Seismic data specialist Spectrum has begun its multi-client 2D seismic survey covering the Austral and Malvinas basins offshore southern Argentina.
Spectrum said on Tuesday that the expected survey size was around 14,500 km but may vary based on input from participating clients.
The company added that the survey received authorization from the Ministry of Energy and Minerals of Argentina.
Data is being acquired with a 12,000-meter streamer with continuous recording to enable extended recording lengths and high fold data to enable full interpretation from Moho to water bottom.
The data will be processed with pre-stack time migration (PSTM), pre-stack depth migration (PSDM), full waveform inversion (FWI), and broadband products with first deliveries in early 2Q 2018. The new data will be utilized to assist the Ministry in placement and design of parcels for the future license rounds offshore Argentina.
Richie Miller , EVP of multi-client Americas, said: “The strong support and interest Spectrum generated for the ongoing Argentine deepwater program allowed us to continue to build on our Argentinian multi-year program with the addition of the Austral Malvinas program.
“The industry appreciates the need for new, modern, long offset broadband data to help them evaluate the full potential of the area prior to the expected license round in H2 2018. Spectrum expects to collect, process and deliver over 50,000 kilometers of data to the industry in time for these rounds.”
Spectrum also said that this survey would be carried out in partnership with BGP Marine and was supported by industry funding.
It is worth noting that the company began a 35,000 km multi-client 2D seismic survey covering 435,000 km2 offshore the deep waters of Argentina back in April . The first delivery of processed data from the survey is scheduled to begin in early 4Q 2017.