Business news for the week of 5 July 2010

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Past news briefs
Seismic crew survey reports

IHS and OneMap to Provide Surface Ownership Data to E&P Customers

30 June 2010—IHS announced a new strategic relationship with OneMap, a Tyler, Texas-based provider of surface-ownership data used by landmen, right-of-way agents, exploration and production (E&P) managers, construction managers, and others to plan and perform E&P, pipeline and regulatory compliance projects. IHS will now market and license OneMap’s data to its customers, with initial coverage in Texas including the Permian Basin, Gulf Coast, and Northeast Texas regions, and will expand to include other states, primarily focused on the shale plays.

OneMap offers ESRI personal geo-databases and shape files for ArcMap users. Customers who use IHS PETRA will also be able to load the OneMap surface ownership data directly in to the application for easy integration into their project workflows.

Jean-Georges Malcor is appointed chief executive officer of CGGVeritas

1 July 1 2010 —The Board of Directors of CGGVeritas, led by chairman and chief executive officer Robert Brunck, met on 30 June 2010 to confirm its decision to split the functions of chairman and chief executive officer. Robert Brunck will continue as chairman of the board of directors and Jean-Georges Malcor was appointed chief executive officer.

EMGS signs largest ever marine 3D EM contract with PEMEX

6 July 2010—Electromagnetic Geoservices ASA (EMGS) has signed a multiyear contract worth a minimum of US $150 million with PEMEX.

The work program, in the Mexican sector of the Gulf of Mexico, consists of approximately 30 deepwater 3D EM surveys. Data acquisition will be performed using the purpose-built 3D EM vessel BOA Thalassa, with mobilization towards the end of August.

EMGS anticipates that the contract will generate 2010 revenues in the range of $20–25 million, and that the remaining contract value will be recognized in 2011 and 2012.

BGP Marine shoots for Spectrum

6 July 2010—The BGP Challenger is currently acquiring 2D long-offset seismic data on behalf of Spectrum in the US Gulf of Mexico. The BGP Challenger, which was commissioned in early 2009, is currently acquiring Phase 4 of Spectrum’s extensive Big Wave Multiclient program in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. By the end of June the Challenger had acquired more than 5000 km of high-quality seismic data with a 10,000 m streamer and 4260 cubic inches source array. Spectrum’s own vessel, the GGS Atlantic, had previously acquired more than 3700 km of Big Wave Phase 4 before mobilizing to Trinidad to acquire a proprietary 3D survey.

The early stages of the acquisition program proved to be extremely challenging. At this time the notorious Gulf of Mexico loop currents were most active. Even more frustrating for both the Challenger and the Atlantic, was the unpredictable position and movement of the loop current. The experienced international crew on board the Challenger coped well and has subsequently achieved excellent productivity acquiring up to 200 km per day.

TGS announces new multiclient 3D survey in the North Viking Graben

7 July 2010—This project, NVG10, covers a 3500 km² area in the North Viking Graben area of the Norwegian North Sea. The project is being acquired by the PGS Atlantic Explorer and utilizes PGS' GeoStreamer Technology. The NVG10 multiclient 3D survey is supported by industry funding and data from the survey will be available for customers from mid 2011.

Spectraseis announces data management and visualization software to support commercial LF seismic surveys

7 July 2010—Spectraseis announced the launch of RioGrande, as well as its plans this Fall for the release of an LF Seismic plug-in for Schlumberger's Petrel software.

RioGrande provides LF survey users with an integrated tool that simplifies the management and analysis of LF seismic data. It also includes a variety of data-specific viewers, including a 3D map viewer, a measurement time line viewer, an image viewer, a raw data trace viewer and a synchrogram viewer. In the fall of 2010, Spectraseis plans to release the first version of an LF Seismic plug-in for Schlumberger's Petrel software. The plug-in will allow Petrel users to integrate LF seismic survey data, analysis and results with conventional E&P data types, such as 2D/3D seismic, well logs and reservoir models, all within the Petrel framework for interpretation. A user will be able to compute and visualize LF attributes, create velocity models for Spectraseis' time reverse imaging (TRI), and then view and interpret TRI results in the context of their other geological and geophysical information.

GeoAcoustics launches its new digital side scan sonar “Sonar 2094 Digital”

GeoAcoustics launched the all new Sonar 2094 Digital. It is based upon the industry standard GeoAcoustics Dual Frequency Side Scan Sonar. Around 1000 of these systems have been sold since their 1994 launch and hundreds of thousands of line-kilometers have been surveyed across the world’s oceans.

Sonar 2094 Digital combines these features with the latest in digital technology to generate a giant leap in system performance:

• Simultaneous dual frequency, 114 kHz and 410 kHz
• 24-bit data acquisition offering a dynamic range and providing repeatable results
• Extended range performance through 20-MHz raw data sampling and dynamic digital filtering techniques
• Improved resolution
• Very long cable operation

Sonar 2094 Digital incorporates 159D towfish design, which is now equipped with fully digital electronics supported by a wide bandwidth link to the new Digital Side Scan Transceiver deck unit.

The towfish can be supplied with attitude and/or depth sensors options as well as an RS232 channel for a magnetometer interface. Its standard depth rating is 1000 m with a 2000 m rated towfish available.

The Digital Side Scan Transceiver has an onboard Windows PC for acquisition software installation and can be delivered with an inbuilt GPS interface.