Potential Bight benefits great for State and nation Successful oil exploration in the Great Australian Bight could see the creation of more than 2,000 jobs in South Australia and generate over $7 billion in average annual tax revenue to Federal and State governments over the next four decades, a new study has found. The indirect benefits of the activity and the associated tax revenue could see almost 5,000 jobs created across Australia in the period between 2020 and 2060.
Seismic (public)
TGS and PGS commence Lewis Hill 3D multi-client project offshore East Canada
Norwegian seismic players TGS and PGS have teamed up and begun a new 3D multi-client project in East Canada. The Lewis Hills 3D Geostreamer survey will cover approximately 3,400 km² in an active Newfoundland area of the Flemish Pass Basin with data to be acquired by the PGS Ramform Sterling vessel, TGS announced in a media release on Friday. As previously announced, this vessel will also acquire approximately 2,700 km2 of additional data on the 2017 Harbour Deep and Cape Broyle 3D survey outlines.
ADNOC awards world’s largest combined onshore and offshore 3D seismic survey to CNPC affiliate
The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has awarded contracts worth US$1.6bn, representing the world’s largest continuous 3D onshore and offshore seismic survey, covering an area up to 53,000 square kilometres. ADNOC said the latest award was part of the company’s ongoing strategy to “identify and unlock new opportunities and maximize value from its hydrocarbon resources and deliver on its 2030 smart growth strategy”. Adding to the 2D and 3D seismic data already acquired across Abu Dhabi, the new seismic survey will cover an area of up to 30,000 km2 offshore and 23,000 km2 onshore.
OGA offers frontier blocks in 31st offshore licensing round
The Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) has launched the 31st Offshore Licensing Round, offering blocks in frontier areas of the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS), supported by government-funded data to stimulate interest in these under-explored basins and assist companies in their activities. A total of 1766 blocks (370,000 km2) of open acreage is now available across the West of Scotland, the East Shetland Platform, the Mid North Sea High, South West Britain and parts of the English Channel, covered by over 80,000 km of high-quality, publicly-available seismic data generated through the 2015 and 2016 Government seismic programmes.
Cliff Head reveals a potential 29-million barrel bounty
Perth-based Triangle Energy has announced that a recently completed static model has unveiled a prospective resource estimate of up to 29 million barrels of oil at its Cliff Head field in the Perth Basin. This represents an 80% increase over previous estimates of 15.7MMbbl in a discovery located 10km offshore in depths of 15-20 metres. The ASX-listed junior explorer said the “near field” prospects are located in close proximity to Cliff Head’s discovered, producing reservoirs where future potential development was well positioned to take advantage of existing pipelines and infrastructure.
USA flags 78 million acres for offshore exploration
The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has put approximately 78 million acres offshore Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida up for offer for oil and gas exploration and development. BOEM said acreage offer was in support of President Donald Trump's America-First Offshore Energy Strategy and the region-wide lease sale, scheduled for Aug. 15, 2018, includes all available unleased areas in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. “Responsibly developing our offshore energy resources is a major pillar of this Administration’s energy strategy,” said Deputy Secretary of the Interior, David Bernhardt.
Seabird set for seismic work in Norway and Asia Pacific
SeaBird Exploration has announced a partnership deal with MultiClient Geophysical to conduct a 6000km multi-client 2D Deep Imaging Campaign on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The company said the acquiring vessel will tow a single 12,000-meter streamer with a powerful source to image the oceanic and continental crust, for new conceptual geological understanding and improved interpretation of large-scale tectonics. “This leads to an enhanced understanding of the regional geology and may reveal new play models. Harrier Explorer will be used for the project, which is estimated to have a duration of approximately two months,” SeaBird said.
Still ‘plenty of discoveries to be made’ on the Norwegian shelf
The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) says new and larger discoveries will have to be made for Norway to maintain production of oil and gas after the mid-2020s. This was revealed in the Norwegian regulator’s 2018 Resource Report for Exploration, published on 21 June. The report concludes that there is much remaining oil and gas on the Norwegian shelf, providing significant opportunities in both mature and less explored areas. Increased knowledge, more and improved data, new work methods and new technology will create new exploration possibilities and can yield more profitable discoveries.
CGG Completes Mozambique Multi-Client Survey in Zambezi Delta
CGG has completed acquisition of 15,400 km2 of 3D marine seismic data in the outer Zambezi Delta Basin, west of the Beira High. The survey area covers blocks Z5-C and Z5-D and surrounding non-held acreage. This is the first survey to be conducted following the agreement CGG signed with Mozambique’s Instituto Nacional de Petroleo (INP) in 2017 for the acquisition of a new multi-client program. CGG said the fast-track PreSTM data set will be available in Q4 2018 in anticipation of a licence round during 2019 and final PreSDM deliverables will be made available in Q4 2019.
Polarcus awarded seismic survey projects in Australia and Europe
Melbana Energy has awarded Polarcus the contract to undertake a 3D seismic survey over the Beehive Prospect, which is one of the largest undrilled hydrocarbon structures in Australia. The Beehive 3D Seismic Survey is being operated by Australian energy company Santos pursuant to an operations services agreement and is fully funded by French major Total and Santos. Melbana Energy said the Beehive 3D survey is expected to be commenced in July and completed before the end of August 2018. “The survey is a typical 3D survey using methods and procedures similar to others conducted in Australian waters,” the company said.