Contracts awarded for Barents Sea seismic surveys

The Statoil ASA-operated collaboration for joint seismic acquisition in the recently opened southeastern Barents Sea awarded contracts to WesternGeco, Houston, and Petroleum Geo-Services ASA, Oslo. The companies will acquire 3D data from blocks covering 13,700 sq km along the Norway-Russia Arctic border, said Statoil.

The surveys will extend through this year’s third quarter and will use broadband technology. Statoil expects this technology to improve resolution on the seismic data and provide a more detailed interpretation of the subsurface.

Statoil operates the joint-acquisition project on behalf of 33 participating oil and gas companies (OGJ Online, Dec. 10, 2013; Feb. 25, 2014). The project’s objective is to prepare for applications to the 23rd licensing round on the Norwegian continental shelf (OGJ Online, Sept. 3, 2013).