Spectrum, Partners Start Seismic Survey Offshore Namibia

Spectrum, in partnership with CGGVeritas and the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR), has commenced a new 2D Multi-Client seismic survey covering the deepwater Orange Basin, offshore Namibia.

The program includes the acquisition of around 7,000 km of long offset data covering both held and open blocks in the Orange Basin. A good level of prefunding has been obtained from companies to provide support for the program.

Seabird Exploration is providing the acquisition services through their Northern Explorer vessel which has recent experience of operating in Namibian waters. The data will be processed through full pre-stack time migration and include added-value products such as angle stacks and AVO products. Due to the frontier nature of the area, Spectrum will also be offering a 'Fast Model' Pre-Stack Depth Migration (PSDM) sequence, provided as part of the standard deliverables for the project. Final deliverables are expected to be available in June 2012.

Offshore Namibia is considered highly under-explored. In an area covering more than 500,000 km2 only fifteen wells have so far been drilled, seven of these in the Kudu gas field area alone. The first exploration well (Kudu 9A-1), drilled in 1973, discovered the Kudu gas field.