Falkland Oil and Gas (FOG) today said a new 3D seismic survey had started offshore the Falklands.
The work, using the PGS M/V Ramform Sterling, will cover a minimum area of 1,500 square miles over its southern Falklands licences and is likely to take around four months.
It is being operated by Noble Energy, with which FOGL is a partner.
A planned survey for FOGL’s northern area licences has been set back to the fourth quarter of 2013.
A further separate 3D seismic survey operated by FOGL is planned to started using the PGS M/V Ramform Challenger in the first quarter of 2013.
Tim Bushell, chief executive of FOGL, said: “We are pleased to announce the start of a very important 3D seismic survey programme, which marks the continuation of our exploration activities.
“The 3D seismic will be invaluable for identifying future drilling targets, locating good quality reservoir and differentiating oil from gas prospects.”
The original plan was that the survey over the southern licences would be carry out later in 2013.
However, FOGL said that, due to the late completion of the recent Scotia exploration well, there had been insufficient time to allow the Scotia results to influence the exact location and design of the 3D survey.
As a result, FOGL and its joint venture partners have decided to swap the order of the two surveys and the northern area 3D survey will now be acquired in the fourth quarter of 2013.