SEISMIC SURVEYING 


resultant total ‘most likely case’ un-risked prospective recoverable oil resources being about 1500 MMbbls. LGO has also reached agreement to


acquire the subsurface rights of several additional land leases in the Cedros Peninsula of SW Trinidad, totalling 937 acres. Tese leases, which lie immediately adjacent to the company’s producing interests at Icacos, will be combined with the 815 acres already leased earlier in 2011 (Fig. 1). A private petroleum license will be applied for shortly. Tese leases require a minimum work programme of geological studies and have no fees other than net production royalties in the event of success. Te Icacos License covers a total of 1960


acres which, with the new 100 per cent owned leases, gives LGO a total interest in over 3700 acres. Te company considers this to be a sufficient area to initiate the detailed planning for geophysical surveys; expected to consist of an airborne gravity and magnetic survey in 2012, followed by 2D seismic data and exploration drilling to explore for the Herrera Formation target. Tis area lies less than 15km from the Venezuelan coast where the equivalent Mio-Pliocene play is proven and has produced close to a billion barrels over the past 80 years. By contrast, very little exploration for the Herrera Formation reservoirs has so far been undertaken in the Cedros Peninsula. LGO envisages an integrated approach to exploration across the peninsula. Geological and geophysical studies will be combined with data from existing wells in Trinidad and Venezuela. Exploration drilling could be undertaken in 2013 and is expected to involve at least one well to a depth of at least 10 000 feet.


Icacos Field produces from the Upper Cruse reservoir at an average depth of 2000 feet. Production is currently coming from three open wells and averaged 35bopd (gross) in 2011. LGO holds a 50 per cent interest in the Icacos License. Potential exists to re-open some of the other 14 wells drilled within the Icacos leases and to explore further for small fields at the Cruse level as well as the deeper Herrera. Elsewhere in Trinidad, the farm-in to the


Advance Oil Moruga North leases has been substantially progressed and it is hoped to drill the first of the three exploration wells in first quarter 2012. A location for the first well has been agreed, environmental permits have been applied for and the contracting of a rig and well services has been initiated. Progress on the assignment of the


Goudron area increased production service contract continues and the company is optimistic that field operations can be commence in early 2012. “Trinidad provides a major growth area


for LGO which combines early production revenues from a large number of existing wells, with very significant exploration upside in a proven hydrocarbon province. We are pleased to report excellent progress and are optimistic about the prospects for 2012,” said Ritson.


Guinea and Mongolia, too Using the survey vessel Oceanic Endeavour, seismic contractor CGGVeritas is to acquire 3D seismic data in a deep water area covering approximately 4000km2


in Hyperdynamics’


oil and gas concession offshore Guinea in West Africa. After it completes the data acquisition phase of the project, CGGVeritas will also process the data.


3D Ice Bear survey underway W


esternGeco has begun acquisition of the Bjornoya Phase I ‘Ice Bear’


3D multiclient survey in the highly prospective West Loppa area of the Barents Sea. Following previous surveys in the


area, the Ice Bear survey will extend the existing WesternGeco West Loppa datasets to the North and West. “Te study area is located on the rim of the Bjornoya Basin, on the west flank of the Loppa High and includes a large downthrown terrace in the North together with other Jurassic faulted


Te survey area is located just southwest of and adjacent to the 3D survey obtained by Hyperdynamics in 2010. Te primary goal of this new survey is to investigate multiple possible deep water submarine fans in the equatorial Atlantic margin that were identified from a 2D seismic survey acquired in 2009. Ray Leonard, Hyperdynamics ceo, commented: “Te deep water 3D survey will utilise CGGVeritas’ BroadSeis broadband solution, which is expected provide a clearer and more detailed image of the subsurface. Tis 3D survey is a critical next step in our ongoing Guinea exploration campaign, one that should further de-risk our acreage and help us identify the most promising deep water locations for future drilling.” Hyperdynamics operates the Guinea concession with a 77 per cent participating interest, with the remaining 23 per cent held by Aberdeen-based Dana Petroleum, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Korean National Oil Company. Manas Petroleum has announced the


commencement of the second seismic survey on the two Mongolian blocks - Zuunbayan- XIV Block and Tsagaan Els-XIII Block - owned by Gobi Energy Partners (GEP). Tis seismic survey includes up to 1700


km of 2D seismic. It covers 10 prospective areas over both blocks, which were identified by both companies. Te programme is laid out in eight phases without any interruption between the phases – although some phases do show interdependencies. Preparation and mobilisation has commenced and the acquisition is expected to begin shortly. Tis seismic survey is being carried out


in an effort to improve the quality of existing data and increase the chances of success of


structures, all of which have potential,” said Phil Davey, WesternGeco Europe & Africa GeoSolutions manager, “Other, separate, but still promising features are seen in the southwestern part of the survey area.” Building on previous 2D datasets,


the Ice Bear survey will consist of approximately 2500km2 of 3D seismic data, acquired using ten 7 km streamers. Advanced acquisition techniques coupled with demultiple processing using the WesternGeco 3D general surface multiple prediction (GSMP)


technology will provide high-quality 3D data. Acquisition commenced on 10


July 2011 and the fast-track data was available in November 2011 in time for nominations for the 22nd Norwegian Licensing Round. Te final processed data will be available for licensing in March 2012 in advance of the applications for the 22nd Norwegian Offshore Licensing Round. Companies are invited to contact WesternGeco to discuss their interest in this programme. 


IHSS 6


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