Hydrogeologist Fridtjov Ruden’s use of seismic technology, typically employed in the oil industry, has uncovered vast underground aquifers in Tanzania. This breakthrough could provide clean water to millions, offering a sustainable solution to Africa’s growing water crisis.
Seismic Technology Reveals Hidden Aquifers
In Tanzania, a water exploration project seemed destined to fail until hydrogeologist Fridtjov Ruden employed a creative solution. Instead of relying on traditional methods, Ruden utilized seismic data from the oil industry to locate underground freshwater sources.
The results were transformative: after months of unsuccessful drilling, the seismic data revealed freshwater reservoirs located deeper than previously anticipated. New boreholes, drilled to 600 meters, finally hit a vast aquifer.
“This was a groundbreaking discovery,” said Elizabeth Quiroga Jordan, a petroleum engineer at Ruden AS, the company Ruden founded with his daughter, Helene Ree. The aquifer was large enough to provide clean water for 2 million people for over 100 years.
This success story highlights the potential of repurposing oil industry data to solve one of Africa’s most critical challenges: access to clean, sustainable water sources.
Challenges in Securing Seismic Data
Despite the clear advantages, accessing seismic data from the oil industry is often fraught with challenges. These data sets are typically controlled by governments or oil companies, making them difficult to obtain.
When Ruden AS received a contract to locate water in Somalia, they encountered significant hurdles. Critical seismic information was held by the Ministry of Petroleum, and it took three years of negotiations to gain access. “We had to assure the authorities that we were not searching for oil,” explained Quiroga Jordan.
Abbe Brown, an expert in intellectual property and energy at the University of Aberdeen, noted that sharing oil industry data is rare. While some countries, like the UK and Canada, are working to make seismic information more accessible, these efforts often face pushback from the oil sector, delaying progress.
Groundwater: A Promising but Complex Solution
Africa’s water crisis affects nearly 1.34 billion people—two-thirds of the population. Climate change, poor infrastructure, and rapid population growth have worsened the situation, leaving many regions in dire need of sustainable water solutions.
Discoveries of large underground aquifers have offered a glimmer of hope, but experts caution that groundwater alone cannot solve the crisis. Factors like proximity to communities, water quality, and infrastructure availability play a crucial role.
Additionally, the risk of overpumping and mismanagement threatens the long-term viability of these resources. “It’s not sustainable to rely on yearly humanitarian aid when lasting solutions exist,” argued Quiroga Jordan.
Seismic data offers a powerful tool to uncover hidden water reserves, enabling cost-effective and efficient exploration. With proper management, these discoveries could help alleviate Africa’s water scarcity and provide much-needed relief to millions of people.
As the global demand for water grows, Ruden AS’s innovative approach demonstrates how technology can be harnessed to tackle one of the world’s most pressing issues. By leveraging oil industry resources, Africa could gain access to a life-sustaining solution for generations to come.
