Six technology companies presented offers for 2D seismic studies and gravimetric and magnetometric data
16 December 2010—On 13 December 2010 ANCAP closed an international tender for the acquisition of between 5600 and 7000 km of 2D seismic data covering the Punta del Este and Pelotas basins as well as gravimetry and magnetometry data. Petroleum Geo-Services (Norway), CGG Veritas (France), GXT Ion (USA), Reflect Geophysical (Singapore), Spectrum Geo Limited (UK) and SeaBird Exploration (Norway) presented proposals for the ANCAP tender.
The raw data from the survey as well as the processing (covered by an international tender to be done during the first half of 2011) and the interpretation of this new seismic data by the ANCAP technical staff is expected to be on sale for the interested parties over the coming months. The geophysical information obtained will be the support of the evaluation by those companies interested in participating in the Uruguay Round II for Exploration & Exploitation. The information will be sold at very accessible prices, and could be validated by ANCAP as partial work unit for the first Exploration period. The Uruguay Round II will be launched during the second half of 2011.
Shell and EMGS launch joint industry project
20 December 2010—Electromagnetic Geoservices ASA (EMGS) and Shell have entered into a joint industry project (JIP) to plan and design the next generation of 3D EM equipment. Over the next six months the two companies will conduct a feasibility study that includes laboratory tests, design solutions, specifications, and a project plan for the development of the next generation of source, receivers, and positioning system.
Shell has contracted for approximately 100 EM surveys over the last eight years.
Geovariances announces acquisition of Australian consulting company Tenzing
20 December 2010—Geovariances has acquired the Australian geostatistical resource evaluation and consulting company Tenzing. A result of this is the establishment of a Geovariances office in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
By acquiring Tenzing, Geovariances is able to offer a local presence in the Asia-Pacific region. The delivery of the services that Geovariances currently provides worldwide from France, that is software technical support, consulting, training and mentoring, will be strengthened locally.
Following the acquisition, previous Tenzing director and principal Zach Casley, will become the general manager of Geovariances, and Olivier Bertoli, also a Tenzing director and principal, will be Geovariances consulting and training manager for the mining sector, based in France.
TGS announces its first multiclient 3D survey in Indonesia
22 December 2010—TGS will commence a new multiclient 3D survey in the Tarakan Basin, offshore East Kalimantan, Indonesia in the Celebes Sea. The survey, TBN10, is the first multiclient 3D survey for TGS in Indonesia waters and will cover in excess of 1600 km2. The data will be acquired by the M/V Seisquest and will commence before the end of this year, with acquisition expected to complete in early 2011.
The TBN10 survey will be conducted over the highly prospective and extensive play fairway, which includes a recent gas discovery. The new 3D seismic will provide improved stratigraphic and structural resolution of the Tarakan sub-basin, leading to a better understanding of its petroleum system and a much clearer definition of the numerous leads and prospects already identified on existing 2D seismic in the area.
The TBN10 multiclient 3D survey is supported by industry funding and also supports the Indonesia government's overall objective to attract exploration and raise declining production levels.
Stingray FosarDeep Team wins at IET Innovation Awards
24 December 2010—Judged by a panel of engineering experts, the IET Innovation Awards celebrate excellence and innovation in the engineering, science and technology industries in a prestigious competition that this year attracted a record number of outstanding entries from around the globe.
Partially funded by the Technology Strategy Board, the FosarDeep program was established by Stingray Geophysical in 2008. Partners in the multidisciplinary team comprise Atlas Elektronik UK, fiber-optic cable and sensor manufacturers, VerdErg Connectors, providers of underwater engineering expertise, and Optoelectronics Research Centre at Southampton University.
The team worked collaboratively to develop the equipment and methods required to install Stingray's Fosar optical sensing arrays efficiently in water depths up to 3000 m and successfully transmit signals over long distances to enable through-life monitoring of offshore oil and gas reservoir. By considering the product and its delivery mechanism as an integrated requirement, the interdependent elements of the deepwater PRM solution were able to leverage the small size, high strength, and data quality capabilities of optical fibers to achieve technical innovation.
