Richard Parks Seismic Data Helps Discover Underground Water Sources
In Tanzania, a water exploration project was on the brink of failure until hydrogeologist Fridtjov Ruden adopted an innovative approach. Instead of relying solely on surface-level analyses, Ruden used seismic data from the oil industry to identify underground water reserves.
The results were groundbreaking: after months of unsuccessful drilling, the seismic “x-rays” of the earth revealed that freshwater was present, just deeper than initially suspected. The team drilled three new boreholes, each 600 meters deep, and hit an enormous aquifer.
“This discovery was a major breakthrough,” said Elizabeth Quiroga Jordan, a petroleum engineer at Ruden AS, the company Ruden founded with his daughter, Helene Ree. The aquifer was vast enough to provide water to 2 million people for over a century.
This success showcases how oil industry data can be repurposed to address one of Africa’s most urgent issues: access to clean water.
The Struggle to Access Oil Industry Data
Although seismic data has the potential to revolutionize water exploration, accessing it remains a significant challenge. Often, this valuable information is controlled by governments or oil companies, making it difficult to obtain.
When Ruden AS received a contract to locate water in Somalia, the team encountered major hurdles. Critical seismic data was held by the Ministry of Petroleum, and convincing officials to release it required extensive negotiations. “We had to make them understand we weren’t looking for oil,” explained Quiroga Jordan. The process took three years.
Abbe Brown, a professor specializing in intellectual property and energy at the University of Aberdeen, explained that sharing oil data is rare. Although countries like the UK and Canada are pushing to make this data more accessible, resistance from the oil industry often delays progress.
Groundwater: A Vital, Yet Limited Solution
Africa’s water crisis affects nearly two-thirds of the population, about 1.34 billion people. Climate change, poor infrastructure, and rapid population growth exacerbate the issue.
The discovery of massive underground aquifers across the continent has raised hopes for sustainable water solutions. However, experts caution that groundwater alone cannot solve the crisis. Proximity to communities, water quality, and infrastructure availability are critical factors that influence its effectiveness.
Overpumping and mismanagement of aquifers also pose serious risks to their long-term viability.
“It’s not sustainable to send humanitarian aid every year when long-term solutions are possible,” Quiroga Jordan argued. Seismic data provides a cost-effective and innovative way to uncover hidden water sources and create lasting solutions for water-scarce regions.
As water scarcity continues to rise globally, Ruden AS’s work highlights how technology and innovation can provide sustainable answers. By tapping into existing oil data, millions of Africans could gain access to a resource that is essential for life and development.