Schlumberger WesternGeco and ION Geophysical Corporation have announced a new 3D multiclient reimaging broadband programme offshore Mexico, as part of wider efforts to reshape the global oil and gas industry
The Campeche 3D reimaging programme comprises three survey areas covering approximately 82,000 sq m in the Bay of Campeche offshore southern Mexico.
The programme will be processed using a combination of custom technologies and techniques from both organisations that will maximize data quality and offer geological insights for upcoming licensing rounds.
The complexity and variability of the geological areas being surveyed require a set of consistent, advanced workflows to maximize bandwidth, while producing data with strong low frequency content for subsalt areas and high-resolution data for non-salt areas of the basin. The use of broadband preprocessing coupled with high-resolution steep dip reverse time migration (RTM) and Kirchhoff imaging algorithms will produce data ideal for prospect identification and exploration.
ION President and chief executive officer, Brian Hanson, commented, "We are pleased to be collaborating with WesternGeco on such a large project offshore Mexico, where we anticipate continued strong client interest. The Campeche 3D reimaging programme area is in one of the most challenging, yet prospective regions offshore Mexico where we have significant processing experience and expertise."
Maurice Nessim, President, WesternGeco, said, "We are confident this collaboration will bring value to our customers through the highest quality imaging, which will improve their understanding of the complex subsurface geology in this area. We expect to see a significant improvement in subsalt and above-salt imaging to better inform our customers through their licensing rounds and development decisions."
Recently speaking at a conference held in Dubai Schlumberger CEO Paal Kibsgaard stressed that investment in exploration and production will have to start increasing soon to help balance the global oil market.
