CGG has completed the acquisition and processing of the first-ever airborne gravity gradiometry (AGG) survey of the Kingdom of Bahrain. Conducted on behalf of the Bahrain Petroleum Co. (Bapco), this was the first commercial survey to be acquired worldwide using FalconPlus, the newest release in CGG’s highly successful suite of Falcon airborne gravity gradiometer (AGG) systems and the lowest-noise AGG system available today.
Extent of the Bapco FalconPlus survey area. Existing seismic and well data will be included in the interpretation of the new data set. Map from CGG. |
A data set of around 18,000km of high-resolution, low-noise airborne gravity gradiometer and magnetic data is now available over approximately 7700sq km of open exploration acreage across the Kingdom’s offshore licensing blocks. The data set and integrated interpretation products will help Bapco and future license holders better evaluate their hydrocarbon potential and identify priority areas for exploration in advance of future licensing rounds.
CGG will work with Bapco to deliver a comprehensive integrated study that will combine the AGG data with existing seismic, well and other geological information to help improve the seismic imaging and interpretation of existing seismic vintages over the area and also improve prospectivity.
The study will also help to develop improved velocity models for the mitigation of near-surface effects. This will enhance industry understanding of the region’s challenging Pre-Khuff section, as well as help image salt thickness and the edges of salt flanks to identify potential prospects and leads created by salt bodies.
Yahya Al Ansari, Bapco exploration manager, said: “The Kingdom of Bahrain will benefit from the additional, geological insight brought by the higher sensitivity of the CGG FalconPlus data and its subsequent integration with our existing information. The integrated study is expected to provide a valuable platform for Bapco and our future partners to target and develop new petroleum resources in the Kingdom.”
Pascal Rouiller, COO of CGG, said: “FalconPlus builds on the success of our Falcon AGG system to deliver uncompromised gravity data to the petroleum exploration industry. Its deployment in this prolific petroleum province will give Bapco, and future license operators, access to the highest-quality data to inform their geological decisions.”