Offshore staff

(Norway)- Statoil expects a very active season for seismic data acquisition, both on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) and internationally.

The company reports that seismic data acquisition on the NCS has almost doubled over the past two years. Statoil has also experienced a jump in seismic surveying internationally.

Erik Håvarstein, head of the geology and geophysics unit in the Technology & Projects business area, attributes the high activity to "Statoil's focus on reservoir management and improved oil recovery." Håvarstein's unit handles the seismic data acquisition for all relevant units in the group.

Statoil's plan is to gather some 8,500 sq km of seismic this year, a significant increase from the 4,500 sq km collected last year.

This year's acquisition of exploration seismic data on the NCS is about to start. Beginning in late June, Statoil will acquire about 3,000 sq km of seismic data from the North Sea and the Halten/Nordland area of the Norwegian Sea. This acquisition is in connection with the 2005 awards in pre-defined areas (APA).

In addition, seismic data acquisition is scheduled to start in the late summer in two exploration licenses in the Barents Sea, where Statoil was awarded ownership in the 19th offshore licensing round. Seismic data acquisition for feasibility studies and field development will also take place on the Valemon prospect in the North Sea, the Tyrihans field and the Trestakk structure in the Norwegian Sea, and structures in the Snøhvit area in the Barents Sea.

Statoil also plans to shoot 1,900 sq km of 4D seismic data this year, in order to aid in determining reservoir depletion over time. The method has helped improve oil and gas recovery from existing fields.

The 4D seismic data shooting will take place on the Troll, Sleipner West, Sleipner East, Snorre, Tordis and Vigdis fields in the North Sea, on the Norne, Heidrun, Kristin fields and the Midgard structure in the Norwegian Sea, and on structures around the Snøhvit field.

Internationally, Statoil will shoot in the Camamu basin off the coast of Brazil, where the company operates four blocks. The seismic surveying started in November, and about 3,200 sq km of seismic data are expected to be acquired there during June.

5/22/2006