Initial flow testing of the deeper Baxter reservoir of the Santos-operated Dorado-3 well has successfully exceeded expectations. Carnarvon Petroleum, which holds a 20% stake in Dorado, said the initial clean-up flow rate test over the Baxter Member was conducted over a 12-hour period with the flow rate constrained by the surface well equipment. The company said the flow rate achieved a maximum possible measured rate of approximately 48 million standard cubic feet (“MM scf”) per day of gas and 4,500 barrels (“bbls”) per day of associated condensate through a 60/64” choke.
Company Updates
DUG announces appointment of Laurence Letki as Chief Geophysicist
DownUnder GeoSolutions (DUG) has announced the appointment of Laurence Letki as Chief Geophysicist. DUG described Ms Letki as “an invaluable and experienced team member”, who had been promoted from her position as Principal Geophysicist. Laurence is a highly respected industry professional, a leading expert on full waveform inversion, and a frequent speaker at oil and gas industry conferences around the globe.
Sercel launches GPR – ‘a game-changing new ocean bottom node’
CGG has announced the launch by Sercel of GPR, a new Ocean Bottom Node (OBN). CGG said GPR “leverages the proven high performance of Sercel’s QuietSeis® broadband digital sensor technology to collect superior data for accurate seismic imaging compared to data collected by conventional sensors.” The company has jointly developed GPR in partnership with BGP.
Woodside invests in emerging technology for seismic data acquisition
Woodside has signed a Shareholders Agreement with Perth-based Blue Ocean Monitoring Ltd (BOM) to invest in Blue Ocean Seismic Services Ltd (BOSS). Woodside in a statement that BOSS is developing an innovative solution that has the “potential to make ocean bottom seismic data acquisition cheaper and more accessible”. Seismic data is critical for understanding geological formations and the nature of hydrocarbon resources that may be contained within them. Current methods use remotely operated vehicles to place nodes on the ocean floor that capture and record soundwaves.
TGS and Schlumberger announce new 3D Multi-client Reimaging Project in Egyptian Red Sea
TGS and Schlumberger have announced a new 3D seismic reimaging project in the Egyptian Red Sea. The project will comprise reimaging data from three overlapping seismic surveys totalling 3,600 km² that was acquired between 1999 and 2008 - the only available 3D data in this part of the Red Sea. It includes the integration of all legacy seismic and non-seismic data and will apply advanced imaging technologies to better define complex subsalt structures. The project, which is supported by industry prefunding, will be carried out by TGS and WesternGeco®, the geophysical services product line of Schlumberger.
Cooper unveils new gas field discovery in the Otway basin
Cooper Energy has made a new gas field discovery in the Otway basin offshore Victoria with the exploration well Annie-1 located in VIC/P44. Cooper Energy, as operator and 50% interest holder, with Mitsui E & P Australia also holding a 50% interest, said the well had reached total depth (TD) of 2,442 meters measured depth rotary table (MDRT) at 9:00 am AEST on September 4, 2019. The well was drilled by the Diamond Offshore-operated semi-submersible rig Ocean Monarch, which was deployed to drill two exploration wells for Cooper and started drilling Annie-1 in early August.
CGG awarded offshore Eastern Canada imaging project by BHP
Subsurface Imaging, part of CGG’s Geoscience division, has been awarded a large-scale seismic imaging project in the offshore Orphan Basin in Eastern Canada by BHP. CGG said that in line with its continued investments in high-end imaging technology, supercomputing capacity and digitalization, the company will employ its industry-leading FWI and least-squares migration algorithms over the entire survey area of more than 10,000 km². Through these advanced technologies and close collaboration with the client’s interpretation and imaging geophysicists, CGG fully commits to providing a step-change in subsurface imaging in a timely manner to support E&P investment decisions, CGG said.
Searcher announces Offshore Peru Multi-client Campaign
Searcher has reached agreement with Perupetro to produce four new multi-client projects as part of its Offshore Peru Multi-client Campaign. Searcher said this would be the first time any single company has presented the industry with the opportunity to interact with such an expansive collection of “highly enhanced exploration data which will have benefited from modern processing, interpretation and digitising techniques”.
CGG begins new 3D broadband survey in deepwater Brazil
CGG has commenced acquisition of Nebula 3D, a new, large, long-offset BroadSeis™ survey located in the Campos and Santos Basins, offshore Brazil. With an initial focus on Brazil’s 15th License Round blocks, the data is being acquired by the Geo Caribbean and a portion of the survey will provide 3D data coverage where no other 3D data currently exists. CGG said the company’s Geoscience’s Subsurface Imaging Centre in Rio will employ the latest, most advanced data processing techniques to deliver exceptional imaging of pre-salt structures in these prolific basins.
Shearwater completes survey over Shell’s Pensacola prospect
Shell, in conjunction with non-operated partner Cluff Natural Resources, has completed a 3D seismic survey extending to approximately 420 km2 over the Pensacola prospect on Licence P2252 in the Southern North Sea, offshore the UK. The survey, conducted by Shearwater GeoServices using the Polar Express, was completed on time and with no adverse incidents on 21 August, Cluff Natural Resources said. Under the farm-in agreement, Shell are paying 100% of costs of the seismic acquisition, processing and interpretation work programme until the end of 2020 or until a well investment decision is made.