could download recent IOGP papers at the library while latest IOGP Highlights could be found at the next link.
Technology Watch
The Technology Watch page keeps you up-to-date on the newest and most innovative products and services in the remote sensing
sector. Spotlight technology watch
INnovative multi-sensor network for DEformation and Seismic Monitoring of Urban Subsidence-prone Areas. Deployment of an
innovative multi-sensor system for monitoring in a complementary manner ground deformation and seismic motion in
subsidence-prone urban areas.
Polar View Earth Observation Limited (Polar View) is developing a Polar Thematic Exploitation Platform (P-TEP) for the
European Space Agency (ESA).
Sentinel update: Please find below the latest Mission Status Reports from the Sentinel-1 Team. These reports cover the
satellite commissioning phase and mission ramp-up activities, and provide information on the status of the satellite and the
instrument, the associated ground segment, and any mission milestones.
S1 Mission Status
S2 Mission Status
S3 Mission Status
S4 Mission Status
S5 Mission Status
S5P Mission Status
Collaborative Ground Segment
Interview with Nicolaus Hanowski, Head Ground Segments and Operations under ESA's Earth Observation
Programmes Directorate
Radar satellites: future perspectives. The recipe for successful InSAR projects also includes satellite data availability and
frequency. In a global scenario of an increasing number of Earth-observing satellites, the availability of robust, long-term
datasets opens new possibilities for monitoring services. (Source TRE)
Recent members
More than 150 active readers per month from organizations as...
ACRI-ST
Airbus Defense & Space
C-S Communications
e-GEOS S.p.A.
ENI
GIM
GMV
GDF Suez E&P UK Ltd
Kongsberg Satellite Services AS (KSAT)
ISDEFE
Polar View Earth Observation Limited
Saipem spa
Spacetec
Tips
In the next few days, the Portal will be upgraded to v3.0 to bring some significant improvements. More news shortly.
Adding Content to OGEO Resources
Recent contribution
Maureen Coat (Off-Shore Project - CLS)
Barry Pierce (On-Shore Project - Hatfield Consultants)
Link & Events
Ocean Business (14-16 April)
Blue Economy - Bridging the Gap one day seminar alongside Ocean Business (14-16 April)
ASPRS 4-8 June, 2015
GRSG: Challenges in Geological Remote Sensing, 9-11 Dec 2015, Esrin, Frascati
Earth Observation for the Oil and gas industry training (end 2015) (flyer)
OGP events
More information Ogeo meetings and geo-information events at EOcalendar