Archer 3D seismic survey starts offshore Australia

Shearwater’s Geo Coral vessel has started the Archer 3D seismic survey that will cover the Dorado development and the exploration potential to the south west of the field located in the Bedout Sub-basin offshore Australia.

Carnarvon Petroleum, Santos’ partner in the project, said the Archer 3D is being acquired, in conjunction with the contiguous WA-541-P joint venture, with an alternative azimuth to the current Capreolus and Keraudren 3D datasets, most particularly over the Dorado field.

This 3D dataset will complement the two already existing datasets with support for Dorado development planning to ensure optimum well placement for maximum productivity.

A fast-track processed volume of the Archer 3D will be available for interpretation later in 2021, according to Carnavron.

The Archer 3D, expected to take around 40-50 days to be acquired, will also allow for a thorough review of the attractive exploration potential in the area to the south-west of the Dorado field.

The Geo Coral vessel will then be used for the Keraudren Extension 3D survey, Carnavron said.

The area to be covered by the Keraudren Extension 3D survey has over 30 prospects and leads identified using the existing 2D data in the WA-436-P and WA-438-P acreage.

The acquisition of the Keraudren Extension 3D will begin in the south of the 2021 acquisition area, adjacent to the existing Capreolus in WA-438-P and head north.

Subject to operational and environmental approval requirements, the Geo Coral will use its multi-sensor streamer system for around three and a half months over the whole campaign, covering an area of up to 4,800 sq km, Carnavron said.

Adrian Cook, Carnarvon’s managing director and chief executive officer, said: “The joint venture’s commitment to acquire two new 3D seismic surveys confirm the importance of the Bedout basin and the view that it has the potential to host a multitude of future exploration play opportunities. The nature of the two surveys is also rather telling of the joint venture’s multi-dimensional focus in the basin.

“Namely covering the Dorado development and the near field exploration opportunities as well as further afield exploration plays that have been identified from the ever-improving technical knowledge of the basin by the joint venture partners”.

To remind, early in March the Australian energy giant Santos hired the Noble Corporation-owned Noble Tom Prosser jack-up rig to drill two exploration wells near the Dorado field offshore Australia.

More recently, Santos submitted an environment plan to Australia’s regulator NOPSEMA proposing to drill 12 wells in the Bedout basin.