Our developments
Scientific research is an important part of the activity of Vega LLC. The Company’s employees have participated in theoretical and experimental works and projects both as part of creative interdisciplinary teams and in their own initiative groups. The accumulated experience in conducting development work and implementing innovative developments and methods in the field of geophysics, instrumentation and metrology allows the Company to be at the forefront of technological progress in geological exploration.
The Company maintains numerous contacts with the Russian and international scientific community. Joint scientific and practical projects are carried out with such organizations as:
Kola Science Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Apatity)
Radiophysical Research Institute NIRFI (Nizhny Novgorod)
Institute of Applied Geophysics IPG (Moscow)
Pushkov Institute of Terrestrial Magnetism, Ionosphere and Radio Wave Propagation Russian Academy of Sciences IZMIRAN (Saint Petersburg)
Research and Production Association «Typhoon» (Obninsk)
Krylov State Research Center (Saint Petersburg)
Irkutsk National Research Technical University INRTU (Irkutsk)
JSC «Elektromera» (Saint Petersburg)
Schmidt Institute of Physics of the Earth of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Moscow)
Borok Geophysical Observatory (Yaroslavl region)
State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom
Bortnik Foundation
«Nord-West» LLC (Moscow)
«Tsikl-Geo» LLC (Novosibirsk)
«SIGMA» LLC (Irkutsk)
«DG» LLC (USA)
«Orange Lamp» LLC (China)
EKSIR CO. (Iran)
Institute of Ionosphere (Republic of Kazakhstan)
In May 2024, VEGA LLC took part in the 20th scientific and practical conference and exhibition “Engineering and Ore Geophysics 2024”, “Engineering and Ore Geology 2024” in Kazan. The company acted as one of the general sponsors of the event.
In June 2024, the scientific staff of VEGA LLC took part in the Ninth International Symposium “PROBLEMS OF GEODYNAMICS AND GEOECOLOGY OF INTRACONTINENTAL OROGENS” in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic. As part of the decision made by the symposium, VEGA LLC’s achievements in the development of domestic hardware and software within the framework of import substitution for geophysical research were noted in a separate paragraph.
The latest most significant development projects of Vega LLC
Magnetically Shielded Calibration Unit (MSCU)
Every specialist involved in accurate measurements of weak magnetic fields is familiar with the problem of using sensitive magnetometers in conditions of urban environment.
During the production and maintenance of precision induction magnetic sensors, the most efficient setup and calibration process for these complex instruments is required.
The Company’s engineers designed and manufactured a calibration unit with a multi-layer system of magnetic shields, which significantly reduces the level of external electromagnetic noise in a wide frequency range. With this facility, sensitive magnetic sensors can be set up and measured in almost any convenient location – in a laboratory, workshop or office building.
This facility significantly reduces the production and maintenance time of the IMS series sensors.
MSCU
Determination the degree of wear of IMS-007. The result of testing the IMS-007 search coils using MSCU after a year of operation in harsh conditions.
Testing MSCU at the test site in suburb of Saint-Petersburg
Mobile calibration unit (MCU)
To calibrate magnetic sensors in the field, the company’s engineering department has developed a mobile calibration unit (MCU) with an active suppression system for low-frequency interference.
The system is designed to calibrate sensors in the absence of intense industrial interference, in places where geophysical surveys are carried out. As part of the planned updating of the amplitude and phase-frequency characteristics of sensors in the course of field work, the MCU allows calibration of sensors by the field party, ensuring that the correct current characteristics are obtained.
Magnetically Shielded Room (MSR)
Creating a space for physical measurements that is protected from magnetic interference is an important task not only in the production of magnetic sensors, but also in a wide range of different research tasks.
Experience in designing and calculating magnetic shields, as well as the need for a wide range of organizations to use magnetically shielded laboratories for their needs, led to the idea of designing a room that is completely shielded from any magnetic interference.
Employees of the Company, using the vast experience, gained in fulfilling the order of the Centre for Cognition and Decision making, Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience, HSE University, Russian Federation, for the installation and research of MSR characteristics, developed by the German Company Vacuumschmelze, began to create their own magnetically shielded rooms.
The Presentation of the first MSR in the Company’s office is planned for 2024.
Vega’s engineers testing MSR Ak3B
Frequency dependence of shielding factor of Ak3B.
Marine Magnetotelluric Station
One of the new research field actively developed in the modern geophysical industry is an offshore electrical exploration and, in particular, magnetotelluric method, which is recognized as promising for oil and gas exploration. Magnetotelluric or MT is one of the most popular non-seismic methods for studying the Earth’s crust.
Since 2009, the company has been developing equipment for conducting geophysical measurements on the shallow water shelf. For more than ten years of experience in the design of marine equipment, three versions of marine bottom magnetotelluric stations have been developed and manufactured as part of commercial order.
MMS-20. Depth up to 20 meters.
MMS-70. Depth up to 70 meters.
MMS-300. Depth up to 300 meters.
Advanced audiomagnetotelluric station VAMT-23
Audio-magnetotelluric or AMT is used to perform geophysical surveys in which the target depth of exploration is the first hundreds of meters. For this technique, a special type of magnetic sensor records EM field variations. Typically acquisition last for several tens of minutes.
Usually a broadband MT-station operating in AMT mode is used in such works. The task of developing a specialized AMT station that works only in audio frequency bands is considered appropriate and promising. Such a complete set of instruments seems to be more compact and cheaper to produce as well.
The new model of search coils IMS-003 has been specially developed for usage with VAMT-23.
Advanced complex for sounding using high-power single electromagnetic impact
The promising method of a high-power single electromagnetic impact can become an alternative to classical methods of electrical exploration. By generating a powerful single pulse and recording its response with MT or AMT set of stations, it is possible to achieve detail and depth of sensing compared to the traditional MT method, while using a controlled, rather than natural source.
The hardware and software complex for sounding the Earth’s crust using a powerful single impact method includes:
- Single impact powerful transmitter based on a 3-axle truck (developed and manufactured by ROSATOM State Corporation);
- Transmitting antenna (a loop);
- Observation network consisting of MT stations VMTU-10 or VAMT-23 (depending on the depth of research and geological conditions)
- Center for Reception and processing of field data (CRP);
- Processing software package.
Advantages of the new method:
- A regular monitoring network, created with the help of MT stations already developed by VEGA, will allow performing electrical exploration not in single point, but simultaneously on a large area of work.
- The controlled current source can be located with a given orientation of the radiating line relative to the possible configuration of the studied geological objects, which will increase the resolution of the method.
- The transmitter facility has a possibility to generate of 1 pulse in every 30 minutes, which allows you to adjust the parameters from the CRP during research and get results directly at the work site.
- The complex is mobile, high-performance, easy to maintain and can be used at any time of the year for conducting area electrical exploration.
Hydraulic fracturing monitoring system
Hydraulic fracturing (FRAC) is a promising method for developing oil fields. The method allows to extend the life of the oil field. It is widely used in the operation of oil and gas fields to increase the flow rate of wells. When planning hydraulic fracturing, it is very important to have information about the configuration of the fracture space, especially with multiple and directional hydraulic fracturing options.
Electromagnetic monitoring of crack propagation during hydraulic fracturing is based on changes in the electromagnetic properties of the medium in real time. Stations are arranged by area, and data acquisition systems are attached to the main head unit. A special program collects data simultaneously from all devices and analyzes the entropy of the electrical conductivity of the hydraulic fracturing site.
