Largest 2D seismic survey for oil and gas exploration starts

Monday, 3 September 2018 00:10 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The seismic vessel BGP Pioneer has arrived at Colombo Port to conduct a Modern Broadband 2D Seismic Survey for hydrocarbon exploration in the country. The inauguration ceremony to commence operations was held yesterday under the patronage of the Minister of Petroleum Resources Development Arjuna Ranatunga.

“Our country is a lucky country. We have initially identified that there are natural gas and petroleum resources. Now, we need to concentrate on data acquisition. Earlier projects had not operated properly. We decided to expedite this project after May last year. We could be able to sign the agreements with transparency within a short period. As a result of that BGP Pioneer vessel, we will be able to acquire 2D data and we will be able to produce data within 18 months,” the Minister said.

The Petroleum Resources Development Secretariat (PRDS) identified three basins, which are Mannar, Kaveri and Lanka. These basins are divided as follows.

Mannar basin from M-01 to M-10, Kaveri basin from C-1 to C-5, Lanka basin from JS-1 to JS-6. ‘BGP Pioneer’ is set to commence operations in Lanka basin from JS-1 to JS-6.

PRDS Director General Vajira Dassanayaka stated that the total cost of this project will be around $ 9 million. He also stated that credits of bringing this investment to the country goes to Sri Lanka.

“The seismic survey will be carried out by Eastern Echo DMCC, which is a fully owned subsidiary of Schlumberger. This data will then be sent to the Schlumberger office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for processing, followed by a detailed interpretation jointly done by geoscientists from the PRDS and Total to identify potential areas for hydrocarbon accumulations. We expect that we will receive positive data in the future,” he said.

Ministry of Petroleum Resources Development Secretary Upali Marasinghe and several dignitaries graced the occasion.