Shearwater GeoServices said on Jan. 18 it has been awarded a 3861 sq mile (10,000 sq km) marine seismic acquisition services contract by Total (NYSE: TOT) and Eni (NYSE: E).

The contract is for Total and Eni’s 2018 exploration program which is located approximately 300 km (186 miles) offshore Myanmar. Shearwater will deploy the vessel Polar Empress for the survey which is expected to take about six months, commencing in January 2018.

“We are pleased to be awarded this significant contract with two oil majors known for their high HSE and quality standards and requirements for leading operational performance,” Irene Waage Basili, CEO of Shearwater, said.

“Shearwater has undertaken a significant effort since its inception to pre-qualify for work with major oil companies. We see this recent award as a validation of that strategy, and appreciate the positive engagement of our clients to achieve this”.

Total and Eni are the operators of the two blocks to be surveyed, YWB and MD-04, off the coast of Myanmar.

The Polar Empress vessel was built in 2015, has a capacity of up to 22 streamers, and is one of the most powerful and efficient seismic vessels in the world.

This contract is the second significant recent award to Shearwater, following the November award by an NOC for a five to six months contract for which it started mobilizing the vessels Polar Duchess and Polar Marquis in December.

“The seismic market remains challenging, but on the back of a solid operational performance in 2017 in combination with recently awarded contracts, Shearwater is well positioned through the winter season and for 2018 as a whole,” Basili added.

Shearwater GeoServices is a marine geophysical services company jointly owned by GC Rieber Shipping ASA and Rasmussengruppen AS.

Offshore