Woodside and partner Petrel Resources have received environmental approvals from the Department of Communications, Climate Change, & Natural Resources (formerly the Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources) earlier this month to begin 3D seismic surveys this summer in the Irish Atlantic.
Woodside awarded both Granuaile and Bréanann 3 Dimensional marine seismic surveys to PGS on 6 May. Technical, safety and environmental induction and final preparations were successfully completed on 16 May. The Ramform Vanguard survey vessel and its support vessels sailed from Killybegs on 17 May. The vessels are now mobilizing to the Granuaile survey area in the Southern Porcupine Basin, about 150km southwest off the Co. Cork coast.
We anticipate that the Bréanann 3D seismic survey covering, inter alia, Woodside-operated Frontier Exploration License 3/14 (Petrel has a 15% carried interest) will start in about 40 days, in the ideal weather window, Petrel sadi.
"The prospectivity of Ireland's Porcupine Basin is now generally accepted by the oil industry, with 43 applications by 17 companies in the recent 2015 Bid Round,” David Horgan, Petrel director said. “Discoveries in Canada's Fleming Pass have boosted exploration interest, as this province is seen as a twin of the southern Porcupine Basin - of which it was once part."
"Ireland needs exploration wells drilled on the best possible seismic data. Previous exploration wells mainly targeted relatively shallow water prospects. Technical advances and higher oil and gas prices have opened up new plays."
"The 3D seismic campaign underway this summer represents the state-of-the-art both in safety, environmental standards as well as technical competence. The objective is to de-risk several leads and prospects to drillable status. The partners have succeeded in securing excellent contractors and equipment to conduct this work in the ideal weather window."
Image of the Ramform Vanguard, from PGS.
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