Exploration in the Americas is heating up, with energy data and intelligence company TGS announcing three projects in the region in recent days.
On Thursday, the company, “in a strategic partnership with SLB,” announced the start of the Engagement 4 Ocean Bottom Node (OBN) multi-client acquisition in the US Gulf of Mexico. The acquisition of Block 152 OCS, the sparse OBN survey is ongoing, the company noted, noting that this project expands the contiguous data coverage of earlier phases west of Green Canyon.
“In an area known for increasingly difficult subsurface imaging, the application of a full waveform inversion using ultra-long offsets will provide a data set that represents a step change in conceivable geological and geophysical interpretation” , TGS said in a company statement.
“To support both existing leases and future lease sales space,” fast-track products will be available in the fourth quarter of this year, with final processing expected to be completed in the second middle of next year, TGS explained.
Commenting on the project, Kristian Johansen, CEO of TGS, said: “together with our project partners, we are excited to deliver our sixth multi-client OBN project in the US Gulf of Mexico.”
“The consistently positive and proven imaging results from previous phases support the continued application of these advanced seismic techniques, delivering significant exploration value to our customers,” Johansen added.
On Wednesday, TGS announced the Amazonia Azul 2D-cubed project, which the company described as the first of its kind outside of Brazil. The business highlighted that this project represents an expansion of TGS’s multi-client data coverage in the region and aims to improve understanding of Brazil’s Equatorial Margin area.
Initial delivery of data from this project is expected in the first quarter of 2024.
“Covering a vast area of 268,506 square kilometers, the Amazonia Azul 2D cube project will play a crucial role in unlocking the potential of this sea basin,” TGS said in a company statement.
“The innovative 2D cube technology uses a structurally conformable interpolation engine that transforms 2D data into a full 3D volume, which can be interpreted at a regional scale,” he added.
“This cutting-edge approach allows users to fully leverage the capabilities of their 3D interpretation software, significantly improving analysis and facilitating the communication of geological knowledge,” continued TGS.
Johansen said the company was “delighted to introduce the first 2D cube project on the equatorial margin of Brazil.”
“This groundbreaking effort demonstrates TGS’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of geoscientific innovation and delivering high-quality data solutions to our customers,” Johansen said.
“By expanding our coverage and leveraging state-of-the-art technologies, we are excited to contribute to the development of exploration in this region,” added the TGS CEO.
Earlier in the week, TGS announced the Falklands 3D Phase III project, which it noted is an expansion of its multi-client 3D coverage in the Falklands Basin off the coast of Argentina.
The company said it plans to acquire a 3D seismic survey of approximately 7,500 square kilometers and stated that, once completed, it will have built a 25,000 square kilometer 3D library in the Falklands Basin. Malvinas 3D Phase III procurement is expected to begin in early 2024.
“We are pleased to announce the expansion of our multi-client coverage for the Malvinas 3D project offshore Argentina,” said Johansen.
“This project demonstrates our commitment to continually providing our customers with the most up-to-date and accurate information to drive their exploration efforts,” added the TGS CEO.
“Using our advanced seismic imaging technology, we aim to unlock the full potential of this region and support the energy industry in its search for sustainable energy resources,” continued Johansen.
All three projects have industry funding, TGS revealed.
Previous projects
In February, TGS, “in partnership with SLB”, announced the acquisition of the Engagement III ultra-long offset OBN at Green Canyon in the US Gulf of Mexico.
Engagement III was the fifth multi-client ultra-long offset OBN acquisition in the Gulf of Mexico and extended the southward data coverage of previous phases, TGS disclosed at the time. In a company statement in February, TGS said acquisition for the 111 OCS block survey was expected to be complete in April, with final results expected in mid-2024.
Also in February, TGS announced Pontiac 3D, an onshore seismic program in the Midland Basin, and in January, announced the second phase of the 3D multi-client survey of Foz do Amazonas, located in the equatorial margin offshore Brazil.
The first covers about 167 square miles in Ector, Midland, Crane and Upton counties in Texas, and data acquisition is expected to begin in the third quarter with final data available to customers early in the second quarter of l ‘next year, explained TGS. The latter covers 11,425 square kilometers, with early PSDM products available in the fourth quarter and final products available from the third quarter of next year, the company noted.
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