• Workflow
• Survey types
  • Scanning
  • Sections (2D)
  • Volumes (3D)
  • Shallow water
  • Magnetotellurics

Scanning

Accelerating prospect delivery and finding hydrocarbons in frontier and mature regions

Leading oil companies are routinely using seabed logging to scan the subsurface over a wide area and rapidly identify prospects, regardless of their seismic expressions.

Receivers are deployed in widely spaced grids, and the source is towed along paths determined by 3D forward modelling to provide the optimum EM response. The scanning data can be evaluated quickly. If necessary, detailed infill surveys that investigate the resistive anomalies identified can then be designed and acquired before the vessel leaves the survey area. This fast iterative approach can

• rapid lead generation
• accelerate prospect delivery
• reduce the time to first oil
• reduce exploration costs by 20% or more
• eliminate extensive exploration in non-hydrocarbon bearing areas.

"Three seismic leads are identified in this 1000-km2 imaginary frontier area (left). Scanning quickly confirms two of the leads and finds a major new stratigraphic lead not revealed by the seismic data (right). One of the seismic leads gives no seabed-logging response. As it is unlikely to contain hydrocarbons, it can be dropped from the portfolio."

Scanning mature basins

Many fields are abandoned or sold at a discount while containing missed or bypassed reserves. The development of these residual reserves can extend the productive lives of fixed assets and help to defer abandonment costs.

2D acquisition (left) would miss a long, thin prospect, whereas using a wide-azimuth geometry (right) would dramatically increase the probability of detection.

Scanning services

Experienced crews and a large number of receivers are two factors that can greatly increase the efficiency of scanning surveys.

EMGS operates five vessels and has two more under construction. Each of our vessels has an experienced crew and carries a large number of our industry-leading receivers. This means we can examine large areas without interrupting the survey to redeploy the receivers. We also acquire and process azimuthal data, which increases our ability to identify leads that fall between survey lines.

We offer both multi-client and proprietary scanning surveys to identify high-value acreages before major lease sales.

Download a scanning brochure.

Contact findinghydrocarbons@emgs.com for further information.