Stingray Geophysical

Stingray Geophysical operates as a specialized provider of fiber-optic solutions for Permanent Reservoir Monitoring (PRM) within the oil and gas sector. The company was established in March 2006, originating as a spin-out from QinetiQ, a former research agency of the UK Ministry of Defence. Its core technology, initially developed in the 1980s for anti-submarine warfare applications, was repurposed through a substantial commercialization program to serve the energy industry. The business was founded by a team that included Martin Bett, who served as CEO. His extensive 30-year background in operational and management roles at companies like Schlumberger and QinetiQ, combined with a BSc in Geophysics, provided a strong foundation for leading a company focused on pioneering new products in the oil and gas services market.

The company's business model centers on delivering integrated, end-to-end PRM services, from feasibility studies and engineering design to installation and data processing. Stingray targets major international and national oil companies, helping them to maximize production and increase total recovery from their reservoirs. In April 2011, Stingray Geophysical was acquired by TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Company (TGS), a transaction aimed at positioning TGS in the growing reservoir monitoring market. The acquisition involved an initial payment of $45 million, with potential future payments based on performance. Following the acquisition, the Stingray team, including its management, was integrated into TGS to continue developing the PRM solutions.

Stingray's flagship offering is a fiber-optic sensing array system, which was marketed under the name Fosar®. This system is permanently installed on or beneath the seabed, enabling oil companies to acquire high-quality, repeatable seismic data on demand. The technology works by 'listening with light®', pulsing light down fiber-optic cables and decoding the returning signals to map fluid movements and pressure changes within a reservoir. A key benefit is its durability; the fiber-optic components have a mean time between failures measured in hundreds of years, a significant improvement over conventional electronic systems. The system is designed for ease of installation, even in congested subsea environments around platforms and FPSOs, and provides a more cost-effective solution for long-term monitoring compared to repeated conventional streamer surveys.

Keywords: Permanent Reservoir Monitoring, PRM, fiber-optic sensing, oil and gas, seismic data acquisition, reservoir management, subsea monitoring, 4D seismic, Fosar, offshore exploration, hydrocarbon recovery, QinetiQ spin-out, TGS, geophysical services, seabed seismic, Martin Bett, well monitoring, energy technology, asset integrity monitoring