The Santos Ltd.-Carnarvon Petroleum Ltd. Joint venture has begun the first of two extensive 3D seismic surveys in the Bedout subbasin permits off northwest Western Australia.
The Archer survey will cover Dorado oil and gas field in WA-437-P and continue southwest on-trend into adjoining permit WA-541-P taking about 40-50 days to complete. Santos intends to fast-track the processing of the data to be available for interpretation later this year.
The Archer dataset is intended to complement two existing datasets in the region and provide support for development planning to ensure optimum well placement for maximum productivity.
The Shearwater Geo Coral seismic vessel will then move directly to acquire the Keraudren Extension 3D survey in permits WA-436-P and WA-438-P to the east of the Phoenix and Roc discoveries.
The aim is to examine in more detail the more than 30 prospects and leads identified in the existing 2D data in these permits.
In total, the two surveys will cover an area of up to 4,800 sq km in a 3 1/2-month campaign. Apart from the Dorado development aspect, they will focus on near field exploration opportunities as well as exploration plays farther from the Dorado hub.
