Business news for the week of 1 July 2009 News section front
Past news briefs
Seismic crew survey reports Sercel announces award for Unite cable-free acquisition system in Mexico
24 June 2009—CGGVeritas announced that its subsidiary, Sercel, has been awarded a contract by Compania Mexicana de Exploraciones (Comesa) for the purchase of a Unite cable-free acquisition system that will be used to carry out multiple seismic projects for Pemex in southern Mexico. As a result of multiple successful field tests carried out in 2008, Comesa plans to deploy the majority of the 8000-channel spread in autonomous mode with data being stored in non-volatile memory in the field units. In addition, data from a substantial number of units will be acquired via the Unite system’s proprietary WLAN technology to allow real-time signal analysis. The Unite system allows flexibility in difficult terrain, sensitive environments, or urban zones due to the reduction of system weight and no requirement for cable deployment. Starting in 2002, Comesa has been upgrading its land acquisition crews with Sercel 408UL and 428XL equipment, and it plans to further standardize its equipment with Sercel recording systems. Sercel added the Unite cable-free system to its portfolio of seismic acquisition products in order to address the growing demands of the geophysical industry for large-channel counts in difficult environments and flexibility in layout and telemetry modes. Ikon Science releases RokDoc version 5.4
29 June 2009—Ikon Science announces the release of RokDoc 5.4, its quantitative interpretation software system. RokDoc enables interpreters, geologists, geophysicists, and petrophysicists to utilize rock physics models to integrate geology, well, and seismic data. TGS announces 3D multiclient survey in the Barents Sea
29 June 2009—TGS has commenced acquisition of a new multiclient 3D survey in the Barents Sea with the M/V Geo Barents. The survey covers a 4300-km2 area over the Hoop Fault Complex. Seismic data and electromagnetic data in the TGS library have been the basis for defining the survey coverage. The survey, the largest 3D survey conducted by TGS on the Norwegian continental shelf, covers not only open blocks expected to be offered in later tender rounds, but also acreage awarded in the recent Norwegian 20th round. TGS will deliver preliminary data packages to prefunding customers in autumn of 2009. Final data products will be available to industry in the first half of 2010. PGS names seismic vessel
1 July 2009—The 22-streamer Ramform Sterling was named at the yard in Tomrefjord, Norway. The new vessel, a sister ship of Ramform Sovereign is 16 m longer than the previous class Ramforms. It has significantly higher acquisition and transit speed, 25% longer endurance, and 60% higher production capacity compared to the previous Ramform class. The Ramform Sterling has 30,000 horsepower. The vessel class features many new innovations including a roll compensated helideck, steerable sources, dual workboat capacity, and unique gear-handling systems. Ramform Sterling has a capacity of 22 streamers at 8 km length. The 400 tons of highly sensitive electronic equipment deployed over an area equivalent to 830 soccer pitches. The power station on Ramform Sterling generates up to 30,000 horsepower. When collecting seismic data, the Ramform Sterling generates around 160 tons of thrust, equivalent to two Boeing 747 aircraft at takeoff. Ramform Sterling contains 53 cabins, all with separate bathrooms. | 
