Shearwater consolidates OBN market position

Shearwater has through its first deep-water ocean bottom node (OBN) survey project demonstrated its strategic positioning in the OBN market.

In March, Shearwater secured its first deep-water OBN award. The project was launched in the second quarter, breaking the cost curve by implementing a wide-tow triple string and triple source configuration.

Shearwater CEO Irene Waage Basili said, “I am pleased to announce these achievements for Shearwater particularly given the difficult market backdrop for our industry. Although we have been successful in securing more than our fair share of new business going into the second half of the year, the total market has been drastically reduced in the short term. Securing sensible backlog in the short term while taking strategic positions in forward looking markets is absolutely key in this environment.

“We will remain a long-term partner to our customers focused on providing better data, safely, more efficiently, at the right cost with minimal impact on the environment while we look ahead to identify the opportunities which will come as markets return to a new normal.” 

Furthermore, Shearwater completed its first CO2 sequestration monitoring survey, at the Sleipner CO2 storage project in the second quarter.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) considers extensive Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) a requirement for reaching the UN’s climate goals by capturing and storing CO2 permanently underground, instead of releasing CO2 to the atmosphere.

The marine geophysical industry has been severely impacted by the combination of the global economic and health crisis. The second quarter was particularly affected by logistical challenges related to crew changes caused by COVID-19 and global travel restrictions, while the third quarter will be impacted by a substantial reduction in customer’s investment levels.

Following an initial period of uncertainty in the dual crisis, Shearwater now has line of sight for the period ahead as customers reduce spending.

“Our flexible model is by design and I am pleased to see it has passed the test of responding to abrupt change in market conditions. It can equally be applied on short notice when the markets justify a scaling up of the fleet”, said Basili.

In the first half, Shearwater consolidated its ship management in-house to fully realise scale efficiencies. As part of this process, all four “Polar” vessels will be renamed with the prefix “SW”.

“We maintain manoeuvrability in a slower market where our presence across all segments from ocean bottom to 4D surveys, from processing and imaging to software, positions us to navigate through the downturn,” said Basili. 

“Our long-term ambitions are unchanged, and while in the short-term we are buffeted by increased uncertainty, we will take the required actions to emerge on the other side as a stronger company.”