GEOSCIENCES
Gene Kliewer , Houston
Exploration activity hits Greenland
By historical standards, it is going to be a busy summer for explorationists around Greenland. TGS-Nopec Geophysical Co. ASA has three programs, with the first scheduled to be under way already. That project is a 62,000 km (38,525 mi) aeromagnetic survey covering the Greenland side of Baffin Bay. Scheduled for later in the summer is a 2D seismic program which will overlap the aeromagnetic survey to some degree. That is an 8,800-km (5,468-mi) project including some lines into the Canadian side of the bay. Lastly, another aeromagnetic data acquisition project off the northeast coast will wrap up the summer’s work. TGS-Nopec plans to interpret the first Baffin Bay aeromagnetic data in Asker, Norway, for 4Q 2007 delivery, the 2D seismic data in Bedford for 1Q 2008 delivery, and the northeast aeromagnetic data in Asker for 4Q 2007 availability.
In other Greenland exploration activity, Husky Energy Inc. has landed exploration licenses on block 5 (2007-22) and block 7 (2007-24) from the West Disko 2006 round of offshore Greenland licensing. These two blocks cover 21,067 sq km (8,134 sq mi) some 120 km (75 mi) off the west coast of Disko Island in water depths less than 500 m (1,640 ft).
Husky has an 87.5% interest in the licenses and will be operator. Nunaoil A/S, Greenland’s national oil company, holds the remaining 12.5%.
Fugro shoots 3D for Pertra in Norwegian Sea
Further east along the same latitudes, Pertra ASA has contracted Fugro to acquire and process 3D seismic data in PL 432 150 km (93 mi) west of Rørvik.
“We have all along maintained that what is required on the Norwegian Shelf is a high level of exploration activities,” says Erik Haugane, Pertra CEO. “If we deem the potential to be of interest following the seismic acquisition, we are likely to commence drilling in late 2008 or 2009. This sets an example with regard to how soon exploration activities ought to be initiated on the Norwegian Shelf in order to identify new resources.”
Fugro also will be collecting and processing 3D seismic data for Pemex in the Gulf of Mexico under an $82-million contract covering 7,200 sq km (2,780 sq mi). The offshore work will be by Fugro’s new seismic vesselGeo Celtic and is due to commence in Sept. 2007 and last for six to seven months.
PGS accelerates electromagnetic capability
Petroleum Geo-Services ASA will acquire MTEM Ltd. for $275 million. MTEM (multi-transient electro-magnetic) has a cable-based electromagnetic technology. Because it is cable-based, the MTEM technology allows real-time data acquisition.
Sverre Strandenes, PGS Group president of data processing and technology, says the technology “is highly complementary to PGS’ own development of towed EM, the technologies together positioning PGS to address the emerging EM market.
“Through the acquisition of MTEM, PGS is accelerating its entry into the high growth EM market. Being the only player to offer a complete EM acquisition and processing technique both offshore and onshore, we believe the company to be a perfect fit within PGS.”
Permanent seismic monitoring system in development
Hydro Technology Ventures has formed a joint venture with Input/Output Inc. and Reservoir Innovation to develop, test, and commercialize a full-wave seismic system for permanent monitoring of offshore reservoirs. The JV expects to have a pilot system in place on a producing Hydro asset before the end of 2008.
Permanent seafloor systems enable 4D measurements of seismic responses that can infer pressure and saturation changes as well as fluid movements within reservoirs.
I/O will license technology to the JV, including sale of VectorSeis full-wave seismic sensors, and contribute technical personnel to system development. HTV will provide the capital for the program and identify an asset for the field trial of the initial system.
“We have been assessing the marine permanent reservoir monitoring opportunity for several years,” says Bob Peebler, president and CEO of I/O. “However, we needed an oil and gas company to step ahead of the pack and work with us to develop and field test the system. Close technical and commercial collaboration with E&P operators has served us well in launching other breakthrough seismic solutions.”
CGGVeritas orders new vessels
CGGVeritas and Eidesvik Offshore ASA have agreed on the supply of two newbuild seismic vessels with a total contract value of $420 million. The two vessels will be advanced, incorporating features based on the most recent X-BOW design of Ulstein Design AS, and will be delivered in 2010 under 12-year time charter agreements.
“We are extremely pleased to partner with Eidesvik Offshore ASA and Ulstein Design AS to introduce these vessels into our fleet and to further strengthen the relationship between our companies,” says Robert Brunck, chairman and CEO of CGGVeritas.
2D survey for Bass Strait
3D Oil Ltd. has signed a Heads of Agreement with five companies for a 2D seismic operation in the Bass Strait. The consortium expects to secure a vessel in 3Q 2007. 3D Oil was granted an extension to its T42-P permit because of difficulty locating a seismic vessel. The permit calls for 2,200 km (1,367 m) of 2D seismic data.