One seismic survey company has sold an ageing vessel for recycling and another is deploying two ships for an expanded project
Shearwater GeoServices has sold 1999-built seismic survey vessel Western Trident for scrap as it works through a fleet renewal strategy.
This 92.5-m vessel will be recycled in Turkey in accordance with European Union regulations and the 2009 Hong Kong International Convention for the safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships.
According to automatic identification system (AIS) data, Western Trident was stationed in Farsund, Norway. Shearwater said on 10 June the 8,369-gt vessel was delivered in Turkey for recycling.
This disposal comes after Shearwater sold survey vessel CGG Alize in Q4 2020 to an owner who has repurposed it outside of the seismic industry.
It also comes after Shearwater purchased six seismic survey ships in the Polarcus fleet as part of its fleet renewal strategy to replace older and less efficient vessels.
GC Rieber Shipping, which owns 17% of Shearwater, said the “combination of these investments and disposals allow for a significant extension to the commercial life of the fleet and a reduction in average vessel age.”
Two other Oslo, Norway-listed owners are collaborating on major seismic surveying projects off Canada to provide information for future hydrocarbon exploration.
PGS is deploying two of its vessels to expand 3D seismic survey coverage off eastern Canada where energy companies plan to drill wildcat wells for oil and gas resources.
PGS is working with TGS on this ventures. It has already deployed 2013-built Ramform Titan for the Cape Anguille programme.
This will require a GeoStreamer 3D survey over 10,000 km2 in Newfoundland’s prospective Orphan Basin, with acquisition expected to be completed by mid-September 2021. The survey covers existing lease blocks and open acreage. PGS said it would deliver fast-track results from the 3D survey in November 2021, and final imaging and interpretation products in Q1 2022, which energy companies can use to plan exploration campaigns.
In addition, PGS has mobilised 2014-built Ramform Atlas from Portugal to eastern Canada to commence a multiclient survey campaign.
According to AIS data, Ramform Atlas arrived at Bay Balls, Canada on 4 June and left for the offshore site on 7 June. PGS said this survey would start in mid-June and last until mid-September 2021.
“Canada remains a good investment for explorers and for the 11th year, we have experienced solid industry interest for expanding our high-quality multiclient library offshore Newfoundland,” said PGS president and chief executive Rune Olav Pedersen.
“We will deploy two Ramform Titan-class vessels for the full season with GeoStreamer technology, a tailored towing configuration and advanced imaging workflows to deliver data that can provide significant insights to help derisk the prospects and plays offshore Canada.”
TGS (which was recently renamed from TGS-Nopec Geophysical) chief executive Kristian Johansen said its joint venture with PGS offshore east Canada “has successfully and consistently provided the industry with the highest quality data in advance of scheduled lease rounds”.
He said the “Cape Anquille 3D survey will be instrumental in assessing potential prospects that have initially been identified from our comprehensive 2D library in the region.”
Mr Johansen said there would be additional seismic survey work in the northern hemisphere summer months in eastern Canada.
“TGS is working with our partner PGS to build on this project to make this part of a two-vessel season,” he said.
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