Stingray Geophysical Limited was named winner of the Measurement in Action Innovation Award at the Institution of Engineering and Technology’s (IET) Innovation Awards 2009 dinner at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London on 25th November. Stingray was also a finalist in the Emerging Technologies and Power/Energy categories.

The IET Innovation Awards span 15 categories and attracted over 300 entries from around the world. They represent a unique opportunity for innovators to be recognised and provide a showcase for the brightest ideas, highlighting the importance of innovation by celebrating its application across a range of engineering disciplines.

Stingray’s Fosar® Seismic Permanent Reservoir Monitoring (PRM) system combines high performance fibre-optic hydrophones and accelerometers using a highly efficient multiplexing architecture into an electrically passive sensor network which, when deployed over a producing oilfield, allows seismic imaging of the reservoir. This imaging, over time, provides a greater understanding of reservoir behaviour as it is drained and assists oil companies to increases production and total recovery while reducing production costs and risks.

Conventional systems are based on electrical sensor technology, which requires large amounts of underwater electronics and electrical power. Fosar, being powered by light, offers reduced size and weight, reduced environmental impact, more efficient installation and significantly increased reliability.

Martin Bett, Stingray’s Chief Executive added: “We are delighted to be recognised in this way by the IET. This is testament to the achievements of our team and partners to commercialise a very high fidelity, large-scale, fibre-optic sensing system for use in harsh environments for a very demanding industry. Stingray’s Fosar Seismic PRM solution delivers significant improvements in long-term reliability and through life cost and will be a key enabler to assist oil companies address their production and reserves replacement challenges.”

Nigel Fine, IET Chief Executive, said, “I would like to congratulate all the winning and shortlisted entries in this year’s IET Innovation Awards, which demonstrate genuine innovation and represent significant technological advances.

“The entries which made it into the shortlist are a very impressive role call of innovation and although it may be a cliché to say ‘everyone is a winner’ in this case I am sure it is true. The awards highlight the depth and breadth of innovative work which is being carried out and it is clear from the range of entries that innovation is alive and well.”

For more information about Stingray, please visit their web site www.stingraygeo.com