RWE Dea has successfully completed its seismic survey off the coast of Turkmenistan after just under four months. A 3D seismic survey was carried out in this region for the first time, moving from onshore to the shallows (transition zone seismic).
About 400 square kilometres were acquired within the scope of the seismic survey. Since mid-April of this year, a survey team consisting of a total of 400 persons had travelled on special ships and vehicles in order to obtain detailed findings of hydrocarbon reservoirs in RWE Dea’s licence area Block 23.
“We’re particularly pleased with the high quality of the data obtained, which will enable us to prepare a meaningful assessment of the area surveyed,” explained Dr Werner Schwarzhans, Senior Vice President Exploration RWE Dea AG. Over 20,000 seismic registrations were carried out, which are now being processed.
As a next step, geologists and geophysicists of RWE Dea in Hamburg will be dealing with the interpretation of the data processed. “This process is going to take several months before we actually receive detailed information on structures and their location underground,” said Schwarzhans.
This was the first three-dimensional seismic survey carried out on the coast of Turkmenistan with a transition from the onshore region to shallow water. In the process, measurement cables with receivers were laid seamlessly from the mainland up to ten kilometres into the shallow-water region. As seismic sources, airgun arrays were deployed in the water, whereas on land the vibroseis method was used. In addition to the recording of 3D data, the seismic measurements also extended to include a 2D programme for assessment of the further exploration potential.
With this seismic survey, RWE Dea explored geological structures in the Miocene and Pliocene rock strata at depths of 3,000 to 6,500 metres. The seismic activities of RWE Dea were preceded by an extensive environmental study.
The region around the Caspian Sea will play an important role in future to secure the European energy supply and is also of immense importance to RWE Dea. Licence Block 23 in Turkmenistan was awarded to RWE Dea in 2009 as part of a Production Sharing Contract (PSC).
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Press Release, August 21, 2012