Project Summary
2D Seismic Survey in the Amadeus Basin, Northern Territory.
20km main line with 5 parallel ghost lines + 2 receiver grids
4,758 Receiver Points, 1,592 Source Points.
Timeframe - Planning 286 days, Delivery 10 days.
Seismic contractor – Oceania Geo
Recording System - Nodal – Stryde Nimble
Source Type – Weight Drop – 1 x WD1400: 1400kg & 1 x GPEG500: 500kg gravity-based weight drops.
Service categories
- Project planning
- Project delivery
Project overview
Our client operates several oil & gas fields within the Amadeus Basin and holds exploration assets in the Amadeus, Georgina and Wiso Basins of the Northern Territory.
We were engaged to plan and deliver a 2D seismic survey with the primary focus of determining the optimum acquisition parameters for future seismic programmes in the clients permits. Secondary focus was to validate the ability of weight drop sources with lower environmental impact to return data of acceptable and interpretable quality; and to confirm the Heavitree reservoir target can be reliably imaged seismically, particularly over anticlinal crests.
The acquisition employed some innovative methods not previously used within the Amadeus Basin. The innovations included the seismic source energy being provided by two tractor-mounted weight drops and the use of ghost lines and wave boxes to impart a pseudo-3D nature to the seismic line to provide information on the propagation of source energy and noise perpendicular to the main line. No line preparation was undertaken to confirm the ability of the equipment to undertake activities with significant ground disturbance.
The survey was located in a remote location and undertaken in a period of extreme heat and high-fire risk. Significant cultural heritage sites were also in close proximity to the area of operations. Managing these risks was a key role for ResourceGeo, to allow the crew to acquire the survey safely.
ResourceGeo services
Project Management Services as required to plan and deliver the project in accordance the requirements of the NT Petroleum Act 1984 and Petroleum (Environmental) Regulations 2016; Petroleum (Prospecting and Mining) Regulations 2001. We met these requirements by utilizing the ResourceGeo integrated management system supplemented by our Seismic Project Management Manual - NT Addendum. Based on the PMBOK project management system, this provided all the checks and controls to provide a successful outcome for our client.
Survey Area Logistics Scout
To assist refining the project scope and risks, we scouted the preliminary survey lines. We focused on understanding operational and health and safety constraints affecting the execution of the project, as well as confirming environmentally sensitive areas and any requirement for ecology surveys.
Project Delivery Management
We provided project delivery support including:
- Daily operations, risk & cost reviews with seismic contractor.
- Project cost tracking and forecasting.
- Daily verbal and written progress reporting to the client
- Land Access interface and co-ordination with stakeholders
Environmental Closeout
As part of the project closeout, we compiled a database of post-survey conditions of the seismic lines and any other areas of activity affected by the survey using a combination of ground and drone photogrammetry to support the reported outcomes.