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RXT introduce new vessel
28 April 2006
On Friday April 28th Reservoir Exploration Technologies (RXT) took over their new OBC vessel, Ocean Pearl, during a ceremony in Stavanger, Norway. This vessel has the unique capability in the seismic industry of being able to acquire multi-component data ocean bottom cable (OBC) data without requiring any other vessels. This single vessel operation is acchieved by using the radio-controlled recording buoys that are an essential feature of I-O’s VectorSeis Ocean (VSO) system.
Equipped with cable/buoy handling systems for up to 12 VSO cables and compressors able to provide air for dual 4000+ cu. in. seismic sources, the 108 metre long vessel represents a step change in OBC operations, comparable to the introduction of the Ramform vessels for towed streamer operations by PGS in 1995.
Until now RXT has been operating one crew in the Gulf of Mexico, a dual vessel operation comprising a shooting vessel - the M/V Beulah Chouest - and a cable/buoy handler - the M/V Bourbon. Their GOM operations started in June 2004 and have demonstrated the superior imaging capabilities of the VSO sensors and cables.
With demand for seismic vessels at record levels, RXT’s timing for the introduction of their new vessel could not be better. The historical focus of OBC data for production purposes, driven by cost and limited productivity, has widened to include exploration objectives, as the differential between towed streamer and OBC survey rates has narrowed, and for multi-azimuth towed streamer surveys potentially reversed!
For the OBC market, the Ocean Pearl appears to represent the only new capacity currently being introduced. With PGS recently deciding to withdraw from seabed operations and convert their vessels for towed streamer operations, there is greater demand for OBC surveys than there is supply with a number of surveys planned for 2006 delayed until 2007
With production from many mature producing fields starting to decline, RXT envision demand for high resolution four component data continuing to grow as operators follow the old oilfield adage that the best place to look for oil is where you have already found it.
Specifically, the use of OBC data for 4D or timelapse surveys for reservoir monitoring is seen as an area where there will be substantial growth. 4D surveys acquired over producing fields are usually relatively small, between 120 km2 – 200 km2, and the areas are usually obstructed by production facilities and activity. In many cases this precludes the use of towed streamer surveys. The superior imaging capability of the VSO system and the improved efficiency attained through the innovations RXT have introduced into OBC operations provide a new solution to meet the 4D challenges the oil companies must address to maximise hydrocarbon recovery from their existing reservoirs.
With a management team with unrivalled operational and technical experience and equipped with arguably the most original seismic acquisition system ever deployed offshore, RXT are poised to become a significant player in the geophysical contracting world.