What’s new in exploration

Seismic majors TGS and CGG have released a spate of new and ongoing international projects in the last two months. These include an agreement between TGS and Electromagnetic Geoservices ASA (EMGS) to invest jointly in a 3D electromagnetic (EM) multi-client survey covering 11 blocks, or approximately 3,300 sq km, in the Hoop area of the Barents Sea. The 3D EM data are being acquired by the M/V Atlantic Guardian. Data will be available to clients through both EMGS and TGS. The survey is funded by the industry. Under the terms of the previously announced agreement, EMGS will be given access to TGS’ 2D seismic data for survey planning and integration, while TGS will obtain access to 3D EM data, to evaluate and plan subsequent multi-client work over the area.

“Both companies (TGS and CCG) have a strong track record in this area,”   said Stein Ove Isaken, Senior V.P. Eastern Hemisphere for TGS. “Several case studies have shown the value of integrating EM and seismic data, to reduce exploration risk and identify new hydrocarbon prospects. This project represents a strong start to our previously-announced cooperation agreement.”

Additionally, TGS has several announced projects that include:

The Cheyenne 3D land survey, covering 1,689 sq km in Cheyenne and Kiowa Counties in Colorado, in an area that produces from horizons in the Mississippian and Pennsylvanian petroleum systems. Final data are expected to be available to the industry during second-quarter 2014.

The Francisco 3D is a 4,662-sq-km multi-client 3D survey that has commenced in the Atwater Valley area of the central Gulf of Mexico. This is the first 3D survey in this frontier area of the GOM. TGS will perform broadband processing on the survey.

After 14 years, TGS is returning to Denmark, to acquire and process a 7,000-km, multi-client 2D survey. Data will be available for the industry prior to the Danish 7th Round, which is planned for late 2013.

All of the above mentioned surveys are supported by industry funding.

TGS has also forged new partnerships:

In the first deal, TGS has signed a three-year agreement with Chinese seismic company BGP to jointly acquire, process and market 2D and 3D, multi-client seismic data offshore Madagascar and East Africa. The agreement includes an initial 2D, multi-client, 13,135-km seismic survey in west Morondava, offshore Madagascar. The newly acquired data will extend and infill the existing regional 2D multi-client data.

In addition, TGS has signed an agreement with EMGS to develop joint, multi-client projects in defined areas of NW Europe. With this agreement, TGS obtains access to 2D/3D controlled-source electromagnetic (CSEM) data to design and acquire new 3D seismic projects, while EMGS will be given access to TGS’ 2D grid as the basis for planning new 3D CSEM projects.

TGS has also signed a letter of intent with Magseis, establishing an exclusive multi-client partnership, using new Ocean Bottom Seismic technology. Joint projects are being planned with promising customer feedback.

Not to be outdone, CGG has announced its own list of projects:

The company has been awarded a contract by a subsidiary of Anadarko Petroleum and partner Ecopetrol, to acquire and process a 5,500-sq-km, 3D seismic survey on the Caribbean coast offshore Colombia. This is the largest marine seismic program ever acquired off Colombia. The survey, covering portions of the Col 5; Ura 4, Fuerte Norte, Fuerte Sur and Purple Angel Blocks, will be acquired by the CGG Viking. The vessel will tow a
10 3 100 3 7,050-m spread in a BroadSeis configuration. The survey will start in third-quarter 2013 and is expected to take four months.

CGG also has started acquiring Phase 1, known as Halten Terrace, of its Steppingstone 3D, multi-client survey program offshore Norway. This is the first time that CGG has acquired a 3D multi-client survey in the Norwegian North Sea, using its broadband marine solution. The Halten Terrace survey, or Steppingstone Phase 1, covers 2,260 sq km over the highly prospective Halten Terrace. The survey is being acquired by the Oceanic Champion, and the operation is expected to last three months. This survey will focus on providing better imaging of prospective Jurassic rotated fault blocks, inversion anticlines and shallow targets.

Jean-Georges Malcor, CEO, CGG, said: “After the success of several proprietary BroadSeis surveys for clients offshore Norway in 2011 and 2012, we decided to make our technology and experience available for this first 3D, multi-client survey on the Norwegian shelf. Close dialogue with oil companies operating in the area confirmed strong industry interest for this high-end technology to produce the new and modern 3D data needed to improve imaging of the complex geology.”

The TGS and CGG projects come hard on the heels of a landmark agreement by the oil and gas industry to stop seismic acquisition activity in the GOM for the next 2½ years in three areas considered critical to whales, and along the coast during the peak calving season for bottlenose dolphins.