PGS acquired three new MultiClient 2D projects covering the offshore Trinidad and Tobago area in 2008. Two of the surveys benefit from new dual-sensor GeoStreamer® technology. The triplet surveys together enable a full evaluation of geological plays ahead of licensing rounds, expected to start later this year. Processing of the GeoStreamer® surveys is now complete, with impressive results.

“There has been considerable industry interest already in these surveys, with two pre-funding parties,” comments Tom Ziegler, PGS Vice President Global MultiClient and adds, “The excellent clarity and quality of the fully processed data sets provide the Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries with a strong platform for future license rounds and now offers the industry the detailed information they require in order to fully evaluate this exciting area.”

The surveys called, North Coast Marine Area (NCMA), Tobago Trough, and Deepwater East Coast Marine Area each cover prospective zones north and east of the island group. Adjacent recent discoveries raise expectations of the potential of the area, with much of the deepwater zones previously unexplored. Geologically, the offshore area is varied. Thick sediments and highly complex structures mark the juncture of the Caribbean and South America plates in the Tobago Trough. Meanwhile, in the deepwater East Coast zone, abundant sediment sequences are complicated by layers of shale and hydrates.

Processed results demonstrate clearer imaging of the basin architecture in the under-explored Tobago Trough, to the north of Block 22. 2500 km of GeoStreamer® MC2D data was acquired here in an 8 x 8 km grid. GeoStreamer® is particularly well suited to solving the exploration challenges in this type of environment. A 12 km dual-sensor cable and record length of 14 seconds was used over the survey area. The exploration objectives consist of the upper Miocene and lower Pliocene deltaic sandstones, with the intent also to image deeper turbiditic sandstones.

In addition a GeoStreamer® MC2D survey was acquired over the Deepwater East Coast Marine Area with identical parameters. Results confirm that dual sensor acquisition improves resolution and yields better penetration than a conventional streamer. The 2,000 line kilometer reconnaissance grid ties several key wells and provides improved imaging and geological understanding of this challenging frontier area.

Tags: Petroleum Geo-Services ASA