Page 40: of Offshore Engineer Magazine (Apr/May 2013)

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Geology & Geophysics

G & G Notebook

Andrew McBarnet

What kind of summer will it be?

2012 was a big year for marine seismic in NW Europe.

Andrew McBarnet asks whether we can expect a repeat in 2013.

The summer season offshore NW nations for talk of a less frenetic cost of transiting vessels from one

Europe is often seen as the bell- NW Europe this year may simply region to another unless the pros-

T wether of the marine seismic be a matter of vessel logistics in a pect of good backlog is in the offng. industry’s state of health. This was global market place. Last year the WesternGeco and Polarcus, for defnitely the case in 2012, which region experienced the equivalent example, have vessels committed saw exceptionally high survey of swarming, with plenty of time- to the SE Asian and Australasian activity refecting a strengthening sharing agreements for company markets, and are unlikely to be relo- market. Not all the same conditions survey campaigns. In other words, it cated to the Northern Hemisphere.

apply this year, which has left a bit may be that there just aren’t enough That said, some companies have of a question hanging over what boats to go around, or they are in jumped in early, possibly too early, can be expected. Not that anyone is the wrong place. given the prolonged winter condi- suggesting that the seismic business Plays now compete for the world’s tions off NW Europe. CGG really as a whole is facing a reverse in its seismic feet, in West, South and pushed the seasonal limits by start- current fortunes far from it rates are East Africa, India, the Atlantic Rift ing work in February on UK Quad said to be frm, evenrising, and ves- and Caribbean, Brazil, Australia, 30 Phase 7 of its Cornerstone CNS sel capacity worldwide is as close andAsia Pacifc, not to mention dataset covering over 5500sq km to equilibrium with demand as it is a revitalized, post-Macondo Gulf in the Q29, 30, and 38 areas. The ever likely to be. of Mexico. Contractors are always company is operating its Oceanic

One of the more innocent expla- going to think carefully about the Phoenix with a 10 x 100 x 6000m long-offset streamer confgura- tion deploying its BroadSeis and

BroadSource technology.

The focus on broadband seismic is a key reason why oil companies can continue to commission new seismic over areas that have already been shot many times over. As a point of historical reference, in June 2014, it will be 40 years since then-

Secretary of State for Energy Tony

Benn in Harold Wilson’s second

Labour government inaugurated the frst UK oil from the Argyle Field, operated by Hamilton Bros.

In subsequent decades, the UK has maintained a ”pedal to the met- al” speed in its drive to produce its offshore oil and gas. As a result, the

Oceanic Phoenix: CGG’s frst vessel on the scene.

remaining pickings in the mature

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