Seismic data aquisition
16/01/2012
The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) acquired 11 500 kilometres of two-dimensional (2D) seismic in the new Norwegian waters in the southeastern Barents Sea in the summer of 2011. In addition, 3061 kilometres of 2D-seismic were acquired around Jan Mayen and 230 kilometres on the Mørerand High in the Norwegian Sea.
The NPD’s acquisition of seismic data in the southeastern Barents Sea and around Jan Mayen will be concluded this summer. The Norwegian Parliament (Stortinget) instructed the NPD to acquire seismic data in these areas as a step in the process towards opening them for petroleum activity. The Storting has also instructed the NPD to acquire seismic data in the Nordland IV and V areas this summer.
Mørerand High
Acquisition of seismic data on the Mørerand High was a preparation for drilling shallow wells, as a step in the NPD’s mapping of the area. No decision has been made as to when the drilling will take place. The shallow wells can provide more information about what might be found beneath the basalt or lava (sub-basalt) strata in the northwestern part of the Norwegian Sea.
Seismic acquisition
In general, the petroleum industry has acquired 65 739 kilometres of 2D seismic and 46 883 square kilometres of 3D seismic in 2011. The greatest activity was in the Barents Sea, where 76 per cent of the 2D seismic and 55 per cent of the 3D seismic were acquired. Two percent of the 2D seismic and 24 per cent of the 3D seismic were acquired in the North Sea, while 22 per cent of the 2D seismic and 21 per cent of the 3D seismic were acquired in the Norwegian Sea.
Co-existence
A number of measures have been implemented in recent years to ensure co-existence between the petroleum activities and the fisheries. One of these measures is a course for fisheries experts, who are required to be on board seismic vessels in connection with data acquisition. A new course for fisheries experts is planned for the spring of 2012.
Updated: 25/01/2012
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