4d fixed installation seismic 25
New seismic fleet targets
3D and 4D high-end surveys
Responsible exploration of new frontiers
environmentally sensitive areas is expected to drive
is made possible with the latest maritime
a much higher level of environmental compliance
worldwide as legislation on emissions to air and water
advances. Christian Fenwick reports. are continuously updated or introduced. In several
countries, for example in Australia and Canada, this
legislation is already well established. With this fleet
I
n In less than two months time, Polarcus Nadia, Dubai based Polarcus is well positioned to meet both
the first vessel in Polarcus’distinctive,ultra-modern current and future operational demands as the industry
six-vessel fleet, will be operational. Specifically moves ever deeper into more environmentally and
targeting the high-end 3D towed marine seismic technically challenging waters. Polarcus’ worldwide
market these unique and purpose-built vessels are at service capabilities encompass conventional 3D surveys,
the forefront of maritime and seismic innovation. The sophisticated wide- and multi-azimuth projects, high-
Polarcus fleet incorporates the increasingly recognisable density 4D development surveys, and marine seismic
lines of the ULSTEIN X-BOW hull. But not all X-BOW’s operations in new frontier regions, such as the promising
are the same by any means. There are three vessel Arctic Ocean where, according to recent USGS studies,
classes in the Polarcus fleet, each with the distinctive undiscovered reserves equivalent to 17 per cent of the
hull form that delivers a smoother and more fuel efficient world’s currently known reserves could still lie awaiting
passage but also incorporating other important design discovery.
characteristics. One such example is the ICE-1A notation
that is specifically granted to ships capable of operating
'Green' technologies
in ice conditions of 0.8m level ice thickness. Four of the The ultra-modern vessels of the Polarcus fleet, with the
company’s vessels will carry this notation. investments in ‘green’ technologies and the associated
Although it is not possible to acquire seismic in such company commitment to a pioneering environmental
heavy ice conditions, the notation means that these agenda, are designed to help Polarcus’ clients to work
vessels are well equipped to handle safely the long safely and efficiently within these constraints. Featuring
transit to and from survey locations in the Arctic through the Det Norske Veritas (DNV) CLEAN-DESIGN notation,
potentially ice-prone seas, enabling operators to make and with all Polarcus’ vessels running on low-sulphur
the most of the short seismic operating season. marine gas oil, the company aims to operate their fleet
The expansion of the industry into frontier and with the lowest environmental footprint in the industry.
The vessels are also built with a double
hull, hence there are no fuel tanks adjacent
to the vessels’ external hulls thereby reducing
the risk of spillage into the environment in
the case of a collision. For the Arctic this is a
significant safety consideration as well as an
environmental benefit, ensuring the vessels
have improved floatability characteristics.
T
he lastest generation bilge
cleaning and ballast water
treatment technologies, the latter
using the International Maritime
Organisation’s (IMO) first type approved
and 100 per cent chemical free system from
Alfa Laval, will minimise the risk of pollution
and eliminate the spread of foreign invasive
species across the oceans. This spreading of
species has been recently identified by the
IMO as one of the four greatest threats to the
world’s oceans. In addition, the vessels carry
Fig. 1. The Polarcus six vessel fleet. the NAUT-AW notation that indicates the
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