TGS, of Norway, has started a 1,650sq km high-density multi-client 3D seismic survey covering a portion of the outer part of Scotland’s Moray Firth.
The survey covers both open and held acreage in an area proven to be particularly prolific for hydrocarbon exploration. This has been confirmed by recent discoveries, including Golden Eagle, Hobby, Pink and Blackbird.
TGS has contracted the Polarcus Nadia vessel to acquire the data. The Nadia will deploy a suite of eight 5,000m streamers and the project is expected to complete in late Q3 this year.
Data processing will be done at the TGS imaging centre in Bedford, near London.
Data from the Moray Firth survey will be available for customers from Q1 2011.
Polarcus has another North West Europe Continental Shelf task to carry out in the coming months, namely a 3D seismic acquisition campaign in the Barents Sea for the Norwegian unit of German company OMV.
The data will be acquired using the Polarcus Naila, a sister of the Nadia. The task is scheduled to start in early-August 2010 and run for some 25 days.