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Future Fields next-generation images of these complex geologies.

Initially focused on the

Gulf of Mexico, these strategies are now of interest to our clients for application in Brazil and

West Africa. 3. Mexico, where the recent energy reforms are pushing the country to we are seeing growing interest and activ- center stage as a frontier ity in the Arctic seas. The Barents Sea zone for the oil industry’s and the Russian Arctic (Kara Sea), two international players, areas in which CGG has been very active, for the ? rst time in over have recently seen the greatest activity. 75 years. A deepwater

In 2013, CGG conducted a 3D BroadSeis zone in the southern multi-client survey in the Barents Sea to part of Mexican waters

CGG vessels conducting a StagSeis survey in the Gulf of Mexico. Photo from CGG.

provide new broadband data to assess in the Gulf, covering and geophysical complexity. As an exam- the region’s petroleum potential. Our reserves estimated at 3.22 billion boe, survey operations. This means we are ple, the recent development of deepwater

Robertson Geolab group are also cur- will be gradually offered up to foreign ideally placed to support our clients fracturing technologies could lead to the rently acquiring a multi-client surface and privately owned oil companies over in their efforts to increase exploration emergence of new frontier zones. geochemistry survey to detect sea? oor the coming months. With a track record success rates and optimize hydrocar- seeps of hydrocarbons in the South East of over 25 years of active operations in bon development and production while

Barents Sea, which has received unprec- Mexico, CGG has in-depth knowledge reducing costs and related risks. Christophe Barnini 4. East Africa has seen considerable edentedly high prefunding from major oil of all the basins, both in terms of their has served as senior renewed interest on the part of interna- industry players. geological and geophysical characteris- vice president, tional oil and gas companies after major 2. The “Golden Triangle” between the tics and the best way to conduct seismic communications, for gas discoveries off Mozambique and

American Gulf of Mexico, Brazil and CGG since 2013. His

Tanzania. The announcement by

West Africa continues to extend into ever scope of activities

Pancontinental Oil & Gas NL of the deeper zones. CGG is conducting exclu- includes corporate ? rst oil discovery offshore Kenya sive and multi-client seismic surveys in and ? nancial has also heightened this interest. all three of these locations. The de? nition communications, as well as internal

Oil and gas exploration is very of pre-salt/subsalt reservoirs is a major communications and business communi- fast-moving and we are of course challenge, requiring both innovative cations with clients. He was previously attentive to other frontier zones, acquisition methods and considerable head of investor relations from 2000 and which all present speci? c chal- imaging expertise. CGG has acquired prior to that he served as vice president, lenges relating to their geological multiple wide-azimuth marine seismic ? nance, for the Americas, from 1998 to surveys in the region over the last decade 2000, and held the post of group ? nan- and, more recently, developed innovative cial controller from 1996 to 1998. Before

Map of Robertson Geolab’s solutions such as StagSeis, which mobi- joining CGG, he was vice president at multi-client surface geochemistry survey in SE Barents Sea.

lizes several seismic vessels, to produce IBM Consulting Group from 1991 to 1996.

Dave Ridyard Dave Ridyard but the potential prize of ? nding a deeper Other areas of interest in the southern ice in the Arctic is emerging as a critical Other areas of interest in the southern ice in the Arctic is emerging as a critical serves as vice oil window. This is a front and center hemisphere include Australia, Uruguay exploration need. In fact, 3D is increas- president of topic for many regional explorers. and Argentina. There are new basins ingly vital for exploration in all frontier still to be explored in the northern hemi- areas. Historically, 2D seismic has been strategic marketing and development sphere, too. used to de? ne deep basin architecture,

The east coast of Canada, includ- with successive 2D iterations utilized for ION’s

GeoVentures ing Labrador and Newfoundland, has to increase grid density per acquisition recently demonstrated real potential, prior to leasing. business unit,

Outside of the most proli? c mature and the US east coast seems to be ? nally responsible for the basins of the North Sea and the Gulf of identi? cation and ready to bene? t from real, modern explo-

Mexico, 3D has been used sparingly for ration techniques. commercialization of new strategic commercialization of new strategic

In Norway, the opening up of the post-award drilling decisions. Today, many markets for ION’s geophysical technolo-markets for ION’s geophysical technolo- northern reaches of the Barents Sea looks frontier areas offer the potential for proli? c gies. He ? rst joined ION (then Input/gies. He ? rst joined ION (then Input/ very promising, and recent discoveries in stratigraphic traps that cannot be well

Output) in 1994, and held roles in data Output) in 1994, and held roles in data the Kara Sea suggest that the Arctic will characterized on 2D data. Consequently, acqui sition technology development acqui sition technology development eventually ful? ll the tremendous claims the technology curve belongs ? rmly to 3D and multiclient business development. and multiclient business development. for the area made in recent years.

seismic; the key to future offshore explora-

He holds a degree in applied physics He holds a degree in applied physics

From a technology perspective, the tion lies in increasingly ef? cient and and electronics from Durham University and electronics from Durham University acquisition of high quality 3D data under innovative methods in this area. in England. in England. oedigital.com December 2014 | OE 51 050_OE1214_Geofocus2.indd 51 11/21/14 5:13 PM