PGS concludes 3D survey in Barents Sea with new records

PGS has completed a simultaneous node and streamer acquisition for Lundin Energy and partners in PL1083 in the Barents Sea, setting several acquisition records. ​​​​​​​ 

PGS mobilised in late May deploying drop-nodes leased from Geospace Technologies and operating Ramform Hyperion as streamer vessel, and Sanco Swift as source vessel with an ultra-wide source configuration.

The survey area covered 3,812 square kilometres in a tandem source-over-streamer operation. The GeoStreamer spread towed behind the Ramform Hyperion comprised of 18 streamers with 75-metre separation and 8,025 metres length.

This is said to be a world record for the largest streamer count, amounting to 144.45 kilometres. The Sanco Swift’s ultra-wide hexa-source was a record-breaker as well with 437.5 metres, which made it the widest source spread ever towed.

According to PGS, this is the first survey to use automated free-dropped nodes where a substantial portion of the survey area was covered with a sparse grid of approximately 1,000 ocean bottom nodes.

To deploy the nodes onto the seabed, the company designed a conveyor belt system, installed on a support vessel. The nodes were retrieved from the seafloor using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV).

“The successful management of this integrated technology project in a complex offshore setting, including the most advanced in-sea equipment configuration to date, is further proof of PGS’ operational capability and that this capability translates smoothly from streamer to node operations”, said Rob Adams, EVP Operations in PGS.

To remind, the Norwegian seismic player secured the 3D exploration survey work with Lundin Energy Norway in March.