West African 3D Survey Launched by TGS

Norwegian geosciences firm TGS announced September 13 it will undertake Jaan, a new 3D seismic multi-client project offshore west Africa from northern Senegal south through Gambia to Guinea.

The northern part of the basin has seen multiple gas discoveries (especially by Kosmos-BP offshore Mauritania/Senegal) and oil finds (including the Cairn-operated SNE field offshore Senegal) and seen several other majors including Shell, Exxon and Total along with Malaysian state Petronas obtain exploration exposure there.

TGS said its Jaan survey will cover the southern portion of the MSGBC Basin (the acronym stands for Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea Bissau and Guinea Conakry) from northern Senegal to the Guinea transform fault. Its project will consist of 11,135 km² of new acquisition complemented by the reprocessing and full pre-stack merging of existing multi-client 3D.

Australian independent FAR in a Sept.13 presentation to analysts said it will shortly drill its first exploration well offshore Gambia. Last month it said the Samo-1 well would be drilled early 4Q2018. FAR now says the Samo-1 well location is being finalised, with its spud date "confirmed in October." It is targeting oil, although oil and gas finds has been found just over the border by Cairn at Senegal's SNE field. FAR says it has also mapped Bambo and, only this year, Soloo prospects which - like Samo - are also in its Gambian A2 block. It also operates A5. 

FAR farmed out half its original 80% interest in the two blocks to Petronas in February 2018, a transaction that was approved by the Gambian government last month.