BGP Pioneer has successfully completed Perenco Oil & Gas Gabon 3D seismic acquisition project of approximately 1500 sq.km offshore Gabon. The project was challenging as it included undershoot operations between platforms, and was to be run in water depth varying between 15 to 55 meters of water depth.
Overall 3 major seismic Vessels the BGP Pioneer, the Explorer, the Prospector, were involved within different timing in the area of survey together with the BGP Supply 2 boat and other chase boats the MV Maria and Admiraal de Ruiter.
The shallow survey area (approx.130 sq.km) of 15 to 20m bathymetry depth contour, was requiring smaller towed array (3*6 km). This part of survey located in shallow waters was completed in 15 days using the BGP Explorer.
The larger survey area (around 1370 sq.km) of water depth between 20 to 55 meters was acquired by the BGP Pioneer, trailing an array of 6*6km spread. Undershoot operations and close approaches to obstructions were run with BGP Prospector as source vessel, and BGP Pioneer as recording vessel.
BGP Pioneer 3D shooting operations in the survey area faced many issues due to the presence of production oil platforms, heavy fishing activities (numerous Fishing Aggregating Devices – FAD were removed from waters), drilling offshore activities, protected marine area, protected marine mammal species, prevailing currents, engine issues etc. All these factors could have cause excessive delays. Nevertheless, undershooting job was completed in good time. Acquisition within the larger survey area was achieved after 78 days of focused hard work.
The excellent coordination and organization of the operations allowed BGP Pioneer to complete the whole survey on time with excellent coverage and great quality of data.
At the end of survey, BGP Pioneer ported call in the city of Port-Gentil.
Press Release, July 30, 2014