Dolphin mobilizes ‘Sanco Sword’ sesimic vessel in Barents Sea

Dolphin Geophysical’s newest high capacity 3D seismic vessel, the Sanco Sword has been mobilised to begin acquisition of 2 new and highly prefunded Multi- Client 3D projects in the Barents Sea.

The Gohta North and Maud Basin South 3D surveys, totalling almost 6,200km2, will be acquired using the SHarp Broadband acquisition and processing techniques, which are proven, established and globally recognised by industry.

The SHarp Broadband technique also allows high-end, fast-track data volumes to be delivered within 4 weeks of finishing acquisition. These data volumes are crucial for these Barents Sea projects as it will allow Early Participating companies to rapidly screen and technically evaluate the prospectivity of the acreage in the 23rd and APA 2014 Rounds.

The surveys have been planned in consultation with local operators and designed with a considerable amount of technical input from all Early Participating clients, who will also be involved throughout the data processing phase of the project. The Sanco Sword will be utilising up to 12 streamers with 75 metre separation and 7 kilometre offsets due to the varying geological targets within the respective survey areas, ranging from Jurassic to Permian Carbonate Plays.

Dolphin’s offshore and onshore processing experience will also play a major part in providing the newest Broadband data imaging over this prospective acreage.

Dolphin’s Vice President of Global Multi-Client & New Ventures, Ian T. Edwards, said: “I am proud to be given the opportunity for this state of the art vessel to work on our latest Dolphin created Multi- Client surveys. For the Multi-Client Department this is invaluable and will enable us to deliver both fast- track and final PSTM SHarp Broadband datasets to our clients within a timely manner for the Norwegian licensing rounds.”

Delivery

The newly built seismic vessel M/V Sanco Sword was delivered to Dolphin yesterday, on an initial 5-year Time-Charter agreement with the Norwegian vessel owner Sanco Shipping AS.

The Sanco Sword is the sister vessel of the Sanco Swift, also delivered from the Kleven Myklebust yard, located on the west coast of Norway. Both vessels are 96 meters long and are amongst the most powerful seismic vessels in the world, capable of towing record spreads of up to 16 streamers @100 separation.

Atle Jacobsen, CEO commented on the delivery: “We are very proud to take our latest high capacity seismic vessel on charter from Sanco Shipping. The Kleven Myklebust yard, the vessel owner and their professional staff have once again demonstrated their best-in-class capabilities. They have completed this complex seismic vessel on budget, ahead of schedule and fully rigged ready to commence seismic operations for Dolphin.

The launch of the Sanco Sword is the latest milestone that demonstrates Dolphin’s ability to deliver on our business plan to become a first-class Geophysical Company that offers a modern fleet of high-capacity seismic vessels, in-house processing and an attractive Multi-Client portfolio”.