PETROLEUM DIRECTORY: WesternGeco to conduct high resolution survey offshore Malaysia

Sabah Shell Petroleum Co. Ltd. has contracted WesternGeco to conduct a high-resolution survey covering approximately 100 square kilometers over Shell’s St. Joseph field, offshore Sabah, Malaysia. WesternGeco is using the Q-Marine survey technique, part of the company’s proprietary Q suite of seismic technologies for enhanced reservoir location, description and management. The project started in June and is the first Q-Marine survey in Southeast Asia.

Q-Technology vessel Geco Topaz is carrying out the survey by towing six 3,000-meter cables with a separation of 30 meters.

According to a WesternGeco press release the shallow and structurally complex St. Joseph reservoir poses many surveying and imaging challenges. And “strong currents, numerous obstructions and infrastructure, combined with difficult near-surface conditions, have hindered previous conventional survey attempts to image faults and reservoir sands.”

“The combination of imaging requirements and logistical challenges requires a trace density of 6.25 meters and cable separation of 30 meters, resulting in one of the highest density surveys in the region,” said Carel Hooykaas, WesternGeco marine manager. “Q-Technology acquisition and processing will provide the detailed images needed for reservoir management decisions in this mature field.”

WesternGeco is jointly owned by Schlumberger and Baker Hughes.