More discovery

BP's reputation as a great explorer is based on decades of experience in discovering new sources of oil and gas

Finding and developing new sources of oil and gas needed to help meet the world’s growing demand for energy is becoming more challenging. New hydrocarbon resources are increasingly found in areas that are difficult to access and costly to explore – such as very deep water, or those with complex rock formations.

But it is vital to understand as much as possible about the subsurface before drilling starts.

To do this we use a technology called seismic imaging, which involves sending sound waves into the ground and then analyzing their reflections to produce a picture of what lies beneath the surface. We can then work out how best to reach and produce reservoirs of oil and gas.

BP is continuing to be an industry leader through the development and deployment of new advanced seismic imaging technology which, combined with industry-leading computing power and modeling capability, is enabling us to access more resources, reduce exploration and development risk, lower costs and improve recovery from fields that are already producing.

Land seismic imaging

BP's simultaneous sources technologies are revolutionizing seismic imaging on land

Land seismic imaging

Marine seismic imaging

BP’s marine seismic imaging technologies are enabling us to see through impenetrable salt canopies

Marine seismic imaging

Technology map

Find out where we research, develop and deploy technology across our businesses, around the world

Technology map