Viridien and SLB’s first Australian partnership looks into exploration and carbon storage potential

France-based geophysical services company Viridien, formerly known as CGG, and American oilfield services company SLB have partnered for the first time in Australia to gather data into the exploration and carbon storage potential of the Bonaparte Basin.

Viridien reported on October 24 that the partners had completed data acquisition for a multi-client survey in the Bonaparte Basin off the North West Coast of Australia, which received industry support and prefunding.

The ~6,760-square kilometer ultramodern PSDM seismic data set is expected to provide a thorough evaluation of this highly prospective and underexplored area to improve industry understanding, Viridien said.

The data is being processed and the final data will be available in Q2 2025.

Dechun Lin, EVP, Earth Data at Viridien, said: “We are delighted to have partnered with SLB for the first time in Australia to successfully complete this large data acquisition project. The new high-quality data set will give interested players greater insight into the exploration and carbon storage potential of this promising area. We will continue to look for opportunities to invest in the country.”

According to Viridien, the complex geological area has been historically challenging to image due to the presence of carbonates and the shallow water.

The survey will provide modern, high-quality data over an area lacking recent, or any 3D data. The data also partially covers a carbon storage block, recently awarded as permit G-13-AP.

The survey deployed Sercel Sentinel MS multi-component streamers and the Sercel QuietSea marine mammal monitoring system.

To remind, this summer, following over 90 years of history, CGG rebranded into Viridien with the wish of accelerating its growth as an advanced technology company. Since this strategy was announced in 2018, the company has divested its data acquisition activities and increased the differentiation in its core businesses of geoscience, earth data and sensing & monitoring.