New seismic acquisition contracts give TGS and its clients a lift

Norwegian seismic giant TGS has racked up a second important contract this month for its offshore bottom node acquisition business which it claims gives oil and gas company clients advantages in reservoir understanding.

OBN seismic is a technique whereby sound sources are towed behind a geophysical vessel while the signal receivers are placed on the ocean floor.

Traditional marine seismic involves the sound source and the receivers being towed behind the vessel.

TGS' latest contract is with an undisclosed client in the offshore Trinidad play. The shallow-water OBN acquisition contract is a 3D baseline exercise scheduled to begin early in the third quarter for a total duration of 80 days, TGS said in an announcement to the Oslo Stock Exchange.

TGS chief executive Kristian Johansen said his company's OBN technology "continues to be the preferred choice of the industry and exposes TGS to clients' production budgets and asset optimization initiatives".

The other contract announced earlier this month was a multi-client ultra long offset OBN acquisition campaign in the US Gulf.

The "Amendment 4" project will expand node coverage in TGS' existing multi-client library, adding 1100 square kilometers in the Mississippi Canyon, Ewing Banks and Grand Isle South areas.

The acquisition is scheduled for completion in the second quarter of 2025, with final deliverables available in the second quarter next year.

Johansen said it was an "ongoing acquisition campaign" that underscored the importance of OBN acquisition in providing clients with superior seismic data.

The project, supported by industry funding, is anticipated to deliver industry-leading subsurface imaging, enabling oil and gas operators to make more informed decisions and mitigate drilling risks, added TGS.