ION shoots seismic beams offshore Tanzania

ION Geophysical Corporation has been awarded a seismic data acquisition contract by the Tanzanian Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC).

Under the contract, ION will acquire 4,058 km of 2D seismic, gravity and magnetic data over offshore blocks 4/1B and 4/1C in the Rovuma Delta region.

The award follows an international tender for a 2D multi-client survey, to be known as ‘TPDC Phase I 2015’, that is planned to be acquired in fourth quarter 2015, ION said in a statement on Tuesday..

“We are very excited on the commencement of this program, which is part of a broader campaign aimed at adding value to all of TPDC assets, both onshore and offshore,” Dr James Mataragio, Managing Director of TPDC, said. “This survey and three other surveys carried onshore are 100% funded by TPDC. This marks an important step for TPDC, as a National Oil Company, to begin fully focusing on exploration, development and production. Blocks 4/1B and 4/1C are 100% owned and operated by TPDC, and this new seismic data will be used to assist TPDC with a competitive farm-out process, details of which will be announced at a later date.”

Joe Gagliardi, Senior Vice President of ION’s Ventures group, added, “ION is delighted to have been awarded this contract, which represents a further phase of seismic acquisition, processing and interpretation services to be provided by ION in support of the government’s hydrocarbon exploration strategy.”