UK: OGA awards contracts for petroleum system studies

UK’s Oil and Gas Authority (OGA), in collaboration with the 21CXRM Technical Advisory Committee, has awarded two contracts for petroleum system studies for the East Shetland Platform and South West Approaches area offshore the UK.

The provision of the studies has been supported by the MER UK Exploration Task Force and will complement the acquisition and reprocessing of seismic data in this area which has formed part of the 2016 UK Government Seismic Program.

OGA said on Monday that the contracts were awarded to Getech and BGS for the South West Approaches while Frogtech and IGI were awarded for the East Shetland Platform.

Each project was split into two separate lots and awarded to each company, SW Approaches Lot 1 to Getech, and BGS got Lot 2 while the East Shetland Platform Lot 1 and Lot 2 were given to Frogtech and IGI, respectively.

Both projects are expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2017.

Nick Richardson, OGA Head of Exploration and New Ventures, said: “These projects represent the initial phases of more extensive regional mapping projects to drive exploration across the UK Continental Shelf.

“The results of these projects from Getech, BGS, Frogtech, and IGI Limited will enhance industry knowledge, awareness and understanding of both the South West Approaches and East Shetland Platform ahead of the 31st Frontier Licencing Round.”

Other projects completed by the 21CXRM include a post-well analysis of exploration and appraisal wells drilled during 2003-2013 in the Moray Firth and Central North Sea, and a geoscientific regional petroleum system analysis of the Palaeozoic which is due to be released publicly in the second quarter of 2017.

The 21CXRM Technical Advisory Committee invites tenders for technical projects and ensures that studies are effectively managed and delivered to the benefit of project sponsors and MER UK. The committee is led by the OGA and is represented by Azinor Catalyst, BayernGas, BP, Chevron, DONG, Engie, Hurricane Energy, Maersk Oil, Shell, and Siccar Point Energy.