Business news for the week of 4 July 2011 News section front Past news briefs Seismic crew survey reports

 

First large-scale pressure study in Africa completed

1 July 2011—Ikon Geopressure with Sonar Ltd has completed the first large-scale pressure study ever to be undertaken in Africa. The study "Deep and Ultra Deep Water" was carried out in Nigeria. It was the first phase of the Niger Delta Pressure Study, and was undertaken in collaboration with the Nigerian Government's Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

The "Deep and Ultra Deep" phase of the study has provided the DPR with the opportunity to create a new database of 304 wells, comprising of 94% of the exploration and appraisal wells in the area, which were sources from all deepwater operators in the region.

Carried out over nine months in Sonar's local office, the analysis of the well data has resulted in a set of digital maps and reports which will improve offshore drilling safety and enhance exploration opportunities for identifying additional hydrocarbon reserves in Nigeria. It is expected that the next phase of the project, which will investigate the continental slope and onshore, will result in similar benefits.

 

Schlumberger inaugurates WesternGeco Penang Product Center

1 July 2011—Schlumberger inaugurated the WesternGeco Penang Product Center (WPPC) dedicated to the manufacturing and support of state-of-the-art marine and land seismic equipment designed to illuminate complex geologies, improve operational efficiencies, and deliver superior data quality. Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop, minister in the Prime Minister's department for the Economic Planning Unit, Malaysia; Dato' Shamsul Azhar Abbas, president and chief executive officer of Petronas; and Andrew Gould, chairman and chief executive officer, Schlumberger, officiated at an opening ceremony attended by guests representing oil companies, universities, local and national government, key suppliers, and Schlumberger.

WPPC will play a central role in the continuing development and deployment of WesternGeco Q-Technology that provides  reservoir imaging and monitoring capabilities to customers worldwide. The Center will also support the roll out of Q-Marine Solid streamer technology and deliver UniQ integrated point-receiver seismic acquisition systems. By the end of 2012, WPPC will employ approximately 300 people, combining local talent with international experience and expertise to integrate manufacturing capabilities with engineering resources and supply chain support through leveraging opportunities in Malaysia and across the region.

WesternGeco commences industry's second dual coil shooting survey

5 July 2011—WesternGeco announced the start of the Revolution II multiclient survey, which builds on the dual-coil shooting multivessel full-azimuth (FAZ) acquisition of Revolution I in the Western Gulf of Mexico in late 2010.

This latest survey is located in the highly prospective Green Canyon area of the Central Gulf of Mexico, where long offsets and FAZ imaging solutions assist in future production and appraisal drilling plans. The Revolution II multiclient survey will provide FAZ coverage on over 3200 km² or 140 Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) blocks.

Building on multi- and wide-azimuth techniques, dual coil shooting is an advanced method of acquiring full-azimuth, ultralong-offset marine seismic data using four vessels following a circular path. This method allows the WesternGeco fleet to focus imaging on specific areas of client interest. Dual-coil shooting provides better target illumination in challenging environments by enabling greater azimuthal coverage and a higher signal-to-noise ratio. Dual-coil shooting technology is possible due to the capabilities of the unique WesternGeco Q-Marine point-receiver marine seismic acquisition system.

WesternGeco will apply advanced seismic data processing techniques to this survey, including true-azimuth 3D GSMP general surface multiple prediction and anisotropic reverse time migration (RTM).

 

TGS announces a new 3D multiclient survey in northern North Sea

5 July 2011—TGS will commence acquisition of a new 3D multiclient survey, which covers 1,100 km² over the Magnus Basin, including the southwest-to-northeast striking "end of the world" fault. TGS will also reprocess approximately 6,500 km² of 3D seismic data in the same area to build a combined project of 7,600 km². 

The new seismic data will be acquired by M/V Geo Pacific, towing 8 x 6,000 m streamers, and be completed in late 2011.  Data processing from the new acquisition and reprocessing will be performed by TGS and available to clients late in the first quarter of 2012. The survey is supported by industry funding.