Geology

TGS survey to boost investor confidence offshore Sao Tome and Príncipe

Offshore Sao Tome and Príncipe is a challenging subsurface environment. (Image source: TGS)

Energy data and intelligence provider, TGS, has partnered with the National Petroleum Agency of Sao Tome and Príncipe (ANP-STP) to commence the Sao Tome and Príncipe 2D PSDM Reprocessing project

TGS will be leveraging four of its originally acquired input surveys on the region between 1999 and 2005 to reprocess about 14,651 km of 2D seismic data. While the last reprocessing was done in 2014, TGS will be upgrading it with a modern, comprehensive workflow, built on the combined strength of advanced pre-processing with velocity model building via Dynamic Matching elastic Full Waveform Inversion (E-DMFWI) and Kirchhoff Prestack Depth Migration (KPSDM). This will significantly refine imaging quality, ensuring maximum interpretation confidence.

Offshore Sao Tome and Príncipe is a challenging subsurface environment, characterised by volcanic activity, shallow channelisation and pervasive mass transport complexes that have made legacy seismic imaging and target depth positioning difficult. The 2D PSDM Reprocessing project will address these challenges specifically so that operators get clearer and geologically consistent insights into previously inaccessible subsurface areas.

TGS will take one complex setting at a time to generate sharp images so that clients have a solid technical basis to judge prospects and maturation for confident investment decision-making ahead of future licensing activity in the basin.

A priority subset of lines will be delivered within seven months, with final products for the full dataset expected in Q3 2027.

"This reprocessing project reflects our continued commitment to invest in the exploration potential of Sao Tome and Príncipe's offshore basin. By applying our most advanced imaging technology to this dataset, we are giving operators the subsurface clarity needed to confidently assess subsurface prospectivity, identify prospects and assign budget ready for future exploration success," said David Hajovsky, executive vice president-multi-client at TGS.

"This project is one of many that underscores TGS' broader commitment to supporting exploration success across the wider West African margin, where our sustained investment is helping operators de-risk plays and discover new opportunities ahead of acreage capture and support existing work commitments.”

This project is supported by industry funding.

TGS, EGAS begins large-scale 2D reimaging offshore Egypt

The survey will span across 34,000 kms offshore Egypt. (Image source: TGS)

Energy data and intelligence provider, TGS, has partnered with Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS), to initiate a large-scale 2D seismic reimaging campaign, the EGY-2DRE2026 project

The survey will span across 34,000 kms offshore Egypt, which will be further integrated to the GeoStreamer 2016, 2018 and 2023 surveys. The compilation will comprise other available conventional 2D data as well, building single and consistent regional framework for interested operators to refer to across the offshore basins. The vast and insightful dataset will be fed into an advanced velocity model building and pre-stack depth migration workflow, including TGS' proprietary DM-eFWI technology, to generate credible images of pre-, intra- and post-Messinian salt intervals in high definition.

The reimaged dataset that spans offshore Nile Delta, Herodotus Basin, and wider Eastern Mediterranean Basin will support clients to better resolve these intervals, giving a sharper, basin-wide structural framework to support prospect identification and maturation. This will play a significant role in decision making for operators to channelise exploration budgets in the right direction ahead of upcoming licensing rounds.

To support resource development, TGS has lately been taking up region-specific projects in Africa that aligns with a rising global demand for basin-wide reimaging and data integration across frontier and mature basins globally.

Final products for a priority subset of 2D lines are scheduled for delivery in Q2 2027, with the remaining full project scheduled for completion in Q1 2028.

"EGY-2DRE2026 will give our customers a modern, regionally consistent view of a basin that has historically been difficult to image beneath its complex Messinian section," said David Hajovsky, Executive Vice President, Multi-Client at TGS. "By combining our latest imaging technology with the depth and breadth of our existing coverage, we're able to de-risk exploration decisions and support our customers as they evaluate future opportunities in this highly prospective part of the Egyptian offshore."

The project is supported by industry funding.

TGS to create MegaSurvey offshore Equatorial Guinea

MegaSurveys are 3D seismic datasets synchronised across large contiguous areas. (Image source: TGS)

Energy data and intelligence provider, TGS, has signed an agreement with the Ministry of Hydrocarbon and Mining Development of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea to create MegaSurvey, a large-scale multi-client seismic product for offshore exploration

Beginning with the post-stack reprocessing of approximately 27,273 kilometers of 2D seismic data and around 35,000 square kilometers of 3D seismic data, the project is set to be completed in Q3 2026.

