Business news for the week of 10 January 2010

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Past news briefs
Seismic crew survey reports

SMT, JewelSuite, CMG announce seismic to simulation (STS) alliance
6 January 2010—Seismic Micro Technology (SMT), JewelSuite and Computer Modelling Group Limited (CMG) announced the launch of the Seismic To Simulation (STS) Alliance, which integrates technologies encompassing all three components of the prospect evaluation workflow—interpretation, modeling, and simulation.

Geotrace announces completion of one the world’s largest onboard data processing projects
7 January 2010—Geotrace announced the completion of one of the world’s largest onboard data processing projects, for BP in its EPSA 4 NOC/LIC/BP exploration contract in BP’s Sirt Basin concession off the coast of Libya.



BP’s first 3D marine survey in Libya’s Gulf of Sirt was one of the world’s largest, covering 17,500 km². The contract split the area into four tracts of approximately equal area and stipulated onboard processing, including 2D SRME and full prestack time migration with velocity model picking, within six weeks of the last shot for each tract. The aim was to produce a high-quality image for prospect identification and to enable the complete well planning process to begin in 2009 leading to early exploration drilling.



The objective was to show that exploration cycle times and image quality for vast surveys need not be overly limited by onboard processing constraints, provided that proper planning and investment are undertaken and that the appropriate levels of geophysical expertise and computer resources are available to meet project objectives. It has been possible to deliver high-quality, prestack time processing onboard while keeping pace with acquisition for very large surveys, and each of the four tranches have been delivered within the six-week target set by BP.



In addition to the conventional prestack time-processed data, a high-resolution shallow hazard cube has been processed onboard and delivered from the vessel, as well as a multiple-azimuth test run over a subset of the full survey area.



Using ANSER and Diamond software systems and a state-of-the-art high capacity PC cluster based on a Dell M600 blade cluster with 2048 CPU’s, Geotrace has provided a full range of quality control and processing services including prestack imaging and advanced demultiple techniques.

CGGVeritas announces two major ocean bottom cable contract awards
11 January 2010—CGGVeritas announced that ARGAS, its Saudi Arabian joint venture owned 49% by CGGVeritas and 51% by TAQA, has been awarded two major ocean bottom cable (OBC) 3D data acquisition contracts by Saudi Aramco. The two contracts have a combined value of around US$375 million.

The first project is scheduled to start in June 2010 and operate for 18 months; the second is scheduled to run from October 2010 for 24 months. Each contract, respectively, has an 18- and 24-month optional extension period.

The projects will cover an initial 6000 km² over the next three years and require operational expertise working in complex environments, such as producing oil fields and busy shipping lanes within the Saudi waters of the Gulf with depths ranging from 20 to 60 m.

ARGAS will mobilize two fully independent OBC crews equipped with Sercel SeaRay 4-C equipment and recording systems. These fully offshore operations will be managed through a fleet of vessels equipped with CGGVeritas deployment and positioning systems geared to operate in such environments.

CPC Corporation, Taiwan signs global access agreement with Paradigm
11 January 2010—Paradigm announced that it has signed a multiyear global access agreement with CPC Corporation, Taiwan. The contract will provide CPC with full access to the Paradigm seismic interpretation suite.

WellDog has signed a memorandum of understanding with Farley Riggs
13 January 2010—WellDog has signed a memorandum of understanding with Farley Riggs of Adelaide, South Australia to begin establishing a joint venture that will provide WellDog’s technical reservoir evaluation services to the Australian coal-bed methane industry. The companies are preparing to introduce jointly the WellDog technical services to key Australian coalbed methane producers later this month through a series of private meetings in Brisbane and Sydney.

The Australian oil and gas industry is currently undertaking the world’s largest coal-bed methane development in order to fulfill its commitment to providing natural gas for numerous liquid natural gas export stations now under construction or investment decision.

Indian offshore contract
13 January 2010—Bergen Oilfield Services announced the award of two separate 3D surveys from ONGC and Cairn India. The awards will see the BOS Angler operating on both East and West Coasts of India.


CGGVeritas extends Gulf of Mexico three corners 3D wide-azimuth survey
14 January 2010—CGGVeritas announced that it has begun acquiring the Three Corners Extension 3D Wide-Azimuth multi-client survey in the western Gulf of Mexico.

The 415-OCS block wide-azimuth survey is an extension of the recently completed Three Corners Wide-Azimuth survey. The combined survey will cover over 600 blocks in East Breaks and Alaminos Canyon. 

Acquisition is scheduled to be completed during the second quarter of 2010, enabling the delivery of a Fast Trax 3D PSDM RTM volume to the industry prior to MMS OCS Western lease sale 215 scheduled for August 2010. Final products from the survey are expected to be delivered in the second quarter of 2011.


First joint EMGS—Fugro multi-client project initiated
18 January 2010—Electromagnetic Geoservices ASA has started a joint 3D EM multiclient project in the Norwegian Sea. The project will be completed during the first quarter in 2010. Prefunding, and subsequent late sales received by end of first quarter, will be recognized in the quarter.


EGS expands to the Americas Region
18 January 2010—EGS Survey Group announced its expansion into the Americas region with the establishment of EGS Americas, Inc.  EGS will base its Americas region headquarters in South, Florida on the Atlantic coast, with a US West Coast presence in Seattle, Washington. From these locations EGS Americas will support projects in the Caribbean, Latin America, Atlantic and eastern Pacific.  It is anticipated that one of the company’s survey vessels will be based in the region to serve its customers in the submarine telecommunications, oil and gas, and government markets.

EGS is also pleased to announce the appointment of Debra Peat as president of EGS Americas, Inc. She has 23 years of survey experience to the company and a strong background in operations and management, most recently as president of Fugro Seafloor Surveys International in Seattle.


Alizé sets new standard
21 January 2010—CGGVeritas announced that the deployment of its Nautilus acoustic positioning and streamer steering system on the Alizé, one of its high-end vessels, has increased production levels on the first project of the mega 3D seismic program currently being acquired for PEMEX in the Gulf of Mexico.

Despite severe winter weather conditions the Alizé, on its first project of the program, has achieved a one-day production record of 117 km² and has significantly exceeded production targets. This has been supported by the deployment of 12 Sercel Nautilus-Sentinel steered solid streamers and the fact that, with a 12 x 8-km by 100-m configuration, the Alizé is towing one of the largest areal receiver arrays in the industry.

Nautilus has dramatically reduced the infill requirements through consistent streamer separations and depth control across the entire spread.

The first project in the PEMEX survey program, known as Han Sur-Oeste de Tamil, covers a surface area of 12,300 km² in the Mexican deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico.