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PETROLEUM DIRECTORY: PGS Onshore High client value, small environmental impact Susan Braund Petroleum Directory Contributing Writer
Success in the oil field depends largely on minimizing risk and uncertainty. That, in turn, according to the Society of Petroleum Engineers, drives the quest to acquire information about the subsurface and to store, process, and manage that information to optimize production and minimize risk and cost.
PGS Onshore, a wholly owned subsidiary of Norwegian-based Petroleum Geo-Services A.S., relies on its strong, innovative technology base to create efficiencies and curtail costs for its onshore oil and gas customers.
Worldwide geophysical contractor PGS Onshore provides seismic acquisition services in land, transition zone and shallow water to petroleum resource companies of all sizes and operates crews in arctic, desert, jungle, urban and shallow marine environments around the world.
The company manages its geophysical services through two groups: Marine Geophysical — streamer and seafloor seismic data acquisition and Onshore — seismic operations on land and in very shallow water and transition zones.
“We provide geophysical imaging solutions in challenging and complex environments by bringing together highly experienced people with the best equipment available,” says Larry Watt, PGS’s Alaska manager, who has logged nearly 30 seasons in geophysical acquisition on the North Slope. “With an HD3D™ survey, customers receive four-to-five times more data for only 10 to 15 percent more cost. It’s a lot more technically efficient and better for the client overall.”
“For the last 30 years seismic surveys have been widely used to solve problems and reduce uncertainties in the oilfield, but more recently PGS has promoted the use of High Density 3D (HD3D™) technology in all aspects of its work to acquire 3D data with significantly higher trace densities. HD3D allows for improved resolution of the subsurface and higher quality images of the reservoirs,” says Wayne Millice, PGS Onshore General Manager, North America.
“Our 3D design team provides innovative and cost-effective 3D design solutions that are tuned to our clients’ geologic objectives,” says Watt. “3D seismic is a reliable and cost effective way to optimize field development and management. By deploying large channel counts — up to 10,000 channels — PGS is able to image more complex structural and stratigraphic geologic objectives. This way we only have to do it once if it proves to be interesting.”
“With PGS’s expertise and innovation in land seismic surveys and field equipment, our land crews obtain efficient, accurate, reliable and cost-effective single and multi-component seismic data, regardless of terrain condition,” says Gehrig Schulz, PGS worldwide business development manager. “PGS alone can provide production-proven P- and S-wave multi-component acquisition using rotating actuators. Combining new techniques with the industry’s most powerful source vibrators, PGS has redefined the state-of-the-art for land seismic imaging.”
In the foothills of the Brooks Range, PGS Onshore’s specialized HD3D Arctic crew recorded more than 77,500 VPs to generate 297,600,000 traces of high density 3D in a single season: two times more traces than any other crew has recorded in a single North Slope Season.
According to the company website, PGS Onshore’s high-density acquisition techniques deliver 3D data with unequaled fidelity and resolving power while maintaining operational efficiency. HD3D™ data are optimized for advanced processing algorithms and are “4D ready” for reservoir characterization and monitoring applications. Contract and multi-client operations PGS acquires and processes seismic data both on an exclusive contract basis for its customers and on its own behalf as multi-client data for licensing to multiple customers on a non-exclusive basis.
“When we have several clients all interested in the same area, we record for the group, then they buy the data from us, which saves them money when they want to see not only their area of interest but also the surrounding areas,” reports Watt. “On a contract basis, when a client wants the information exclusively or there is not enough group interest, we provide them with proprietary information.” Efficiency and environmental impact “Alaska is one of the regions where equipment and procedures that minimize environmental impact is offering PGS Onshore a significant competitive edge,” says Watt. “For example, PGS Onshore has developed new, light footprint rubber tracked vehicle designs to minimize tundra damage. Protecting our employees, those around us, and the environment are key commitments for PGS Onshore. The rubber tracked vehicles create less damage to the tundra, including Tucker Sno-cats, I/O vibrators, Hagglunds and Case I/H Quad trackers.”
To ultimately replace the current tundra travel standards, PGS Onshore collaborated with private industry and the Alaska Department of Natural Resources from 2002 through 2004 to develop an ecological model to study the effects of snow depth, snow density, ground hardness, and vegetation to predict tundra resistance. The new model is designed to provide a refined understanding of tundra resistance to disturbance, so that increased exploration and development activity can take place concurrently with enhanced environmental protection.
The Alaska Department of Natural Resources awarded PGS with a “Partner in Development and Stewardship” certificate for contributing equipment and logistical support to the North Slope Tundra Modeling Project, and the company’s specialized equipment developments also garnered environmental recognition from the department.
“I am pleased to inform you that both the winter field inspections and the intensive site investigation this summer found no significant tundra damage associated with seismic activity that exceeds the acceptable range of disturbance,” said Harry Bader, the department’s Northern Region Land Manager. “PGS is to be congratulated for their close cooperation and collaboration with DNR in making this project a resounding success.” Initiative and innovation “We strive to put forward new ideas, break down boundaries and seek new solutions for PGS and our customers. We always encourage a proactive approach, even at the risk of some failures,” says Schulz.” We went out and got the cream of the crop, the best and most experienced people, and stay ahead of our competition with new and innovative equipment. We have gone to extraordinary lengths to improve our health, safety and environmental performance beyond previous industry standards.”
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