French CGG Wins Mozambique Seismic Work
French geosciences group CGG said October 13 it has been awarded an extensive multi-client programme to acquire seismic data offshore gas-rich Mozambique.
The multi-survey programme, awarded by state regulator Instituto Nacional de Petroleo (INP), is designed to improve industry insight into the region’s geology and provide oil and gas companies with a greater level of understanding of Mozambique’s prospectivity, said CGG.
The program includes a 2D survey of over 6,550 km in the offshore Rovuma basin, including blocks R5-A, R5-B and R5-C, and a large 3D survey over the Beira High in the Zambezi Delta. The 3D survey is expected to be up to 40,000 km², subject to pre-commitment, and will cover blocks Z5-C and Z5-D and surrounding open acreage in this deltaic area which is believed to be prospective. CGG has also been awarded an onshore airborne gravity and magnetic survey in the Southern Mozambique Basin.
Blocks offered in last year's Mozambique 5th Licence Round - for details of winners, click this weblink (Map credit: INP)
"The 5th Licence Round award process undertaken by the INP in 2015 saw a high level of interest in the Zambezi region and we believe our multi-client projects will highlight the exploration upside potential,” said CGG chief executive Jean-Georges Malcor.
Mozambique now holds 100 trillion ft3 of proved natural gas reserves, up from just 4.5 trillion ft3 a few years ago, making it as the third-largest proven natural gas reserve holder in Africa, after Nigeria and Algeria, according to the US Energy Information Administration citing the Oil & Gas Journal. Eni and Anadarko are expected to launch multi-billion metric ton liquefaction projects early next decade, on the back of their major deepwater gas discoveries -- with investors such as ExxonMobil and Qatar Petroleum reportedly eying a farm-in opportunity to Eni's offshore gas interests there.
Mark Smedley