Emperor Energy (EMP) has purchased newly acquired 3D seismic data covering the Judith Gas Field and Greater Judith Structure, offshore southeast Australia, from CGG.
Emperor Energy (EMP) has purchased newly acquired 3D seismic data covering the Judith Gas Field and Greater Judith Structure, offshore southeast Australia, from CGG.
This data was acquired by CGG during 2020 as part of a multi-client 3D Seismic Survey that covered much of the offshore Gippsland Basin including the Judith Gas Field. Seismic acquisition was carried out using 7000m-long acquisition cables.
Preliminary processed 3D data, which includes a MAZ merge with CGG’s previous legacy reprocessed data, has been received by EMP with final processed data expected to be delivered by CGG later in 2021.
Initial examination of the new data by EMP’s consulting geologists and geophysicists has confirmed a major improvement in seismic data quality compared to previous seismic imagery, said Emperor. Further improvement in data quality is expected in the final processed data volume. High seismic amplitude (low impedance) response is a potential indicator of gas. Seismic sections across the Judith Gas Field indicate that high amplitude/low impedance responses are well developed in the sections correlating with the Judith gas sands intersected in the Judith-1 well, and also in the interpreted underlying Longtom reservoirs, and can be seen extending significantly up-dip into the Greater Judith Structure from the original Judith-1 gas discovery drilled in 1989 by Shell.
The improved seismic data quality in the new seismic volume will allow Amplitude Versus Offset (AVO) modelling to be employed as a direct hydrocarbon indicator (DHI) in these reservoir sands across the Greater Judith Structure.
Initial examination of the new seismic data also shows the presence of high amplitude responses indicative of the possible presence of gas in interpreted Kipper Gas Sands extending from the currently producing Kipper Gas Field (operated by Exxon Mobil) into the southeastern corner of Vic/P47. The possible extension of the Kipper Gas Field into Vic/P47 will be assessed by future work.
Detailed interpretation and analysis of the seismic data will continue throughout April and into early May. This will include redefinition of fault blocks and gas sand horizon continuity within each block, seismic correlation against the Kipper 1 and South East Longtom 1 wells along with AVO analysis to highlight potential gas reservoirs.
Emperor Energy director Phil McNamara said: ‘The proximity of the Judith Gas field to the Rosedale Fault in the North had previously affected seismic data quality as you get closer to the fault resulting in poor seismic response as you progress up-dip from the Judith-1 gas discovery. The new MC3D seismic data volume, including MAZ merge with earlier CGG legacy reprocessing, improves seismic definition and continuity and to a large extent overcomes this problem.
‘The company has completed a project pre-feasibility study based on four production wells achieving 80 Million Standard Cubic Feet per day field production over 25 years. We now have the seismic data and tools required to accurately refine the preferred locations of these wells and what the expected total gas production could be from each.’
The deal with CGG provides Emperor Energy with access to survey data over and around the Judith Gas Field comprising 37 km2 within Exploration Permit Vic/P47 as well as further areas outside of Vic/P47 to the west, south and east that are required to fully define the Greater Judith structure.
The cost of the licence to Emperor Energy is a total of AUD $732,180.90 ($588,000)
The 100% Emperor Energy-owned Judith Gas Field is within the Vic/P47 Permit in the offshore Gippsland Basin, Victoria and is estimated to contain 2C contingent gas Resource of 150 Bcf and P50 an unrisked prospective gas resource of 1.226 Tcf.
