TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Co. (TGS) and Schlumberger are working together on a new multi- and wide-azimuth (M-WAZ) multiclient reimaging program in the central U.S. Gulf of Mexico, according to a news release.

The Fusion M-WAZ reimaging program includes data covering more than 1,000 Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) blocks, which span about 23,000 sq km (8,880 sq miles), from 3-D WAZ programs previously acquired by TGS and Schlumberger with the WesternGeco Q-Marine point-receiver marine seismic system between 2008 and 2012, the release said.

Data from the Mississippi Canyon, Atwater Valley and Ewing Bank areas will be processed using the latest imaging technology in an effort to “provide a significant uplift in data quality for upcoming licensing rounds.” According to TGS and Schlumberger, the area is expected to remain a high priority for E&P companies in the foreseeable future. The area is expected to benefit from two licensing rounds every year for the next five years under the 2017-2022 OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program.

The custom-processing workflow for this project will include newly developed imaging technologies including 3-D WAZ de-ghosting; 3-D surface related multiple elimination; common offset RTM gather and image-guided tomography; and orthorhombic anisotropy velocity modeling, according to the release. During reprocessing, geoscientists will update the salt interpretation and add input from the latest well data released for the area.

Fast-track data will be available in 2017 for lease round bid evaluation. Final results are expected in early 2018, ahead of a period when substantial block turnover in the area is anticipated, the release said.

—Staff Reports

Offshore