Business news for the week of 8 October 2008

Past news briefs

Wavefield Inseis awarded contract by ONGC
3 October 2008—Wavefield Inseis has been awarded a long-term contract for 3D seismic services by ONGC.

Commencing during the fourth quarter this year, the contract is for a program of 3D surveys offshore India to be acquired each season through 2011. The total contract value is in excess of US$170million.

The first season's program will be acquired by the Geowave Commander, which will be mobilized from Europe.

ERDAS Software 2009 suite available
6 October 2008—ERDAS announced the debut of its suite of geospatial business systems. ERDAS Software 2009 includes new and updated versions programs to author, manage, connect, and deliver geospatial information. These solutions facilitate businesses in capitalizing on the geospatial information value chain used to build applications for understanding our changing Earth.

New product downloads and licensing information are available on the ERDAS Web site.

TGS announces multiclient 3D survey offshore Liberia
7 October 2008—TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Company announced that it has begun the acquisition of approximately 9000 km² of multiclient 3D seismic data offshore Liberia. Additional planned phases could increase the size of the program significantly by the end of 2009. This program covers a number of blocks recently awarded by the National Oil Company of Liberia.  

TGS first acquired regional multiclient 2D data in Liberia in 2001. Since that time Liberia has held a number of successful bid rounds. Companies operating or sharing in offshore contracts in Liberia now include Anadarko Liberia Company, Woodside Petroleum, Repsol, Oranto, Broadway Consolidated, and European Hydrocarbons.

CGGVeritas announces extension of Oman contract
30 September 2008—CGGVeritas was awarded a multiyear contract extension by Petroleum Development Oman to undertake an onshore seismic acquisition project in Oman. In addition to increasing the number of active vibrator fleets, the extension doubles crew capacity to 25 000 channels. Work under the new configuration will commence at the beginning of 2009 and is expected to continue through the first quarter of 2011. This step change in crew configuration follows the recent change to 24-hour operations in Oman.