Seismic technology Best way to identify prospects

REAL-TIME WELL TRAJECTORY DURING DRILLING

With the size of seismic data growing exponentially, operators are moving high-performance computing workloads to the cloud and have developed innovative data compression methods.

AFRICAN OPERATORS ARE constantly looking for ways to improve acquisition, processing and interpretation methods by leveraging the power of digitalisation to improve workflow efficiency and reduce model uncertainties.

In achieving the goal, a number of African oil and gas operators are conducting seismic surveys, both onshore and offshore to boost exploration as well as production. Using highperformance computing, cloud, artificial intelligence, machine learning and advanced visualisation, such seismic surveys not only unlock new insights into complex geology but also reduce cycle times from exploration to production.

For example, PGS’ five 3D seismic surveys to its data library offshore Egypt aims to create new broadband 3D coverage of more than 18,700 sq km in recently awarded nearshore license blocks. The timemigrated data is available now, while final depth data will be ready in May 2022. This new 3D data provides detailed insights into opportunities that complement the regional geology and structural foundation provided by MultiClient 2D seismic available for this region. This enables operators in this area to identify prospects that are best aligned with their exploration goals.

Also, Namibia’s oil and gas exploration company Monitor Exploration has commenced the environmental impact assessment (EIA) and environmental management plan (EMP) engaging risk-based solutions (RBS) of Dr Sindila Mwiya and his team. Upon completion, monitor will be granted a clearance certificate, mandatory for onshore Namibia, for conventional seismic operations over PEL 93. The company expects to obtain this authorisation by May-June 2022, and schedule to proceed with the seismic operations immediately after. The objective is to cover all three AOIs identified successfully within the company's licence. This is set to help to understand the nature of the trends seen on the gravity and other data.

Results from a 2D Seismic Survey of the Cabora Bassa area in Zimbabwe are showing signs of natural gas and crude oil deposits, Australian independent upstream oil and gas firm Invictus Energy has announced. Invictus Energy partnered with Canadian-based consulting firm Earth Signal Processing to process data from its CB21 survey, which the firm started in 2021, to reprocess 1990s seismic, gravity, geochemical and aeromagnetic data acquired from American oil and gas major ExxonMobil. 

The surveys enable the operators to identify prospects that are best aligned with their exploration goals.”

This topographical map, showing detailed seabed surfaces offshore Egypt, is based on recent MultiClient 3D seismic data acquired by PGS (a small part of a reprocessed legacy dataset is included). Additional reprocessed legacy 2D and 3D plus GeoStreamer 2D data are represented by blue polygon and lines.