TGS-Nopec shoots second Sri Lanka survey

TGS-Nopec Geophysical Co.(TGS), in collaboration with Fugro Geoteam, began the acquisition of a new multi-client 2D survey offshore Sri Lanka, South Asia. The 4,750 km SL05 survey complements data acquired earlier by the company. Data will be acquired over part of the Mannar basin.

"The combination of technical work carried out by TGS and the implementation of a globally-competitive legal and fiscal regime in Sri Lanka has created an opportunity which should be of great interest to the international exploration community," said Titus Jayarwardene, Sri Lanka director general of Petroleum Resources. The survey was the culmination of over four years work by TGS and the Sri Lankan government, according to Jayarwardene

Industry pre-funding supports the survey. TGS and Fugro will share revenues generated from the survey.

In other news, TGS is expanding expand its Deep Resolve multi-client 3D seismic survey. Located in the Gulf of Mexico deep gas exploration trend, the project is double its originally announced size and covers an area of 400 OCS blocks (8,400 sq km) in the Ship Shoal, South Timbalier, Grand Isle, and Ewing Bank areas of offshore Louisiana.

Acquisition of the enlarged project should be completed in July 2005. Deliveries of pre-stack time migrated data began in January 2005. Regular shipments of data will be made over the next few months.

02/08/05