Schlumberger begins 80.000 sq km survey offshore Mexico

Schlumberger, world’s largest oilfield services provider, on Monday initiated a new seismic survey offshore Mexico, expanding its Gulf of Mexico multiclient wide-azimuth seismic data portfolio.

The company says that the industry’s first multiclient wide-azimuth survey offshore Mexico will cover 80,000 sq km using two fleets of WesternGeco vessels. The survey is being taken over the Campeche Basin.

“Building on our experience in the US Gulf of Mexico, we are focused on collaborating with customers to understand and prioritize the hydrocarbon potential in the Mexican waters of the Gulf,” said Maurice Nessim, president, WesternGeco, subsidiary of Schlumberger. “We have begun acquisition of high-quality seismic images of the Campeche Basin, which when combined with advanced modeling and interpretation, will help our customers identify new exploration opportunities and minimize risk.”

Schlumberger further explains that subsurface challenges in the Campeche Basin—including near-salt and subsalt structures, complex faulted structures, and deep-thrusted structures—are overcome using a suite of wide-azimuth, long offset and broadband seismic surveys.

In such complex geology, the company says, where illumination of the subsurface is challenging, wide-azimuth acquisition and broadband imaging technologies deliver advanced data to support identification of subtle structural and stratigraphic traps, provide better delineation of fractures, and improve reservoir characterization.

“Following completion of the seismic acquisition program in early 2016, customers will have access to high-quality images to support future appraisal campaigns in this frontier play. The Mexico multiclient wide-azimuth survey was designed and modeled based on customer interest and input to the program. Additional Schlumberger multiclient projects in Mexico include reimaging of the Campeche and Perdido basins,” Schlumberger said in a statement Monday.