Episode 300: The Hardest Part of DAS Isn’t the Technology
“It’s hard to tell where the limit is in terms of where it can go. You have to see what is possible to want to drive this.”
Andrew Geary speaks with Malc Kent about why distributed acoustic sensing is gaining momentum across carbon storage, geothermal, infrastructure, and reservoir monitoring. The technology can collect enormous amounts of subsurface data, but the bigger challenge is turning that information into decisions industries trust. For geophysicists and students, that gap between technical progress and real-world adoption is where many of the strongest opportunities are emerging.
Key Takeaways
- DAS can change how the subsurface is monitored: Permanent or existing fiber can support more frequent observations while reducing the need to repeatedly deploy conventional equipment.
- The technology may be moving faster than industry adoption: Large data volumes, installation costs, regulatory acceptance, and confidence in a new way of collecting seismic information still stand between successful trials and routine use.
- The opportunity extends well beyond oil and gas: Carbon storage, geothermal, mining, infrastructure, and security all need better monitoring, creating new roles for geophysicists who can connect sensing, imaging, computing, and decisions.
Sponsor
As an industry leader in imaging distributed acoustic sensing data, Viridien brings proven expertise across 2D, 3D, and 4D projects by combining advanced algorithms and HPC—delivering clearer images, faster interpretation, and deeper insight for oil & gas reservoir monitoring and carbon storage projects. Discover more at Viridien.
Links
- SEG/SPE Workshop: Fibre for the Future: AI-Driven Intelligence for Exploration, Production & Development – 21–22 July 2026, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- SPE Workshop: Subsea Fiber Optic Sensing: From Deployment to Decision Making – 12–13 November 2026, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
Download this episode
Please visit this page to download this episode as an .MP3 file.
Show Credits
Andrew Geary at TreasureMint hosted, edited, and produced this episode. The SEG podcast team comprises Kelly Anderson, Robin Dupre, Kathy Gamble, and Ally McGinnis.
If you have episode ideas or feedback for the show or want to sponsor a future episode, email the show at [email protected].
