DATA INTERPRETATION
Data handling key to success of major seismic surveys
Thanks to improvements in data handling, many of the latest seismic surveys - from the Seychelles and the Falklands to Iraq and Albania - are revealing promising oil and gas reserves. Eugene McCarthy reports.
Dank der Verbesserungen in der Datenverarbeitung enthüllen zahlreiche der aktuellen seismischen Gutachten – von den Seychellen und den Falkland-Inseln bis in den Irak und nach Albanien – vielversprechende Öl- und Gasreserven. Eugene McCarthy berichtet.
Gracias a las mejoras de la gestión de los datos, muchos de los últimos estudios sísmicos - desde las Islas Seychelles y las Falklands a Irak y Albania - se han descubierto yacimientos petrolíferos y gasíferos promisorios. Informe de Eugene McCarthy.
A
ustralian energy company WHL Energy says that the largest seismic acquisition survey programme ever
conducted in the Republic of the Seychelles, comprising a 19,609 km 2D seismic survey (143 lines), has been successfully completed by Fugro Data Services and Geomahakarsa. Tis survey, using the vessel Geo Artic, was conducted on a collaborative basis with the Republic of the Seychelles. In total WHL Energy commissioned 7887 km of 2D seismic acquisition (of the total) over 16 leads found within its large Seychelles holdings. Initially WHL Energy had only intended to acquire 7000 km of 2D seismic, however the board commissioned the acquisition of further 887 km based on the positive results following the initial seismic data review and an independent expert report from Isis Petroleum Consultants. Isis’ studies have confirmed the potential
of 12 leads across four different plays in WHL Energy’s Seychelles exploration holdings and estimated that these leads have the potential to contain unrisked mean oil in place of between 166m and 5.44b bbl/lead. WHL Energy chief executive officer
Fig. 1. The survey will improve the definition of the top and flanks of salt bodies within the survey area.
David Rowbottam commented: “Te 2D seismic acquisition campaign over our project area is now complete and we expect to receive all required data within the coming weeks, at which time interpretation will begin. Interpretation of that highly valuable
data will enable the company to aggressively progress the refinement of key drilling targets for a proposed farm-out in early 2012 ahead of the drilling programme targeted for late 2012.” Meanwhile Desire Petroleum, a company
wholly focused on the North Falkland Basin, has advised that its 3D seismic operations are ongoing with the Polarcus Nadia vessel, in a joint programme with Rockhopper. To date, approximately 1485 km2
of data
have been acquired in the Desire operated part of the programme. Te company anticipates that a further 195 km2
will
be acquired to complete the programme. Processing of the new seismic data is in progress and initial indications are that data quality is good. Priority areas have been identified in
the East Flank play between Ninky and Sea Lion, and over the Ann/Orca South prospect. Te processed data from these priority areas is expected to be available in July. Te full, merged data will be available later in the year, which will provide coverage over the southern part of the East Flank play and the Helen prospect. Desire remains optimistic that existing
prospects can be significantly de-risked using the new seismic data and that new prospects will be identified, particularly within the East Flank play which is widely developed within the Desire operated licences. Company chairman Stephen Phipps
commented, “On completion of the Ninky well, Desire will have funds of circa US$37 million which, while more than adequate for our share of rig and vessel demobilisation, completion of our 3D seismic acquisition, processing and interpretation plus general working capital needs, is insufficient to drill further wells. Given our continuing confidence that oil will be discovered on Desire’s acreage, further wells will need to be drilled and, therefore, once the results of the Ninky well and the 3D seismic have been analysed, we will review all financing options available with the intention of rejoining the drilling campaign later in the year if possible”. OMV has discovered gas on the North
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