Seismic acquisition firms PGS and TGS are working together to expand 2D seismic coverage offshore eastern Canada ahead of a new tenure round in the area, while EMGS signed a multi-client license agreement with Nalcor Energy (see below) covering the Flemish Pass basin.
PGS will acquire more than 30,000 km of seismic data using two vessels, during the 2014 acquisition season, with TGS performing data processing and final data available in Q3 2015.
In June 2014 the M/V Sanco Spirit, will start seismic and gravity data acquisition using the multi-sensor PGS GeoStreamer technology, in the Labrador Sea and Northeast Newfoundland-Flemish Pass areas.
PGS says: “This project will provide valuable data covering the areas soon to be disclosed in the Sector Identification announcement by Canada's Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB) for which a Call for Bids will take place as part of the new land tenure system announced to the industry on 19 December 2013.”
It will be PGS’ fourth acquisition season offshore eastern Canada and will add to the firm’s existing 47,600 km of 2D data, acquired during 2011, 2012, and 2013 in the region.
In July the M/V Atlantic Explorer, also using PGS’ GeoStreamer technology, will start acquiring seismic and gravity data in the Tail of the Bank area of Southeast Grand Banks. The Southeast Grand Banks 2D covers an initial 15,000 km, where it is expected the C-NLOPB will announce future AOIs.
"This year we have doubled our commitment to Eastern Canada with two simultaneous GeoStreamer acquisition programs in Newfoundland-Labrador, as recent finds have rendered this region one of the world's most exciting exploration frontiers,” says Jerry Witney, PGS Vice President North America MultiClient. “We have already seen that GeoStreamer technology is ideal for Eastern Canada. This summer we are building further on our 2012 and 2013 programs in the Labrador Sea and the Flemish Pass, as these are particular areas of current interest both for oil companies and the provincial government.”
TGS said the new data would complement its existing 47,600 km of 2D data acquired during the 2011, 2012, and 2013 acquisition seasons in the region.
EMGS inks multi-client, multi-season Flemish Pass campaign
Meanwhile, EMGS has signed a multi-client license agreement with Nalcor Energy, the Provincial Energy Corporation of Newfoundland and Labrador, for the acquisition of up to 13,500sq km, in a multi-season campaign.
The CSEM survey is expected to begin in June of this year and will target the Flemish Pass basin, where recent major oil discoveries have been made. The survey will collect 4000sq km of 3D EM data calibrated to these discoveries and will image key prospects in nearby areas. Integrated data delivery will be available in early 2015. This survey is supported by industry pre-funding.
Richard Wright, Manager Exploration of Nalcor Energy, added: "The offshore basins of Newfoundland and Labrador are relatively underexplored, particularly in the slope and deepwater. Investing in this calibrated, 3D EM survey with EMGS will provide the global industry with a new tool to identify and de-risk new leads, and high- grade existing prospects in this frontier area."
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