3D seismic datasets synchronised across large contiguous areas, MegaSurvey eliminates uncertainty by enabling nearly accurate geological interpretation, with clarity in structural and stratigraphic frameworks.

The agreement marks the first phase of a broader plan to create a harmonized and seamless seismic data product across Equatorial Guinea’s offshore basins. The full product vision includes approximately 46,343 line kilometers of 2D seismic data and more than 59,000 square kilometers of 3D seismic data.

David Hajovsky, Executive Vice President, Multi-Client at TGS, commented: “The Equatorial Guinea MegaSurvey is the first of its kind in the country and will apply TGS’s latest imaging technology to address key subsurface challenges and support exploration risk reduction across the Rio del Rey and Rio Muni basins. The product is designed to provide customers with a basin-wide regional screening tool, supporting prospect identification, prospect ranking and planning for future work commitments.”

By integrating and reprocessing legacy datasets into a consistent regional framework, the MegaSurvey will provide new insight into the prospectivity of Equatorial Guinea’s offshore basins and support informed exploration decision-making.

Shearwater conducts 3D marine seismic survey offshore Nigeria

The two-month survey acquired high-quality 3D data.

Shearwater Geoservices, in partnership with Harvex Geosolutions, has conducted a 3D marine seismic survey on behalf of TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited and Matrix Energy on blocks OML 100 and OPL 2010 offshore Nigeria

The two-month survey acquired high-quality 3D data using a towed-streamer configuration with an undershoot. The SW Duchess served as the primary seismic vessel, with the SW Gallien acting as the dedicated source vessel. The programme builds on Shearwater’s growing footprint in Nigeria and follows an expanding sequence of work in the wider West African region.

'Shearwater is pleased to complete this 3D towed-streamer and undershoot survey offshore Nigeria, which continues our strong relationship with TotalEnergies and builds on a programme of work in Nigeria and across the region', said Shearwater CEO Irene Waage Basili.

Previously, the company has been in partnership with the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission to begin fresh multi-client seismic project, including 3D survey. The high-end vessel SW Duchess was deployed for the project.

“This project underscores the growing momentum of our multi-client business and our key role in supporting exploration across key global basins,” Basili had said. “By investing in high-quality seismic data, where we can both capture rapid returns and create longer-term value, we are enabling smarter decisions and helping to shape the future of energy security in West Africa and beyond.”

Viridien begins seismic reimaging in Tano Basin offshore Ivory Coast

The fast-track CDI25 seismic reimaging project covers an area of 6,555 sq km. (Image source: Viridien)

Viridien has started a seismic reimaging project in the Tano Basin, Ivory Coast, called CDI25, which explorers can refer to as a drill-ready multi-client dataset to unlock opportunities along the West African Atlantic margin

Viridien has been active in the Ivory Coast since the last four years, and CDI25 comes as an upgrade to this longstanding subsurface reimaging programme. With the deployment of digital processing and imaging workflows, including Ghost Wavefield Elimination, advanced de-multiple, and Time-Lag Full-Waveform Inversion will help deliver high bandwidth, enhanced deep imaging and sharp structural and stratigraphic details.

Covering an area of 6,555 sq km, the fast-track CDI25 results are expected by Q4 2026, before final deliverables by Q2 2027. Once out in the market, explorers will be able to access a seamless, basin-scale 3D seismic volume across 16,000 sq km of the Tano Basin.

With the recent discovery in the Calao Channel complex, explorers can use the dataset for invaluable subsurface insights to increase their chances of success in the region. To top it off, it can also be used to gain regional context into the adjacent acreage of the Baleine field for further opportunities such as lead maturation, de-risking, and further exploration delineation.

Dechun Lin, head of Earth Data, Viridien, said, “The recent Murene South and Baleine field discoveries highlight the growing importance of Tano Basin and the industry value of our multi-year reimaging programme. Viridien is proud to support exploration offshore Ivory Coast with cutting-edge data that is generating new insights to reveal further opportunities in this prolific basin.”