US 12,078,726 B2
Method of detecting hydrocarbon bubbles using airborne light detection and ranging
John Blum, Houston, TX (US)
Assigned to ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company, Spring, TX (US)
Filed by ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company, Spring, TX (US)
Filed on Sep. 29, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/948,707.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/924,253, filed on Oct. 22, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0116566 A1, Apr. 22, 2021
Int. Cl. G01S 17/88 (2006.01); G01N 33/18 (2006.01)
CPC G01S 17/88 (2013.01) [G01N 33/1833 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising:
deploying an airborne Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) system configured to detect surface hydrocarbon bubbles from natural hydrocarbon seeps from beneath a seafloor in a shallow water environment, the LIDAR system accounting for a bubble volume scattering coefficient;
differentiating surface hydrocarbon bubbles from the natural hydrocarbon seeps from other bubbles by surveying, using the LIDAR system, the shallow water environment; and
performing, based at least in part upon the surveying of the shallow water environment to detect the surface hydrocarbon bubbles from the natural hydrocarbon seeps from beneath the seafloor, well placement for hydrocarbon extraction from beneath the seafloor.