In Tanzania, a challenging water exploration project made a groundbreaking discovery, thanks to hydrogeologist Fridtjov Ruden. By using seismic data from the oil industry, With this seismic technology, Ruden found underground water reservoirs in a way that traditional methods could not.
A Breakthrough in Water Exploration
After months of unsuccessful drilling, Ruden applied seismic data to locate freshwater deeper underground than expected. Boreholes extended 600 meters, revealing vast aquifers capable of supplying water to 2 million people for over 100 years.
“This discovery was a game-changer,” said Elizabeth Quiroga Jordan, a petroleum engineer at Ruden AS, the company founded by Ruden and his daughter, Helene Ree. The success of their innovative approach could help address Africa’s growing water crisis by making water exploration faster and more affordable.
The Challenge of Accessing Oil Industry Data
While seismic data from the oil industry holds great potential for locating groundwater, accessing such data can be difficult. Governments and oil companies often control the datasets, making them hard to obtain.
When Ruden AS secured a contract to locate water in Somalia, the team discovered that key data was held by the Ministry of Petroleum. “We had to convince officials that we weren’t searching for oil,” explained Quiroga Jordan. Negotiations took three years to gain access to the information.
Abbe Brown, an expert in intellectual property and energy at the University of Aberdeen, noted that publicly available oil data is rare. While some countries, like Canada and the UK, are working to improve access, legal and industry resistance remains an obstacle.
Groundwater: A Complex Solution to Africa’s Water Crisis
Water scarcity affects about two-thirds of Africa’s population, or 1.34 billion people. Issues like climate change, poor infrastructure, and rapid population growth exacerbate the problem.
Recent discoveries of massive underground aquifers offer hope, but experts caution that groundwater is not a perfect solution. Water quality, accessibility, and infrastructure are crucial to making these resources usable.
Moreover, improper use and mismanagement of groundwater could lead to long-term damage. “Sending aid year after year is not sustainable when long-term solutions are possible,” Quiroga Jordan said. Using seismic data to find and access hidden water sources is a cost-effective approach that could provide lasting relief.
Ruden AS’s work offers a glimpse of how technology can address the water crisis. By leveraging oil industry data, millions in Africa could gain access to this vital resource, providing a sustainable solution to a global problem.
