CGGVeritas will resume land seismic acquisition operations in Algeria after the award of a 3-D Vibroseis survey by Groupement Timimoun (GTIM), a joint venture between Sonatrach, Total EP Algérie, and CEPSA.

The award was the result of an open call for tender process.

The survey, covering a total surface area of 2,240 sq km (864 sq miles) over the Timimoun block in south Algeria, was commissioned as the first phase in the Timimoun unconventional gas field development plan.

The company crew deployed for this project will use two high-end proprietary acquisition technologies, high-productivity vibroseis acquisition and EmphaSeisTM broadband vibroseis, to acquire the high-density, broadband dataset required for detailed reservoir characterization. Recorded in a timeframe comparable to that of conventional data, the dataset also will be processed in the field with a fast turnaround to ensure the results are delivered in time to determine the field’s preliminary drilling plan.