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Geology & Geophysics in water depths of 100-350m,

ULSTEIN surveying target depths at 1300-2200m, with production ? gures said to be in excess of 110 vessel-km/day. Minimal downtime and acquisition in variable sea-states were other highlights. All these performance statistics are part of PGS’ insistence that its towed streamer EM solution amounts to a technology leapfrog over the existing CSEM method

Turkey negotiates to buy the .Polarcus Samur used by EMGS, based on placing For Polarcus, the two transactions companies reporting good backlogs, retrievable recorders on the seabed. are revenue-earning opportunities the evidence would suggest that the If the data quality is as good as to unload the two least-pro? table market is not that differentiated – PGS claims then the increased rate vessels in its ? eet, leaving it with which is what you would expect. of productivity alone would be a set of larger, more productive Historically, big technological leads attractive. But of course it is much vessels to meet the demand for 3D have not lasted very long, and both more than that. PGS can offer a seismic surveys many of which Polarcus and Dolphin, who make combined seismic and EM towed are quite substantial in size these streamer package with simultaneous days. Additions to the family may acquisition of data. This is

All forecasts on the therefore be in the cards in the de? nitely one to watch as it could future of an industry not-too-distant future, ? nancing be the start of a signi? cant revenue probably being the main hurdle. stream for PGS with no obvious with such rapidly

Any new vessels would probably competition in sight.

evolving technology be based on the distinctive Ulstein Technology stargazers will be is fraught with peril.

design which is also a feature of focusing some attention on the some CGGVeritas and WesternGeco trends in ocean-bottom seismic vessels. The forthcoming up the numbers in the big ? ve, surveys. In 2012 there was certainly

WesternGeco vessels from a claim to be at least broadband- a growing interest in the use of

German shipyard, however, will be capable. nodes, although not to the exclusion unusually designed speci? cally for Similarly, in the ? eld of marine of seabed cable. Responsibility seismic rather than adapted from a controlled-source electromagnetic for a lot of ocean-? oor seismic more multi-purpose platform. (CSEM), the technology monopoly technology operations and future established by Electromagnetic R&D, including permanent

Improved imaging Geoservices (EMGS) could, this reservoir monitoring systems, now

Out in the market for survey vessels, year, be in jeopardy as a result of resides with the new seabed joint it has been clear for some time that some pressure from PGS. This is venture between Fugro (60%) companies must be able to offer if the towed streamer EM survey and CGGVeritas (40%). How this some form of broadband seismic technique pioneered by PGS lives evolves in 2013 may well provide a capability for improved imaging up to its promise. At the end of last clue to the bigger question of how of complex subsurface geology. year the company was reporting CGGVeritas will adapt to life after

The big three – WesternGeco, that multi-client and exclusive its US$1.2 billion acquisition of

CGGVeritas and Petroleum Geo- data surveys acquired in 2012 over Fugro’s Geoscience division. That is

Services (PGS) – have been seven known ? elds/prospects with not easy to predict.

putting it about for some time a variety of geological settings Indeed, all forecasts are fraught that their proprietary marine data were successfully concluded, with peril. For example, should acquisition systems for broadband and that inverted EM data was we allow for an overdue Mayan seismic differentiate them from acquired in November over the Doomesday, not to mention the the competitors and can command Norwegian offshore ? elds of Chinese Year of the Snake? Only premium prices. WesternGeco Bentley, Bressay, and Kraken. PGS time will tell.time will tell.

believes that its IsoMetrix system, has been suf? ciently encouraged launched with much fanfare last to be planning a minimum of three

June, offers a further step-change months EM acquisition for the in 3D seismic acquisition, so better North Sea and Barents Sea this year.

www.oedigital.comwww.oedigital.com than all the rest. Yet, with all The 2012 operations took place

UK to resume fracking oedigital.com January 2013 | OE 47 oe_G&G.indd 47 03/01/2013 13:39