Geoscience firm TGS has started acquisition on the Crean 3D multiclient program in the Porcupine Basin offshore Ireland.
The survey, being carried out using Shearwater GeoServices 3D vessel Polar Marquis, will take about 140 days.
The vessel will tow 12 x 8100m long solid streamers, with a separation of 100m and at depth of 18m below the surface of the water.
Europa Oil & Gas says the survey coverage will include its 30% owned Licensing Option 16/19, which covers 976sq km.
Last year, Europa said it had identified the potential for several Cretaceous submarine fans with gross mean un-risked prospective resources in the range of 300 MM to to 1 billion boe in the license.
Earlier this year, Europa farmed out a 70% interest in and operatorship of LO 16/19 to Cairn Energy.
Europa's CEO, Hugh Mackay, said: "The acquisition of 3D seismic is the critical first step towards unlocking the hydrocarbon potential of any license in the South Porcupine basin. We expect to receive a processed product in 2018, after which we can begin detailed interpretation of the 3D data and in due course deliver a prospect inventory, as we look to add to the 32 prospects we have already identified within our Irish portfolio across six different play types and three basins.
"We note the imminent start of drilling operations in FEL 2/14, some 100km south of LO 16/19. The outcome of this well is not only relevant to our Cretaceous fan and Paleocene prospects and leads in the basin, it also has the potential to de-risk all four of our South Porcupine licenses across which we have identified gross mean un-risked prospective resources of over 4 billion boe, half of which have been independently audited by a Competent Person."