Initial evaluation of 3D seismic data shows that Providence Resources P.l.c.’s Drombeg prospect offshore southwest Ireland, is consistent with those of a large deepwater fan system.
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The Polarcus Amani 3D seismic vessel. From Polarcus. |
Drombeg is located in the southern Porcupine basin in frontier exploration license (FEL) 2/14, approximately 220km off the west coast of Ireland at about 2500m water depth.
The prospect had been previously mapped as a significant Lower Cretaceous stratigraphic amplitude/AVO supported exploration target. Polarcus acquired a multi-client 3D seismic survey over Drombeg and its surrounding areas covering about 4435sq km in September 2014, of which Providence has licensed approximately 2247.5sq km of data. Polarcus’s initial evaluation of the fast-track 3D volume revealed seismic morphologies in the Drombeg prospect, consistent with those of a large deepwater fan system.
According to Providence Resources, the data also suggests that the Drombeg fan is being sourced from the Porcupine Bank via discrete sediment feeder systems. Initial review of the seismic gathers during data processing has also confirmed anomalous Class II AVO behavior within the prospect. Further seismic interpretation work continues on the fast-track 3D volume and the main interpretation, mapping and seismic attribute analysis work will be completed on the final migrated 3D volume, which the company expects to receive at the end of April 2015.
“We are providing this market update on these very initial observations from the Drombeg 3D survey given that Polarcus are making a presentation on this survey today at the APPEX Global 2015 Conference in London,” says John O’Sullivan, Providence technical director. “Whilst much further work remains to be carried out, we are obviously encouraged by these initial results, which appear to validate our previous work. Given its considerable prospective resource potential, the Drombeg project has already attracted expressions of interest from a number of major international oil companies and we plan to hold prospect presentations later in the year once a comprehensive data analysis has been completed.”
Polarcus, in partnership with ION GeoVentures, competed the acquisition of the major 3D broadband multi-client project in September using the Polarcus Amani 3D seismic vessel. The vessel towed an ultra-wide 1350m receiver array comprising 10 8100m-long, 2Hz solid digital streamers. This spread, towed at 14m to maximize weather uptime, enabled the vessel to cover the area in 73 days within the challenging Atlantic frontier environment.
The two companies are also partnering with SeaBird Exploration to acquire up to 6600km of regional 2D multi-client data across the entire basin with the objective of providing a regional context to this new frontier hydrocarbon province.
Providence operates FEL 2/14 with 80%, with partner Sosina Exploration (20%).
Read more:
Polarcus completes Ireland Porcupine Basin 3D multi-client project
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