South Atlantic Petroleum has let contracts to Petroleum Geo Services, Oslo, to shoot six 3D seismic surveys in the central Mozambique Channel on blocks offshore Madagascar (see map, OGJ, Aug. 9, 2004, p. 33).
The full program will total more than 9,000 sq km of 3D coverage on the 52,990 sq km Juan de Nova permit in French territory and the 13,770 sq km Belo Profond permit in Madagascan waters. This follows PGS’s 12,500+ line-km 2D broadband seismic, processing, and interpretation.
Acquisition of 3D is to start this month in 1,800-3,200 m of water. PGS will shoot 7,000 sq km in Juan de Nova and 2,000 sq km in Belo Profond with three separate surveys in each permit. SAPETRO holds 90% interest in the permits, and MAREX Inc., Houston, has 10%.
The permits contain a large portion of new deepwater exploration province with extensive oil-prone source rocks. The permits also have shallower burial depths than the Rovuma Delta gas province to the north along the Davie Fracture Zone, site of Eni SPA and Anadarko Petroleum Corp. gas discoveries offshore Mozambique (OGJ Online, June 11, 2012).