Statoil ASA has let a contract to Reservoir Exploration Technology ASA, Oslo, for an ocean bottom seismic survey over Kvitebjorn field in the North Sea off Norway.
The main objective is to improve structural interpretation and achieve better illumination of fault planes to improve fault interpretation. The survey is estimated to take at least 70 days at a cost of at least $14 million, depending on final survey design. The survey is scheduled to commence in the second quarter of 2012.
Statoil’s website notes that Kvitebjorn gas-condensate field is in 190 m of water on Block 34/11, east of Gullfaks field. It began producing on Sept. 26, 2004. Estimated ultimate recovey is 55 bcm of gas and 22 million cu m of condensate from a high pressure-high temperature reservoir at 4,000 m.
Multicomponent seismic solves several imaging challenges that cannot be resolved with towed streamer seismic and targets improved oil recovery from existing fields. The technology also gives better data quality for appraisal and development and is also the solution where towed streamers are impractical due to high density of platforms and-or shallow waters.
Alan Petzet | Chief Editor Exploration
Alan Petzet is Chief Editor-Exploration of Oil & Gas Journal in Houston. He is editor of the Weekly E&D Newsletter, emailed to OGJ subscribers, and a regular contributor to the OGJ Online subscriber website.
Petzet joined OGJ in 1981 after 13 years in the Tulsa World business-oil department. He was named OGJ Exploration Editor in 1990. A native of Tulsa, he has a BA in journalism from the University of Tulsa.