MV Jupiter to help in coring survey

MV Jupiter to help in coring survey

20-May-2014


MV Jupiter, a dedicated geoscience vessel, is currently in Port Victoria with a crew of 11 seamen and 10 scientists.

Recently bought from Australia by the company MG3 (Marine Geotechnical Geophysical Geochemical), MV Jupiter will be used by the Japanese company, JOGMEC, as part of its ongoing survey to acquire geochemical data in Seychelles’ waters from May 21 to June 5, 2014.

This will involve the collection of about 85 samples through shallow cores on the sea floor.

JOGMEC subcontracted a marine geophysical company, MG3, to carry out the coring survey.

The project which costs around $2 million will be of great benefit to Seychelles.

The main objective of the survey is to acquire 85 geochemical cores within the project area, south west of Mahé.

It also involves the screening analysis and analysis for geochemical properties including both conventional and AGI methods, as a means of fingerprinting the source of hydrocarbons.

The crew and scientists are right now busy preparing the boat and the local press had the opportunity to visit the vessel yesterday at the New Port, Victoria together with the chief executive of Petro Seychelles, Eddy Belle and his team.

The vessel’s captain, Anders K. Andersson, was delighted to welcome the press onboard and to be on our shores.

“We come directly from Tasmania and we spent 24 days on the sea. We were hit by very low pressure that exists in the Indian Ocean,” he noted, saying that he is looking forward to spend some time in our beautiful Seychelles.

Dave Stephens, operations manager for MG3, guided the press on a tour of the vessel and also introduced his company.

“In two years, MG3 now has three vessels dedicated mainly for scientific detailed research. We are looking forward for our new adventure and excited to work in collaboration with the Japanese company and the government of Seychelles,” he said.

The main equipment to be used to do the coring are a 3 - 6m gravity corer, a DGPS positioning and an Ultra Short Base Line (USBL) positioning system. Afterwards, these samples will then be seal packed and forwarded to their lab for geochemical analysis.

The aim is to identify if there are hydrocarbon seepages in the area that might give an indication of a working petroleum system.

These data in conjunction with data from a seismic survey which had been going on until yesterday, will provide a good indication of the petroleum prospectively of the area.

Being fully conscious about the recent pirate attacks in the seas of Seychelles, the company MG3 has taken all the necessary precautions.

“The region we will be working in is within the known piracy zone of East African pirates. We have announced our project and we hope these people do not come to us as they will not get a warm welcome. The MG3 has subcontracted the expert services of Citadel and a fully armed vessel, the SVS Monck with three British ex-marines, four Seychelles marine department police, two British ex-marines, unarmed, who will be on MV Jupiter as liaison officer and a full co-ordination with the Seychelles Government,” said Mr Stephens.

Another precaution taken by the team is to do their research 1000 meters away from the fibre optic cable in order not to cause any damage.

After some time at sea the freight of samples will be sent to their laboratory on June 21 and the final analysis and reporting is expected to be ready on August 20.

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Ophir-commissioned 3D survey completed offshore Seychelles

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Submitted by Paddy Harris on 29th July 2014
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WHL Energy Limited has announces that the 1,528 square kilometre Junon 3D seismic survey has been completed offshore Seychelles for Ophir Energy

Ophir-commissioned 3D survey completed offshore Seychelles
The data will now be processed with an initial fast track processed data set expected to be delivered in September and a PreSTM processed volume in December
The specialist seismic acquisition vessel M/V Polar Duchess contracted by Ophir Energy, operator of the jointly held Seychelles exploration blocks, is demobilising from the survey area.

The survey has been completed with no reportable environmental or safety incidents.

“Good progress continues to be made with our Seychelles project with the completion of acquisition of the Junon 3D seismic survey, in a very short time period since Ophir assumed operatorship,” said David Rowbottam, WHL Energy’s managing director. “The survey was completed without incident which is testament to Ophir’s planning and operating capability. The Junon 3D dataset is expected to provide a high definition subsurface image of the Junon structures and provide a number of prospects from which to select for drilling. The company is looking forward to receiving the processed data.”

WHL Energy is carried up to USD 17m through the acquisition and processing of the seismic survey by Ophir as part of Ophir’s farm-in to the Seychelles acreage.

The survey took 36 days which was in line with the 30-40 days estimated and within budget. The data will now be processed with an initial fast track processed data set expected to be delivered in September and a PreSTM processed volume in December.

The Junon 3D seismic survey is designed to mature a number of prospects for drilling on the Junon trend in the east of the Ophir Energy/ WHL Energy Seychelles acreage (Junon South, Junon East and Junon Central), an area high graded by WHL Energy’s geological studies.

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