Upstream Industry Application: Satellite Technologies, Satellites, Companies, Patents, and Use Cases

structured overview of key satellite technologies applied in the upstream oil & gas sector, including the satellite name, company, patent status (where available), and a description of each technology’s application.

Technology/Application	Satellite Name / Type	Company (Patent Holder)	Patent / Reference	Description / Upstream Use Case
AI-Enabled Oil Well Optimization	Thuraya (GEO)	Space42 & nybl	Proprietary, not public	Real-time AI and satellite-enabled monitoring predicts failures, reduces downtime, and optimizes oil well output.
IoT-Driven Asset Monitoring	Sateliot (LEO, 5G NTN)	Sateliot	Pending/Proprietary	5G/IoT satellite connectivity enables remote sensor monitoring for tanks, pipelines, and drilling equipment.
Remote Wellhead & Artificial Lift Monitoring	Inmarsat BGAN (L-band, GEO)	Inmarsat	Proprietary/Industry IP	BGAN M2M terminals provide ultra-reliable connectivity for wellhead, artificial lift, and pipeline monitoring.
Seismic Data & Exploration	Dove (LEO)	Planet Labs	Proprietary	High-frequency satellite imagery supports seismic mapping, site selection, and exploration analytics.
Emissions Detection & Reporting	Various (GHGSat, Sentinel, etc.)	Multiple (GHGSat, ESA)	Various	Satellites monitor, reconcile, and report methane and other emissions in upstream operations.
Hybrid Cellular-Satellite Comms	Kymeta, Airbus, etc.	Kymeta, Airbus	Proprietary	Hybrid solutions provide real-time comms and data transfer for remote upstream sites and fleet management.
Production Satellite System (Subsea)	Subsea Production Satellite	Mobil Oil Corp.	US3401746A	Remotely operated subsea satellite manages production, monitoring, and maintenance of multiple wells.
5G IoT Wake-Up Technology	OQ Technology LEO Constellation	OQ Technology	US Patent (2022)	Patent for IoT “wake-up” feature, enabling energy-efficient, on-demand satellite connectivity for upstream IoT.
High-Throughput VSAT	O3b mPOWER (MEO)	SES (with Marlink)	Proprietary	Low-latency, high-bandwidth VSAT enables real-time analytics, remote diagnostics, and cloud integration.
Dynamic Bandwidth Management	HYLAS (Ka-band, GEO)	Avanti Communications	Proprietary	Automatically allocates bandwidth for drilling, monitoring, and crew welfare in upstream operations.
Universal Plug-and-Play IoT	Tiger-1 (LEO)	OQ Technology	US Patent (2022)	3GPP NB-IoT standard for seamless device-to-satellite connection in remote oilfields.

Application Examples & Descriptions

• AI-Enabled Oil Well Optimization (Space42/nybl/Thuraya):Combines real-time satellite connectivity with AI analytics to predict equipment failures, optimize oil extraction, and reduce operational costs in upstream fields.

• IoT-Driven Asset Monitoring (Sateliot):Uses 5G LEO satellites to connect thousands of IoT sensors for tank levels, pipeline integrity, and drilling performance, supporting automation and predictive maintenance.

• Remote Wellhead & Artificial Lift Monitoring (Inmarsat BGAN):Provides robust, weather-resistant L-band connectivity for continuous monitoring and control of critical upstream assets, reducing manual intervention and downtime.

• Seismic Data & Exploration (Planet Labs Dove):Supplies frequent, high-resolution imagery for mapping, exploration, and environmental assessment in new upstream projects.

• Emissions Detection & Reporting (GHGSat, Sentinel):Enables upstream operators to track, reconcile, and report methane and other emissions, supporting regulatory compliance and sustainability goals.

• Hybrid Cellular-Satellite Comms (Kymeta, Airbus):Integrates cellular and satellite networks for reliable communications and data transfer in challenging, remote upstream locations.

• Subsea Production Satellite System (Mobil Oil Corp.):Patented system for subsea gathering, monitoring, and maintenance of multiple wells, allowing surface servicing without disconnecting subsea lines.

• 5G IoT Wake-Up Technology (OQ Technology):Patent-protected method for energy-efficient satellite IoT, extending sensor battery life and enabling large-scale, low-maintenance monitoring.

• High-Throughput VSAT (SES O3b mPOWER):Delivers fiber-like speeds and low latency for real-time analytics, cloud services, and remote diagnostics in offshore upstream operations.

• Dynamic Bandwidth Management (Avanti HYLAS):Ensures critical upstream applications receive prioritized, scalable bandwidth to support drilling, monitoring, and crew needs.

Key Satellite Names and Companies (with Patent Notes)

Satellite Name / System	Company / Patent Holder	Patent / Reference
Thuraya (GEO)	Space42/Thuraya	Proprietary
Sateliot (LEO, 5G NTN)	Sateliot	Pending/Proprietary
BGAN (L-band, GEO)	Inmarsat	Proprietary
Dove (LEO)	Planet Labs	Proprietary
GHGSat, Sentinel	GHGSat, ESA	Various
Kymeta, Airbus Hybrid	Kymeta, Airbus	Proprietary
Subsea Production Satellite	Mobil Oil Corp.	US3401746A
OQ Technology LEO	OQ Technology	US Patent (2022)
O3b mPOWER (MEO)	SES	Proprietary
HYLAS (Ka-band, GEO)	Avanti Communications	Proprietary
Tiger-1 (LEO)	OQ Technology	US Patent (2022)

These technologies are critical enablers for upstream oil & gas operations, supporting digital transformation, safety, efficiency, and sustainability through advanced satellite connectivity and data-driven solutions.