Key seismic survey ends

The acquisition of 1,500 square kilometre of a most highly specified 3D OBC (three dimensional, ocean bottom cable) seismic survey, spanning an 18-month period in 2000-2002 over the Zakum field has been completed, it has been officially announced.

The major seismic survey, a joint venture between Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Co (Adma-Opco), Zakum Development Co (Zakum) and Adnoc, was executed by seismic acquistion contractor Petroleum Geo-Services.

"This was the most complex and intensive ocean bottom cable seismic survey ever to be acquired anywhere in the world," said Ali Al Muhairy, manager, Zakum Reservoir Development.

The 3D data acquired is of top quality, he added.

The field has in excess of 210 well-head towers (jackets), three supercomplexes, three satellite platforms and many hundreds of kilometres of criss-crossing, untrenched oil, gas and water pipelines, said a report in the latest Adma-Opco bulletin.

"The HSE, operational, logistical, technical and quality challenges faced in acquiring such a survey over a very active field, which is extremely densely populated with infrastructure and partly located over very shallow water, were immense and second to no other survey ever acquired," said Muhairy.

Adma-Opco and its partners are rightly proud of the extremely successful outcome of the survey. The achievement of the project is characterised by first class HSE record, on schedule, budget reduction by 10 per cent and the availability of the highest technical/data quality standards.

Meanwhile, Bud Fackrell, assumed office as general manager of Adma-Opco earlier this month succeeding Henry Bacconnier.