The Mero field, located in the pre-salt Santos Basin off the southeastern coast of Brazil, is set to benefit from a first-of-its-kind technology for 4D seismic acquisition. Operated by a consortium comprising Petrobras (NYSE: PBR / B3: PETR4) (38.6%), Shell Brasil—a subsidiary of Shell plc (NYSE: SHEL) (19.3%), TotalEnergies (NYSE: TTE) (19.3%), CNPC (9.65%), CNOOC (HKG: 0883) (9.65%), and Pré-Sal Petróleo S.A. – PPSA (3.5%), the field has successfully concluded the first qualification phase of the On-demand Ocean Bottom Nodes (OD OBN) system.
The milestone involved the deployment of 84 units on the seabed at a depth of approximately 2,000 meters.
This technology was developed to support oil reservoir management, offering a robust new alternative for 4D seismic acquisition—a technique used to track fluid behavior within a reservoir over time. These insights will enhance decision-making regarding production and fluid injection, directly contributing to more efficient and profitable offshore operations.
The qualification marks a major leap forward following eight years of intensive development, encompassing conceptual design, prototype manufacturing, laboratory testing, and over 2,000 days of deep-water trials. The recent deployment successfully validated the system’s installation logistics, while select equipment also underwent successful validation testing for optical laser data transmission.
“The deployment of the first 84 OD OBN units from our pilot batch is a highly important step for the program and for the commercialization of this product,” stated Valter Beal, Innovation Project Leader at SENAI CIMATEC. “The success of this critical stage fills us with pride and reflects the maturity achieved throughout its development. We continue to advance toward the next phases of this challenging project.”
Manoela Lopes, Director of Technology and Innovation at Shell Brasil, echoed this optimism:
“Concluding the first phase of the OD OBN deployment in Mero is a decisive step in maturing a technology with strong potential to generate real value offshore. The subsequent stages—seismic acquisition, data collection, and interpretation—will follow in the coming months. In partnership with Petrobras, SENAI CIMATEC, and Sonardyne, we aim to transform national R&D into more frequent, precise, and efficient reservoir decisions, strengthening a more competitive and sustainable pre-salt sector.”
The final qualification of the OD OBN will be cemented by the upcoming seismic acquisition and data collection phases. This will involve conducting a seismic survey over the monitored area and recovering the recorded data via optical communication. Data processing and interpretation will then follow the standard 4D seismic survey workflow to thoroughly evaluate the system’s performance and its potential to optimize reservoir management.
“For the first time, we are developing technology right here in Brazil that will allow us to conduct seismic monitoring of pre-salt fields. This proves that investing in science and technology through corporate and research partnerships can drive real industrial development in the country,” affirmed Lílian Barreto, Executive Manager at CENPES, Petrobras’ Research, Development, and Innovation Center. “This is a commercial product of the highest technological caliber that improves our offshore operational efficiency, mitigates operational risks, and contributes to lower-emission operations.”
British firm Sonardyne was instrumental in providing the underwater acoustic and optical communication technologies that allow the nodes to be controlled and data to be recovered in deep-water environments. The company also provided vital systems integration and engineering expertise, acting as a co-manufacturer of the OD OBN pilot system in Brazil alongside SENAI CIMATEC.
“Seeing the OD OBN system successfully deployed in Mero is a strong validation of the technology and the collaborative R&D work behind it,” said Shaun Dunn, Project Director at Sonardyne. “We are eager to advance to the next phase of the project, which involves full commercialization and manufacturing within Brazil.”
Oil and Gas Research, Development, and Innovation in Brazil
The initiative is funded by Shell Brasil and CENPES (Petrobras’ Research, Development, and Innovation Center). The capital stems directly from the Research, Development, and Innovation (RD&I) clause mandated by the Brazilian National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP).
Under Law No. 9,478/1997, the ANP RD&I clause requires concessionaires to invest up to 1% of their gross revenue into domestic research and development. The execution of this specific project is being spearheaded by the Integrated Center for Manufacturing and Technology (SENAI CIMATEC), based in Salvador, Bahia in conjunction with the leading British underwater technology firm, Sonardyne.
How the OD OBN Technology Works
The On-demand Ocean Bottom Nodes (OD OBN) are advanced sensors that capture seismic waves reflecting off deep underwater oil reservoirs. This captured data is fed into supercomputers, allowing operators to precisely adjust extraction rates and the reinjection of water and gas to stimulate well production. The main differentiator of this newly developed technology is that the equipment can remain operational on the seabed for up to five years at depths reaching 3,000 meters, as they can be activated and deactivated remotely. Data extraction is executed via optical communication utilizing underwater vehicles.
