Dr Peter Barber, a well-known petroleum geologist and sequence stratigrapher, died peacefully in Murdoch Hospice on 13th December 2018. He was 68 years old. Peter Barber was born in Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, England on 21st June 1950. He grew up with his younger brothers Martin and Jerry in Dartford, Kent. Peter was four years old before his parents realised that he was profoundly deaf. Despite this handicap and with the help of a hearing aid, Peter did very well at school and gained admission the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. He graduated in 1972 with a BSc (Honours) degree in Geology.
Archives for December 2018
December 2018
Sercel Awarded Contract for 100,000-Channel 508XT Land Seismic Acquisition System
CGG announces that Sercel has been awarded a contract by a major data acquisition company to supply land seismic equipment for a large onshore 3D seismic survey in the Middle East. The contract includes 100,000 Sercel 508XT channels equipped with strings of 12 SG-10 geophones. This large-scale 3D project encompasses several diverse environments, including areas with limited access, such as industrial complexes, agricultural land and urban areas. The 508XT system is an ideal choice for these challenging conditions: its unique fault-tolerant cross-technology (X-Tech®) architecture, including local storage and automatic data rerouting, simplifies field operations and enables continuous acquisition.
Northern Gas Pipeline to boost east coast gas supply
Australia’s natural gas producers welcomed the opening of the Northern Gas Pipeline between Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory and Mt Isa in Queensland. APPEA Chief Executive Dr Malcolm Roberts said the pipeline, built by Jemena, means northern Australia’s abundant gas resources will for the first time be able to be delivered to the gas markets of eastern Australia. “The new pipeline is another example of the measures the broader gas industry is taking to meet the needs of Australia’s homes and businesses which rely on sustained natural gas supply,” Dr Roberts said.
DUG welcomes Michael Lambert as Manager for new McCloud services
DownUnder GeoSolutions (DUG) has announced the appointment of Michael (Mick) Lambert as Manager for for the new DUG McCloud services business. A veteran of the seismic industry, Mick has spent the last 8 years with Wireless Seismic Inc. most recently as the company’s President and CEO. Mick is probably best known for the 16 years he spent with GX Technology (GXT), serving as President and CEO from 1997 until 2004 and then as President until 2006, after the company was acquired by Input/Output (now Ion).
Sercel sells a 100,000 channel 508XT land seismic acquisition system to BGP
Sercel has been awarded a contract by BGP to supply land seismic equipment for a large onshore 3D seismic survey in the Middle East. The contract includes 100,000 Sercel 508XT channels equipped with strings of 12 SG-10 geophones. Sercel said in a media release that “this large-scale 3D project encompasses several diverse environments, including areas with limited access, such as industrial complexes, agricultural land and urban areas. The 508XT system is an ideal choice for these challenging conditions: its unique fault-tolerant cross-technology (X-Tech®) architecture, including local storage and automatic data rerouting, simplifies field operations and enables continuous acquisition.
Quadrant Energy applies for Bedout seismic permit
Quadrant Energy has applied to NOPSEMA to conduct a seismic survey in the Bedout sub-basin offshore Australia. Quadrant Energy, which was recently acquired by Santos, is eager to acquire additional subsurface data for further appraisal of identified hydrocarbons in several reservoirs within the Bedout sub-basin. NOPSEMA said the proposed Keraudren seismic survey would be conducted approximately 118km off Port Hedland in water depths of 50m to 150m. The survey is in permits WA-435-P, WA-436-P, WA-437-P and WA-438-P and covers a total area of 5,539 km2, including vessel ramp up zones.
Polarcus and PGS set for court stoush over patent claim
Polarcus has accepted service of court proceedings filed by PGS Australia Pty Ltd relating to the acquisition of seismic data on three surveys in Australia and the processing of that data. Polarcus said proceedings had followed three years of intermittent correspondence from PGS “in response to which Polarcus, supported by leading patent counsel, provided overwhelming evidence that Polarcus’ activity did not intersect PGS’ patent. “The claim will be vigorously contested and has no impact on any project outside Australia,” Polarcus added.
CGG and OMV continue cooperation with Multi-Year extension of dedicated Centre
CGG has announced that its contract with OMV to operate a dedicated centre at its head office in Vienna has been renewed and will run for a further three years. During this period OMV will continue to benefit from onsite access to CGG’s subsurface imaging and reservoir characterization expertise and technology. The support given by the centre to image and interpret OMV’s geophysical data and the collaborative spirit in which the teams work together will help to provide greater insight into OMV’s worldwide acreage, CGG said.
Shell exits upstream operations in Ireland
Shell has exited the upstream sector in Ireland with the sale of its interest in the Corrib gas project to Nephin Energy for US$1.3 billion. The Corrib natural gas field is located approximately 83km off the northwest coast of Ireland, 3,000 meters under the seabed and in water depths of 350 meters. Initial field development started on December 30, 2015 comprising six subsea wells. Gas is transported via an 83 km pipeline to an onshore gas processing terminal and then exported via the Bord Gais Eireann link line to the Irish gas grid.
‘US to top new-build capex spend in oil and gas to 2025’
A total capital expenditure (capex) of $3.6tn is expected to be spent globally across oil and gas value chain on planned and announced projects during 2018 to 2025, according todata and analytics company GlobalData. In its latest report GlobalData said that, globally, the US, Russia, and Canada are the top countries in terms of new-build capex to be spent on planned and announced projects across the oil and gas value chain by 2025. The US tops the list with capex of US$521.4bn expected to be spent on 484 oil and gas projects. Russia and Canada follow with US$317.