Shearwater and PGS have won contracts for 2D and 3D seismic programmes on Block 11B/12B offshore South Africa from operator Total.
Shearwater and PGS have won contracts for 2D and 3D seismic programmes on Block 11B/12B offshore South Africa from operator Total.
Shearwater will carry out the 2D seismic survey and PGS will then shoot a 3D seismic survey on the block. Both surveys were expected to begin in December 2019 and continue through to April 2020.
Shearwater will acquire an initial programme of 3650 linear km of 2D seismic data using the multi-purpose vessel SW Cook with onboard processing. The 2D seismic programme will attempt to define the lead and prospect inventory of the largely under-explored area in Block 11B/12B to the east of the Paddavissie prospects.
PGS will acquire 2200 km2 of 3D seismic data using the PGS Apollo seismic vessel. In this second phase of 3D seismic work on the block, Total plans to cover the remainder of the Paddavissie Fairway to better delineate the prospects and leads identified on the previous 2D and 3D surveys.
After the Brulpadda oil and gas discovery in the Paddavissie Fairway in February 2019, Polarcus conducted a 570 km2 3D survey in March and April. Total and its joint venture partners have now analysed the coring and logging data and integrated the fast-track 3D data from the Polarcus survey.
This data enabled the Total-led JV to choose the location of the next exploration well, Luiperd-1, which is expected to spud in Q1-2020. The 3D data validated the use of seismic data as a direct hydrocarbon indicator, significantly de-risking the remaining prospects. The first phase of 3D data also provided more insight into the geometry and thicknesses of the reservoir sequences, confirming the large resource potential of the Paddavissie Fairway.
Total remains committed to drilling up to three exploration wells on Block 11B/12B in 2020. The Luiperd-1 well will be drilled some 40 km northeast of the Brulpadda discovery.
Block 11B/12B is located in the Outeniqua Basin 175 km off the southern coast of South Africa. The block covers an area of approx. 19,000 km2 with water depths ranging from 200 to 1800 m. The Paddavissie Fairway in the southwest corner of the block includes the Brulpadda discovery and several large submarine fan prospects that have been significantly derisked by the discovery and subsequent 3D seismic work.
Total is operator and has a 45% interest in Block 11B/12B, while Qatar Petroleum and Canadian Natural Resources have 25% and 20% interests, respectively. Main Street 1549 Proprietary Limited has a 10% participating interest.
