TGS announced another season of acquisition of long offset data on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS) in cooperation with Fugro. The data to be collected (shown on the attached map) include approximately 15,000 km for the North Sea Renaissance (NSR) survey in Holland, Norway and UK, approximately 10,000 km for the Mid-Norway Regional (MNR) survey in the Norwegian Sea and approximately 15,000 km for the Norwegian Barents Sea Regional (NBR) survey in the Barents Sea.
TGS will dedicate two vessels, Bergen Surveyor and Northern Genesis, during the summer season to acquire the NSR project. The data acquired by these vessels will be processed at TGS’ imaging center in Bedford, England. Fugro will also contribute two vessels, Geo Arctic and Akademik Lazarev, to acquire the MNR and NBR data, respectively. Fugro will process the data acquired on those two projects.
With the 2010 acquisition program, TGS’ total long offset grid on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS) increases to approximately 260,000 km, constituting the most important 2D seismic dataset for the oil industry in the NCS. Data from the three surveys will be available for customers from Q4-2010.
| LNG Energy Ltd. announced last month that it commenced the acquisition of High Resolution Airborne Magnetic (“HRAM”) and Gravity data over its southern licenses in Papua New Guinea, PPL 319 and PRL 13, in mid-February 2010. Sander Geophysics Limited (“SGL”) of Ottawa, Ontario (http://www.sgl.com) is conducting the fixed-wing acquisition of this high resolution survey at a minimum drape altitude of 150m, with an 800m normal traverse and 3200m control line spacing. In-field Quality Control and Project Management is being provided by Erwin Ebner of ELS Consulting Inc. out of Calgary, Alberta.
Once the southern licenses have been completed in early April, 2010, SGL will move onto LNG’s northern licenses; PPL 320, PPL 321 & PPL 322 to complete the remainder of the HRAM and Gravity program, using similar data acquisition parameters. Based upon current estimates the acquisition of the data over the entire 25,000 km of the northern and southern licenses should be completed by June 2010.
LNG has entered into a contract with Integrated Geophysics Corporation (“IGC”) of Houston, Texas (http://igcworld.com) to interpret the HRAM and Gravity dataset. IGC’s proprietary analysis incorporates existing seismic, wells and all available surface geological control with the recently acquired HRAM and Gravity dataset, to provide a comprehensive and fully integrated interpretation. IGC’s deliverables will include maps of Magnetic Basement Structure, Gravity Residual, Structural Models and Migratory Pathway. IGC’s interpretation will provide LNG with a proprietary prospect inventory, encompassing varying levels of exploration maturity.
“The aeromag and gravity program will provide basin definition to be followed up with 2D seismic and structural mapping for selecting drilling locations. A number of recent exploration successes in PNG have been based off targets generated by gravity and geophysical information. This fundamental, bottoms-up, exploration approach will provide LNG a clear understanding of the potential of our 100% working interest in the 5.5 million acres of our Papua New Guinean assets. We are very pleased with the initial quality of the data acquired to date. Based upon very preliminary data, we see indications of exciting anomalies that have been identified within the contiguous 540,000 acres of PRL 13 and PPL 319.” said Dave Afseth, President of LNG. |
|
LNG Energy Ltd. announced as well that it has entered into an agreement with InterOil Corporation (“InterOil”) to acquire 2D seismic on LNG’s 100% working interest PPL 319 in Papua New Guinea. PPL 319 lies between InterOil’s PPL 237 and the PDLs/PRLs that collectively comprise the licenses of ExxonMobil’s US$15Billion LNG export development infrastructure announced on December 7, 2009. The seismic program includes the acquisition and interpretation of a 27km north-south line that is located 50m west of the boundary between PPL 319 and InterOil’s PPL 237. The program will be managed by InterOil and logistics have recently commenced, with final data acquisition expected in June 2010. |
More than one month ago ION and BGP took another bold and pioneering step on behalf of the seismic industry for, on that day, they launched INOVA. Legally known as INOVA Geophysical Equipment Limited, this new and independent company is owned 51% by BGP and 49% by ION Geophysical Corporation. Combining the acknowledged strengths of its parents, INOVA aspires to engineer and deliver innovative land seismic technologies that can stand up to the rigors of acquisition in any operating environment. INOVA’s comprehensive portfolio of offerings includes path-breaking products such as Aries II, FireFly, VectorSeis, and the AHV-IV Commander vibroseis vehicle.
Eric M. Parks “Analysis of Electromagnetic and Seismic Geophysical Methods for Investigating Shallow Sub-surface Hydrogeology”. The thesis submitted to the faculty of Brigham Young University (Utah) in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Science.
“An integrated electromagnetic (EM) and seismic geophysical study was performed to evaluate non-invasive approaches to estimate depth to shallow groundwater in arid environments with elevated soil salinity where the installation of piezometers would be impractical or prohibited. Both methods were tested in two study areas (semi-arid and arid respectively), one in Palmyra, Utah, USA near the shore of Utah Lake where groundwater is shallow and unconfined in relatively homogeneous lacustrine sediments. The other area is Carson Slough, Nevada, USA near Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge in Amargosa Valley. The area is underlain by valley fill, with generally variable shallow depths to water in an ephemeral braided stream environment. The methods used include frequency domain electromagnetic induction allowing for multiple antenna-receiver spacings. High resolution compressional P-wave seismic profiles using a short (0.305 m) geophone spacing for common depth-point reflection stacking and first arrival modeling were also acquired. Both methods were deployed over several profiles where shallow piezometer control was present.” ..more information.
