5-Year RADARSAT Environmental Monitoring Contract
MDA and the Marine North East Region (RMNE) of PEMEX Exploration and Production (PEP) have signed a five-year contract for the continued monitoring of natural oil seeps and oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico using RADARSAT data. This contract ensures data continuity and integrity in support of environmental stewardship and exploration activities in PEP-RMNE's area of operations.
PEP has been using RADARSAT-1 operationally since 2001 when it established its maritime surveillance strategy for the Campeche Basin. Image analysis experts are able to characterise oil on the sea surface by its origin - natural oil seep, oil spill from production facilities, or illegal dumping by ships. This information allows PEP to improve its environmental performance with regards to oil spill prevention and response, as well as to develop a deeper understanding of the behaviour of natural oil seeps in support of its exploration activities.