PGS begins multi-client seismic shoot in Potiguar basin
Norwegian player Petroleum Geo-Services (PGS) has started shooting a new multi-client 3D seismic survey in the offshore portion of the Potiguar basin in Brazil’s northern equatorial margin.
The campaign is expected to last 70 days, until mid-March, and will cover about 2600 square kilometres — mainly over two blocks acquired in 2013 in the country’s 11th oil and gas licensing round.
PGS has assigned the Ramform Atlas vessel and three supply boats to assist operations. PGS is conducting the programme using a 14-streamer seismic array at 8000 metres in length, with a spread of 100 metres between each streamer.
US supermajor ExxonMobil and Colombian state-controlled oil company Ecopetrol acquired blocks POT-M-475 and POT-M-567, respectively, in the 11th round.
Those blocks will be covered by the new 3D seismic. However, two other blocks, POT-M-762 and POT-M-764, acquired in the same round by ExxonMobil and Petrobras, respectively, will not be included in the campaign. PGS does not expect the seismic survey to disrupt fishing activities or put in jeopardy any marine lifeforms in the region.
The new seismic acquisition programme is the first step in the exploration of the two deep-water blocks in the Potiguar basin, but drilling activities on the acreage secured in the 11th round may not occur before 2018.