Energy giant Shell has launched plans to carry out seismic survey work offshore Greenland as interest increases in the region.
Norwegian seismic vessel operator Polarcus said Shell subsidiary Shell Kanumas had signed a letter of intent, which would see it carry out a 3D seismic survey of some 3,281sqm offshore Greenland starting in the third quarter of this year.
It comes just months after Polarcus announced a letter award from an unnamed client for another 3D seismic project off Greenland, to start in July this year and last about 70 days, the Norwegian firm said.
Shell, with partners Statoil and GDF Suez, was awarded two large exploration blocks in the Baffin Bay bid round in West Greenland in 2010.
Edinburgh-based Cairn Energy has been leading the exploration drive into Greenland after starting drilling in the region in 2010, but it has yet to make a commercial discovery.
Last month the firm announced Statoil had taken a 30.265% stake in its Pitu block in Baffin Bay, adjacent to one of Shell’s blocks.
Cairn said a sampling programme in the area in 2011 had found “micro seepages” of oil on the seabed. Results of seismic on the area are due in the second quarter of this year, the firm has said.
Cairn said its exploration acreage off Greenland could hold billions of barrels of oil. However, environmental groups say the firm’s activities threaten the Arctic environment.