Offshore staff
OSLO, Norway – The M/V Nordic Explorer has started to acquire 2D seismic data off the Jan Mayen region between Iceland and Norway.
According to the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD), which commissioned the program on behalf of Norway’s Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, the campaign will continue until early August. The plan is to acquire 63 lines totaling 9,200 km (5,716 mi) of seismic data.
The vessel was mobilized at the Faroese capital of Torshavn last week, and is on site at Jan Mayen, and accompanied by three escort vessels for safety purposes.
Last summer NPD compiled 3,100 line km (1,926 mi) of seismic off Jan Mayen.
“Our data from this part of the continental shelf is scarce, and most of it is old,” said Lars Jensen, project manager for this summer’s program. “We are now approaching this in a systematic manner to better map the area.”
Results will be submitted to Norway’s parliament (Storting) for consideration as to whether the area could be opened for petroleum activities.
NPD’s overall program this summer involves collecting 29-30,000 km (18,020-18,641 mi) of seismic data across the Barents Sea, Jan Mayen, and in the Nordland IV and V areas off mid-Norway.
6/6/2012
