GEOSCIENCES

Acquisition of a WAZ survey in Garden Banks by CGGVeritas is scheduled for completion early this year. This second area survey covers 670 blocks in the Garden Banks protraction area and northern Keathley Canyon. Final results and processed data on this survey are expected to be complete in June 2010.

CGGVeritas’M/V Viking has completed a 3D survey over 244 blocks on East Breaks. Added to the 1,140-block Alaminos Canyon survey, this gives coverage of much of the western GoM. The survey will get a full PSDM Kirchhoff Migration, full PSDM Wave Equation Migration, and then a full PSDM Reverse Time Migration processing.

Plans also are under way for CGGVeritas to reprocess selected parts of the 2D data it co-owns with Seitel in the eastern GoM.

TGS-Nopec is running a 6,900 sq km (2,664 sq mi) multi-client 3D survey in the GoM DeSoto Canyon, and expects to have early partial data available prior to the March 2009 lease sale, the company says.

Gravimetric data is being collected along with seismic data.

North Sea

Reservoir Exploration Technology ASA has a third contract with BP. The survey, scheduled for initiation by the end of last month, December 2008, is to be acquired using RXT’s newVikland, delivered this past November. The vessel is a combined source/cable/buoy handling vessel and for this project will have eight 6-km (4-mi) VSO cables and dual 4,000 cu in. (65,548 cu cm) of G-gun source arrays.

Middle East

Petroleum Development Oman has awarded a multi-year contract extension for seismic data processing and imaging at Mina Al Fahal to CGGVeritas. The contract extension begins this month and runs through 2011 with a one-year extension option.

Mina Al Fahal is a dedicated processing center which recently was upgraded to handle new generation 3D wide-azimuth seismic data.

Asia/Pacific

Singapore-based BGP GeoExplorer Pte Ltd. awarded $84 million in contracts to Falcon Energy Group Ltd. to charter a seismic vessel and to purchase a supply boat. The 2D seismic vessel is to be namedBGP Challenger. The charter is for one year starting March 2009, plus an optional extension for another year. BGP says it expects to deploy the vessel in Southeast Asia or South China Sea.

BGP is a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corp. The company provides marine seismic services and reports plans to expand its scope of services following a fleet expansion under way since 2006.

Chevron Australia Pty Ltd. has started a 2D seismic survey in North West Shelf permit WA-383-P off Australia using CGGVeritas’Pacific Sword vessel. The survey area is on the continental slope of northwestern Australia, over 140 km (87 mi) north of the North West Cape. Water depths range from 900 m to 1,400 m (2,953 ft to 4,593 ft).

Chevron and joint venture partner Shell Development (Australia) Pty Ltd. were awarded the permit in 2005. The committed work program includes the acquisition of 1,200 km (746 mi) 2D seismic and 225 sq km (87 sq mi) of 3D seismic.

Off South Korea in Ulleung basin, CGGVeritas’Duke has completed a 2D seismic survey for Woodside Petroleum and Korea National Oil Corp. The vessel acquired 5,107 km (3,173 mi) of line in 1,000 m to 2,000 m (3,281 ft to 6,562 ft) of water over Block 8 east of Yeongdeok, North Gyeongsang province, and northern parts of Block 6-1 some 30 km (19 mi) east of P’ohang.

Plans call for processing to be complete in time to identify drilling prospects by June 2009.

Talisman Energy is targeting the Sageri block off Indonesia with seismic ahead of exploration drilling set for 2010. Sageri covers 3,878 sq km (1,497 sq mi) in 2,000 m (6,562 ft) water depth in South Makassar basin. The work program includes 5,000 km (3,107 mi) of 2D plus one exploration well.

Reports from Perth, Australia, indicate that BHP Billiton is considering a 4D seismic program for Stybarrow oilfield offshore Western Australia. The program would aim to define reservoir dynamics with an eye toward increased recovery.

Norway clears CGGVeritas to acquire Wavefield Inseis

The Norwegian Competition Authority has cleared CGGVeritas to move forward on its voluntary exchange offer for 100% of Wavefield Inseis. The Oslo Stock Exchange already approves the action.

The Wavefield board of directors “believes that it would be beneficial for Wavefield to be part of a larger, more diversified group that can offer a wider range of solutions to customers. In addition, a combination of Wavefield and CGGVeritas may reduce operational and financial risks for Wavefield and its shareholders in a more challenging market ahead. After careful consideration of the terms of the offer…the board is of the opinion that the shareholders should consider accepting the offer.”

Survey business

Concurrently in North Sea seismic acquisition business, Wavefield won one and lost one. StatoilHydro cancelled its contract for 3D seismic work in the North Sea for 2009 and paid a cancellation fee. The frame agreement between StatoilHydro and Wavefield, however, remains in effect.

Meanwhile, ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Norway AS has contracted Wavefield for the 2009 Ringhome/Balder/Forseti seismic acquisition program offshore Norway. Acquisition is scheduled for 2Q 2009. This will be Wavefield’s first ever project for ExxonMobil.

Offshore Jamaica, Wavefield and the Petroleum Corp. of Jamaica reportedly are working on an agreement to survey blocks 2, 3, 4, 15, 16, 18, 19, and 20 as part of an investigation into whether to launch a formal or informal leasing program.