ConocoPhillips receives approval for Sequoia 3D survey

ConocoPhillips Australia SH1 has received approval from Australia’s National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) to undertake the Sequoia 3D marine seismic survey.

NOPSEMA accepted the plan on 10 August with conditions and/or limitations for the survey within exploration permit T/49P in the Otway Basin, west of Tasmania’s King Island.

At its nearest points, the survey area is located 23.5 kilometers from the west coast of King Island and 26 kilometers from the Victorian coast.

Water depths in the area range from 70 to 1,000 meters, with approximately 90% of the survey area being in water depths of less than 150 meters.

The survey is expected to take place from 15 August until 31 October.

It will use ConocoPhillips’ Compressive Seismic Imaging (CSI) technology, which means that while the overall width of the streamer configuration remains consistent, the survey can sail fewer line kilometres and use fewer streamers and acquire seismic data quicker than a conventional seismic survey.

In March, ConocoPhillips awarded Shearwater GeoServices with a contract for the Sequoia 3D survey. Vessel Geo Coral will acquire approximately 2,700 square kilometres of 3D seismic data.

Upon completion of the acquisition, processing and interpretation of the 3D seismic survey, ConocoPhillips may elect to drill an exploration well.