Quantinuum and bp Explore Quantum Computing for Seismic Imaging
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Insider Brief Quantinuum and bp launched a quantum computing project focused on improving seismic imaging for oil and gas exploration. The collaboration aims to use hybrid quantum-classical methods to model complex subsurface properties more efficiently than classical computing alone. The project builds on an earlier feasibility pilot and explores whether quantum computing can reduce computational costs and improve imaging resolution in energy applications. PRESS RELEASE — Quantinuum, a leading quantum computing company, today announced the launch of a new quantum project in collaboration with bp, the global integrated energy company, aimed at modernizing how the energy sector maps the Earth’s subsurface to locate oil and gas resources. Few tasks in today’s oil and gas sector demand as much raw computational power as seismic imaging. Building on a successful pilot that demonstrated feasibility, bp and Quantinuum are now scaling their approach to simulate more complex subsurface properties. “This has the potential to be a very important industrial use case for quantum computing,” said Dr. Rajeeb Hazra, President and CEO of Quantinuum. “By enabling higher-fidelity data at a lower computational cost than classical computing, we can potentially provide a more efficient path for energy exploration.” On classical computers, computational requirements, such as memory, scale with spatial resolution, so doubling the resolution of a seismic image can require up to double the computational resources. By contrast, in an ideal scenario, a quantum computer could theoretically achieve the same resolution gains with the addition of a single qubit,1 potentially compressing simulation timelines while also reducing energy consumption. Hybrid quantum-classical approaches have the potential to further optimize performance, with quantum processors tackling the most demanding calculations while classical systems manage data logic, allowing results to remain grounded in real-world physics. If successful, this project could demonstrate that quantum computing can help solve real-world bottlenecks in global infrastructure and resource management.
Mohib Ur Rehman LinkedIn Mohib has been tech-savvy since his teens, always tearing things apart to see how they worked. His curiosity for cybersecurity and privacy evolved from tinkering with code and hardware to writing about the hidden layers of digital life. Now, he brings that same analytical curiosity to quantum technologies, exploring how they will shape the next frontier of computing. Share this article: