18 ControLLEd SourCE ELECtroMagnEtiC rESonanCE
Challenging times as doubts
raised over CSEM technique
Life in the controlled
source electromagnetic
survey camp remains
challenging, reports
Jeremey Cresswell.
Weiterhin keine
Entspannung auf dem
Forschungsgebiet
der aktiven
Elektromagnetik
(CSEM) – ein Bericht
von Jeremey Cresswell.
Jeremey Cresswell
analiza las desafiantes
condiciones de vida en
el campo de
exploración por fuente
electromagnética
controlada.
W
ith both main protagonists Fig. 1. An EMGS survey team deploying CSEM
in the controlled source equipment at night.
electromagnetic (CSEM)
survey camp suffering from
the impact of last year’s plummeting oil prices, said in a statement: “Although we have been
there is also lingering scepticism in some quarters successful in our efforts to reduce operating costs
regarding the efficacy of this offshore technique in late 2008 and early 2009, we must now further
for detecting the presence of hydrocarbons. reduce our operating expenses to match the
While directors at Offshore Hydrocarbon current demand environment.
Mapping (OHM Group) have taken a cut in “However, we believe that the plan announced
pay and trimmed their workforce to help the is necessary and the right course of action to
UK company ride out current difficulties, streamline our operations into a more efficient
Electromagnetic Geoservices (EMGS) of Norway and commercially oriented business. These
has restructured, cut its workforce and hired in actions will secure a sustainable financial
a new chief executive. Both companies have now position short-term, whilst enabling the company
reconfigured their vessel requirements as a result to respond to increased demand in a profitable
of less work. manner.”
Of the two, EMG is the more successful and, Bekker replaces Terje Eidesmo, who has been
as oil prices showed mid-2009 signs of recovery, on sick leave for some months. Under Bekker’s
this was reflected by a number of contracts being leadership, EMGS anticipates that the measures
won. OHM too has secured contract work, but will result in annual reductions in operating
it appears to be rather short-term, though the expenses of about $8–10million.
company is involved in a three-year joint industry A further impact of the cutbacks at EMGS
project. is that the company intends to cut back on its
A measure of the difficulties is that, even research and development programme, except
allowing for fleet reduction, recovering oil prices where collaboration with customers is involved,
and new business, Roar Bekker, EMGS CEO and concentrate on marketing existing products.
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