Gulf of Papua study reveals more prospective exploration plays

Jan. 15, 2020
Searcher Seismic has completed its Gulf of Papua prospectivity study offshore Papua New Guinea.

Offshore staff

WEST PERTH, AustraliaSearcher Seismic has completed its Gulf of Papua prospectivity study offshore Papua New Guinea.

The Gulf extends across 187,000 sq km (72,201 sq mi). To date 27 exploration wells have been drilled in shallow water, with much of the region barely explored.

Discover Geoscience conducted the study on Searcher’s behalf. It comprises five main sections; Tectono-Stratigraphic Framework, Tectonostratigraphic Elements, Facies and EOD Mapping, Charge Modeling, and Play Concepts & Leads Inventory.

Searcher claims to have the most wide-ranging multi-client geoscience dataset available in Papua New Guinea, including 77,910 km (48,411 mi) of new and reprocessed 2D seismic data; 1,795 sq km (693 sq mi) of reprocessed 3D data; 60,690 sq km (23,432 sq mi) of airborne gravity, magnetic and gradiometry data; and a geochemical study covering the entire Gulf of Papua.

Simon Crellin, the company’s sales director, said: “Modern seismic data has enabled deeper imaging of distinctive tectonic packages and basement… leading to the identification of several new plays within the Gulf of Papua.

“The study has revealed significant prospectivity in this frontier region. Leveraging high-quality seismic data, drop cores, dredge samples, seep data and geochemical analysis within this study has enabled us to build a comprehensive leads inventory for the Gulf of Papua.”

01/15/2020