Oil & Gas Finder Technology (OFT™) gives exploration teams a faster, more focused way to screen greenfield and brownfield hydrocarbon opportunities before committing to intensive field programs, seismic acquisition or drilling. Delivered through our technology partner CTAC OFT LLC (CTAC), OFT™ complements existing geological, geophysical, seismic and petrophysical datasets, helping clients prioritise capital toward the most prospective subsurface targets.
A typical program can be completed in approximately 17 weeks, with an initial Phase 1 satellite assessment after around 8 weeks. This creates an early go/no-go decision point: clients can limit further expenditure where results are not compelling, or progress with greater confidence into field validation, modelling, well planning and further technical evaluation.
OFT™ applies multi-spectral electromagnetic response analysis to identify measured signal characteristics associated with hydrocarbon systems, including potential reservoir zones, structural or stratigraphic targets, migration pathways and fluid-bearing formations. While the methodology may be unfamiliar to some exploration teams, it draws on established disciplines including electromagnetic geophysics, multi-spectral analysis, signal processing, pattern correlation and geophysical modelling — not to be confused with hyperspectral imaging. The technology has progressed through decades of research, testing and operational use, including more than 400 research and commercial projects, and is considered TRL-9 following sustained field application and evaluation by industry bodies.
As with all geophysical methods, OFT™ should be evaluated with scientific rigour and interpreted alongside geological understanding, seismic data, basin analysis and independent validation. For oil and gas projects, OFT™ can help prioritise where to investigate hydrocarbon potential, while drilling, logging, pressure testing, flow testing, geochemistry and reservoir modelling remain essential to confirm project viability and support formal reporting pathways such as SPE-PRMS. Prospective clients can assess the technology through Onirik and CTAC in a structured, confidential process, beginning with introductory material and a fit discussion, followed by an NDA for deeper technical information, case studies, validation examples and, where appropriate, client reference discussions.
Endorsements
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National Hydrocarbons Commission of Mexico
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National Resource Agency of Colombia
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Darcy Partners
A technology proven over 30 yrs of ongoing research & 10+ yrs of successful projects
Oil & Gas Finder Technology (OFT™) and Mineral Finder Technology (MFT™) have been used in over 400 research & commercial projects to date. OFT™ has been used successfully in the petrochemical industry for decades. In the last decade MFT™ has been adopted in the mining industry exploring iron, coal, anthracite, nickel, gold, platinum, copper, zinc, silver, lead, chromite to name just a few.
Our OFT™ & MFT™ partner, CTAC, have a complete library of the resonant frequencies for the naturally occurring elements (ie. the periodic table) and mineral compounds of interest (ie. elements as they occur in nature) for mining, oil, and gas exploration.
A precise technology that increases discovery
success rates
Success rates in the discovery of significant reservoirs have been less than 10% for many years and with most frontier exploration now offshore, has declined to one in twenty (5%). Twenty potential sites may be explored, over long time frames and at high cost, to bring one reservoir to production.
While this success rate can be influenced by a number of factors, including fluctuations in commodity prices, changes in government regulations, and unexpected technical challenges that arise during the exploration and development process, the success rate on Oil and Gas Finder Technology projects to date is above 50%.
The number of sample points is above 30,000 and average accuracy of its historical data (developed by comparing OFT™ 3 dimensional hydrocarbon reservoir maps with seismic and well data) is 94%.
The result is less exploratory dry wells, higher drilling success, and a reduction of exploration steps and much more reservoir data (including reserve pressures) to feed into the well feasibility, design, planning and operation phases.
3 steps in 17 weeks
Tony Veitch
Chairman
Tec Minerals
The Wonogiri blind test has successfully demonstrated the potential for CTAC’s technology to accelerate exploration and lower the risk associated with exploration programs. We are confident in saying that CTAC's technology is a game-changer for the industry.
Investing in OFT™ reduces your total costs to discovery
Hydrocarbon exploration faces spiralling costs with dwindling resources and the search for offshore reserves. By the time exploration is complete, between US$250M and US$1B may have been invested on the survey phase. Most frontier exploration is now offshore, where a single exploratory well can cost US$50 million.
Combined Oil and Gas Finder Technology and targeted drilling expense is below current methods (e.g. combined seismic, electromagnetic and drilling). The reduced cost contributes to your capacity to evaluate more potential resource sites.
Advanced technology that provides faster turn-arounds
Petrochemical exploration has long time cycles. The exploration process usually takes 6 to 10 years to complete but can take 20 years.
One of the biggest benefits of OFT™ is the speed. OFT™ takes 17 weeks in total. It is usually followed by a very short, a more confident, small and targeted drilling program. The quick OFT™ process, and good success on drilling, leads to shorter exploration cycles so you can evaluate more potential sites.
FAQs
Is MFT™, OFT™ & WFT™ limited by the skin effect?
MFT™, OFT™, and WFT™ are not probing with active signals to survey below the Earth’s surface. The technology is passive and measuring changes to the Earth’s electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic fields at the boundary between the lithosphere and the atmosphere. Therefore, it is not limited by the typical skin effect, attenuation, and wavelength issues in ground penetrating radar and active electromagnetic geophysics.
What is the certainty, or confidence, one can have in resource maps built my MFT™, OFT™ or WFT™?
After Phase 1, the remote satellite step, if MFT™ says minerals are present, or OFT™ says oil or gas or WFT™ says water is present, there is confidence that there is a resource present. Phase 1 is a wide area low precision survey. It does not delineate all the details of the orebody or reservoir structure.
Can we do just the Satellite Phase, or the Field Phase?
It is not necessary to do all steps of the exploration in the sequence 1 - 2 - 3 i.e. remote satellite, field, laboratory data integration, analysis and report generation. But we recommend it if you want the precision to plan your drilling campaign.
No environmental disturbance & no permits required
Seismic technology has become controversial. Almost all marine mammals and reptiles navigate and communicate using sound. The blasts of sound emitted from the air guns can injure marine animals.
Petrochemical drilling inevitably disturbs the environment. And the complicated nature of unstable areas means the impact can't always be accurately predicted without better data.
OFT™ uses passive electromagnetic sensing to discover hydrocarbon potential. It has zero impact on the environment and marine life.
Our ongoing support helps you maximise ROI & project success
We call the fourth phase in OFT™ the support phase. After the client receives the phase three technical report they usually move to a highly targeted and minimal drilling campaign. For OFT™ this is to verify the reservoirs of oil, gas, or condensate are at the locations, depths and pressures forecast in the OFT™ report.
In all engagements, during the drilling program CTAC provide technical support on-site, and from the laboratory. For example, the CTAC team may take measurements at a proposed drill point, before the drilling is done, to ensure the drilling is in the optimal place and the targeted location.
CTAC also provide ongoing laboratory and field support during the subsequent construction, and operation phases for no additional cost, except travel.
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