Infoterra, Gore team for slick mapping, sampling service

Nov. 18, 2009
Infoterra and W.L. Gore & Associates (Gore) are cooperating on an oil slick mapping and sampling service for offshore petroleum exploration.

Offshore staff

ELKTON, Maryland -- Infoterra and W.L. Gore & Associates (Gore) are cooperating on an oil slick mapping and sampling service for offshore petroleum exploration. The new offering combines Infoterra’s near-real-time satellite imaging data with Gore’s sampling and analysis to characterize slicks and identify seeps from petroleum systems.

Using Infoterra’s imaging, satellites acquire data on slick locations. The data is sent directly to a vessel within hours of acquisition. The vessel is guided to potential seeps where Gore’s Slick Sampler can be used to take surface geochemical samples for hydrocarbon analysis.

GORE Surveys Slick Sampler contains hydrophobic adsorbents that the company analyzes using thermal desorption, gas chromatography, and mass spectroscopy to characterize petroleum compounds in the C5 to C35 range including important biomarkers.

11/18/2009