The All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Physical-Technical and Radiotechnical Measurements (VNIIFTRI) is developing a domestic gravimeter «Pedestrian» for oil and gas exploration. The device should replace foreign analogues, which are no longer being supplied to Russia.
At the end of last year, we started development. We have already conducted preliminary tests, which showed that in terms of accuracy it is similar to a foreign gravimeter, we have achieved the exact same indicators. Now we are working on the long-term stability of the device and its external appearance to make it convenient to use.
Deputy Head of the Scientific and Technical Center of FGUP «VNIIFTRI» Dmitry Bobrov
At the moment, the device is in the R&D stage, serial production is planned to start in 2024. Until 2022, Russian used Canadian gravimeters, but last year not only the supplies stopped, but also the maintenance of the already supplied devices.
Gravimetric work is mainly carried out using portable gravimeters. They measure the force of Earth's gravity at different points, over oil and gas deposits such devices record anomalies.