TGS Kicks Off Latest 3D Survey Offshore Africa, as ION Announces New 2D Multi-Client Program Offshore West Africa

-By Gideon Osaka

TGS has fired the first shot to commence a new survey in the MSGBC Basin, offshore north-west Africa. The Senegal Ultra-Deep offshore 3D survey covers over 4500km2, with a modern broadband acquisition set-up. It is being undertaken in partnership with GeoPartners – using the vessel, BGP Prospector – and has the full support of the national oil company, Petrosen.

This is coming at a time ION Geophysical announced a new 2D multi-client program offshore West Africa. The industry-supported NamibeSPAN program covers the underexplored Namibe basin offshore southern Angola. This standalone survey borders Jaan, TGS’ 3D dataset covering the southern portion of the MSGBC Basin. The survey will illuminate plays in the ultra-deep to build upon the success the basin has experienced with SNE, FAN and Yakaar. The project has a 60-day acquisition timeline, with fast-track data available four months after acquisition.

The full dataset will be available by August 2020. Kristian Johansen, CEO at TGS said, “I am delighted to announce the commencement of Senegal Ultra-Deep, our latest 3D survey that extends our coverage in a region in which we have been active for a decade. The MSGBC Basin has been one of the most exciting of the world’s frontier exploration basins in recent years and this survey will help to further develop opportunities for our customers offshore Senegal.” As regards the 2D multi-client programme, the dataset integrates ION BasinSPAN programmes in the area, forming a contiguous regional exploration framework in excess of 65,000 km along the West African coast. The programme is said to be the conjugate tie with offshore Brazil.

The extension of the program into the Namibe basin provides valuable insight along both margins and is a framework to identify known discoveries as potential exploration analogues. ION expects acquisition to begin imminently with initial deliverables available for the upcoming license round later this year. “Angola passed several petroleum laws in 2018 to make the legislative and fiscal terms more favorable for investment and to prevent an anticipated decline in oil production,” said Joe Gagliardi, senior vice president of ION’s Ventures group. “As a result, this basin is garnering significant interest from E&P companies seeking attractive frontier investment opportunities. Angola announced the launch of their first license round in eight years in October. Driven by client interest, we are continuing to expand our multi-client data library over the most appealing acreage around the world and we now have over 150,000 km offshore Africa.”