Page 34: of Offshore Engineer Magazine (Feb/Mar 2013)

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westerngeco

Geology & Geophysics

Seismic service off Malaysia: .Western Patriot in the Sankofa East 2A block. India market may be reviving but a December, New Zealand Petroleum This year may see licensing of surer bet seems to be the continued & Minerals awarded 10 petroleum ultra-deepwater blocks off Liberia healthy seismic survey activity in exploration permits which it said and next year another Sierra the waters of Southeast Asia and would represent $82 million in

Leone round following its 2011/12 Australia/New Zealand. Indonesia, committed exploration spending initiative. In January, TGS said it for example, has just launched and up to $776 million should the would be starting its 3D multi-client its second bidding round with a permits all reach their full fve-

Sunfsh survey covering 7800 sq km number of offshore prospects in the year term. The blocks awarded in the prospective Harper Basin, mix. One seismic company with were in the Pegasus, Great South offshore Liberia. The survey work in the region is WesternGeco. and Taranaki Basins, and a further involves the six-month charter of The company has been awarded by concession round is planned for the 12-streamer Polarcus Asima. a BP subsidiary what is described this year as part of an annual Meantime prospects offshore as one of the largest marine seismic process.

South Africa have attracted the surveys ever offshore Indonesia According to Deloitte Petroleum 2 attention of ExxonMobil. The covering over 9000km in the new Services, the proposed May 2013 company has agreed with Impact concession blocks West Aru I and II. Australian Offshore Petroleum

Oil & Gas to acquire a 75% interest The Indonesian survey Acreage – which has still to be in Tugela South Exploration Right was mentioned during the formally launched – includes a which covers 2.8 million acres announcement of parent company total of 31 blocks mainly offshore offshore Durban with water depths Schlumberger’s latest fnancial Western Australia spanning the extending from the coastline to results. Another survey highlighted Bonaparte, Otway, Gippsland, some 6500ft, which may explain was offshore Malaysia where Browse, North Carnarvon and Perth why it has not been an exploration WesternGeco completed for Basins. The new acreage will help target in the past. Future Petronas a frst commercial survey to sustain the level of seismic in the exploration rights cover a further using its Obliq sliding-notch region.

16 million acres in water depths broadband acquisition and imaging Even from this broad brush ranging to 9800ft. In addition technique combined with Coil picture of current marine seismic

ExxonMobil says it has executed a Shooting single-vessel, full-azimuth activity worldwide, it is clear technical cooperation permit with acquisition. The Coil Shooting that there should be plenty of the South African government to method was intended to resolve opportunities for the marine study the exploration potential illumination challenges while the seismic feet worldwide. The of the deepwater Durban Basin Obliq technology is said to have scale of possible survey work can covering some 12.4 million acres. provided greater penetration in sometimes be concealed because Last November, Dolphin won deeper targets. The company is also seismic companies are quiet with a second offshore South Africa carrying out a 4D seismic survey regard to upcoming contracts and contract. It involved acquisition for Sarawak Shell offshore Malaysia especially multi-client surveys. of around 6250km of 2D seismic using its Western Patriot vessel. What we can deduce is that the for Anadarko in partnership with WesternGeco is believed to be preconditions for steady or better

PetroSA using its vessel Artemis focusing more attention on the marine seismic business are about

Atlantic. Asia-Pacifc market which is as favorable as can reasonably There are some indications that providing a steady source of work be expected. That can’t be a bad the once highly active offshore from a number of areas. Last thought for the rest of the year.

OE | February 2013 oedigital.com 36 oe_G&GFEBv2.indd 36 31/01/2013 10:41