The All-Russian Research Institute for Physical-Technical and Radio-Technical Measurements (VNIIFTRI) is developing a domestic gravimeter called "Peshekhod" for searching for oil and gas fields. The device is intended to replace foreign analogues, which are no longer supplied to Russia.
We started development at the end of last year. We have already conducted preliminary tests, which showed that in terms of accuracy, it is analogous to a foreign gravimeter; we have achieved the same indicators. Now we are working on the long-term stability of the device and its external appearance to make it easy to use.
Currently, the device is in the R&D stage, and mass production is scheduled to begin in 2024. Until 2022, Canadian gravimeters were used in Russia, but last year, not only did deliveries cease, but also the maintenance of already delivered devices.
Basically, gravimetric work is performed using portable gravimeters. They measure the Earth's gravitational force at different points; over oil and gas fields, such devices record anomalies.