Codevintec was on the receiving end of numerous hours of training regarding 3D technology and Marine Seismology including the GeoEel (digital towed hydrophone streamers) and MicroEel (analog seismic solid streamer). Bart Hoekstra, 3D Product Manager conducted the training.
Source: http://www.geometrics.com/blog/2010/03/italy-embraces-3d-and-marine-seismic-technology
|
On 12 March 2010, Fugro formally took delivery of a new-build survey vessel, the M/V Fugro Searcher which it commissioned in 2007. Fugro took the opportunity to look at all aspects of overall survey vessel design in detail and install the latest equipment, making it the most advanced vessel of its type in the world.
The vessel will operate in the offshore oil and gas industry and the offshore renewable energy sector. It will be able to carry out the full range of site and route survey tasks to obtain the high resolution data necessary for safe, efficient and cost-effective planning, design and engineering activities involving the seabed and the installation of pipelines, platforms, wind turbines, subsea structures and other seabed furniture.
The new vessel will have permanently mobilised geophysical and hydrographic survey spreads. Geotechnical equipment will be installed on a project by project basis. The Fugro Searcher represents initial steps in a global vessel replacement schedule with the objective of removing older tonnage from the fleet and clearly differentiating Fugro’s Offshore Survey Division from other providers.
On 19 March 2010, Fugro formally took delivery of a new-build seismic survey vessel, the M/V Geo Caspian, which is on long term charter from ship-owner Volstad Maritime AS.
The vessel was outfitted at Fosen Yards in Norway and is one of the largest and most advanced seismic vessels ever built. Caspian is the third C-class vessel in a series of four delivered to Fugro since 2007.
Geo Caspian is designed to work worldwide in the most challenging offshore areas, and is capable of towing 16 seismic streamers. The C-class vessel design allow deployment of the largest possible spread of seismic streamers which are considered essential for efficiency when performing geophysical exploration on large prospects in the ”high end” market segment.
The next C-class vessel, the M/V Geo Coral will be delivered to Fugro in August 2010.
Source: http://www.fugro.com/news/news.asp?q=2010
|
GNS Science with Crown Minerals says that seismic and satellite data show that the Reinga Basin, off the northwest coast of the North Island, is one of the most prospective frontier basins in the New Zealand region.
In a report commissioned by the Crown Minerals division of the Ministry of Economic Development, GNS said this view was based partly on 5,000 km of high quality two-dimensional seismic reflection data acquired in 2009 by Crown Minerals in partnership with petroleum services company CGGVeritas. Other components in the investigation were satellite data of sea surface slicks and knowledge of the geology in the adjacent Northland and Taranaki Basins. The analysis shows that Reinga Basin contains potentially oil-bearing sedimentary rocks that are up to 7 km thick and it has all the elements needed for a working petroleum system. Its rock sequences are similar to those in the Taranaki Basin.
“When we examined the 2009 seismic data, there was clear evidence of petroleum expulsion zones, which means there is an active petroleum system in the basin,” Dr Stagpoole said. The geology in the 150,000 square km Reinga Basin is less complex than the adjacent Northland Basin, making it more attractive to explore.
The Reinga Basin prospectivity report, the latest in series of such reports on New Zealand frontier basins prepared by GNS Science, is being used by Crown Minerals to help promote Reinga Basin to exploration companies internationally.
There are eight sedimentary basins with known or potential hydrocarbons onshore and underlying the continental shelf of New Zealand, as well as several deepwater basins within its Exclusive Economic Zone. Commercial and sub-commercial discoveries, abundant potential source rocks, thick Cretaceous-Cenozoic sediments, and numerous hydrocarbon seeps and shows in exploration wells all indicate that petroleum generation and migration has and is taking place in many of these basins.
The 16th Annual 3D Seismic Symposium, jointly sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists and the Denver Geophysical Society, will be held 16 March 2010 at the Marriott City Center in Denver, USA. This year’s theme “Uplifting the Rockies” has attracted 13 presentations that focus on both Rockies case histories and the latest North American shale plays. The subject matter covers the “hottest” projects available, and the role of 3D data’s role in those projects.
The 2010 symposium features 3-D seismic case histories showing the value of seismic information as well as the latest acquisition, interpretation, and imaging techniques. Experience the latest in 3-D technology during session breaks in the expanded vendor area next to the main ballroom.
The 3-D case studies will include:
Haynesville
Williston
Marcellus
Eagle FordKickoff Speaker – Murray Roth- Transform Software and Services. Shale Gas Reservoirs – Similar, yet so different
Keynote Speaker – Robert Peebler – CEO, ION Geophysical New Models for Technology Innovation in Today’s Interconnected World
Source: http://www.rmag.org/events/index.asp
The meeting at Lunar and Planetary Institute was held on January 2010. About seismic, magnetic, gravity, electromagnetic methods on the Moon: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lunargeo2010/pdf/program.pdf
