TGS begins seismic project offshore Timor-Leste

The project combines all available open file and TGS multi-client data across an area of over 50 000 km² and incorporating over 2500 lines and existing 3D’s within the planned area. The 2D data, from over 45 legacy vintages, covers the entire offshore area south of Timor-Leste where the 11 offshore blocks in the second license round are located.

The final multi-client 2Dcubed data will allow customers to develop structural and geological models in their pre-study evaluation process using a single conformable 3D volume.

2Dcubed generates a 3D seismic migration volume from a set of 2D and 3D seismic lines. It uses an advanced structurally conformable interpolation algorithm to maximise the potential of existing 2D multi-vintage and 3D data. The volume can be used for regional interpretation and optimisation of 2D survey designs and positioning. The very high density of the available 2D legacy data offshore Timor-Leste lends itself to maximising the effectiveness of 2Dcubed, which also merges local 3D surveys, where available. Similar projects have been undertaken in other Asia Pacific basins in Indonesia and Australia, as well as offshore Sakhalin, Russia, and throughout the Norwegian and UK North Seas.

Availability of the first deliverables is expected from July 2020, with final deliverables estimated around September 2020. This will allow E&P companies ample time for data evaluation prior to the closing of the license round, which is anticipated to be during the first half of 2021.

Kristian Johansen, CEO at TGS, stated: “By making our 2Dcubed product available covering offshore Timor-Leste, we believe we are offering E&P players the most cost-effective de-risking tool to evaluate the available license round acreage on offer using a 3D seismic data volume. This will be key to companies seeking to develop opportunities to invest in the oil and gas potential of Timor-Leste in the coming years.”

The Government of Timor-Leste launched its international licensing round for oil and gas exploration in the country on 3 October 2019, in the wake of the ratification of a new maritime border treaty with Australia established on 30 August 2019.

The Government approved the allocation of eighteen new blocks to petroleum activities, seven of which are located onshore and eleven offshore, in the exclusive zone of Timor-Leste. Public tendering procedures are being conducted by the National Authority for Petroleum and Minerals (ANPM), the regulator for country’s petroleum sector. A final date for the closing of the round was expected to be 9 October 2020. However, due to the global pandemic, the government has indicated its intention to further extended the closing to the first half of 2021. Further details are to be made public soon.

Image courtesy of TGS

Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/exploration/17062020/tgs-begins-seismic-project-offshore-timor-leste/