EXPLORATION

Phase 1 involves several stages aimed at assessing the real potential of finding undersea freshwater springs in a given geographical area.

Local surveys

For hundreds of years, sailors have known about freshwater springs at sea. Now, divers and fishermen also know where they can be found. The teams at Nymphea Environnement carry out local surveys to gather such precious information.

Geological surveys

To identify areas of potential interest for tapping undersea springs, Nymphea Environnement carries out geological surveys using charts and field surveys of the areas in question. The results of these analyses are used to pinpoint areas for further exploration more precisely.

The successful outcome of such surveys is also dependent on close collaboration with local hydrogeology experts and access to their databases.

Analyzing satellite data

Data regarding the observation of major events generated by thermal phenomena and biological activity are analyzed. The main advantage of this is that it is possible to retrieve data regarding phenomena prior to the study which therefore provides a more long-term vision and analysis (covering periods of over 10 years beforehand).

Aerial survey

Since freshwater is lighter than saltwater, it naturally rises to the surface and creates a thermal anomaly at the surface.

To detect these temperature differences, Nymphea Environnement uses aircraft equipped with multi-spectral cameras to scan, especially in infrared ranges. Aerial reconnaissance provides an overall mapping of the marine area studied, in which every anomaly is georeferenced.

Exploration at sea

Nymphea Environnement carries out explorations at sea mainly using acoustic devices. Variations in salinity at the surface and within the water column create interfaces which are detected from an oceanographic research ship fitted with special shipboard equipment as well as divers and robots.

Three-dimensional sonar imaging systems and geophysics equipment are used to produce bathymetry and morphological analyses of the area surrounding the undersea freshwater spring.

This second phase ends with sampling and analysis of the spring water discovered and measuring outflow rates.

Quantitative and qualitative studies

Once a spring has been located and its physical and chemical characteristics have been determined, the teams spend several months carrying out a study to discover its potential and the parameters necessary to start production.

Flow rates, salinity and morphology are just some of the data required to design the collection system. This also makes it possible to assess variations in outflow rates related to rainfall on land and to determine spring water quality.

All these parameters are studied over time so as to factor in the influence of the seasons on the spring’s parameters and create a digital hydrogeological model.
This model is used in conjunction with technical and financial analyses to define the future cost of production. These analyses also take account of the quality of the raw water and production conditions (depth and distance to the coast).