Seismic approach cuts risk

THREE dimensional seismic technology and data analysis is playing a vital role in the Perth Basin revival.

Voyager Energy Limited technical director Ray Barnes estimated $20 million was spent on seismic exploration by Perth Basin joint venture partners last year, with the majority being spent on 3D seismic exploration.

“Oil exploration is like code breaking. Once you have cracked it, you can follow the trend,” he said.

“Our group took the time and effort and spent about $1 billion analysing the data to unravel the geological history of the basin.

“We’ve moved to the use of 3D seismic to prospect which is quite an expensive exercise.”

However, Mr Barnes said the use of 3D seismic “dramatically reduces the risks” associated with oil exploration.

“There was a burst of success with the wells that we drilled, and then we analysed the data,” he said.

“There has been a delay in the drilling program due to our analysis and getting the technology up to speed.

“It was clear that we needed that 3D seismic exploration. There was a reason that we took a pause.

“We expect that when the drilling starts, eyes will once again turn to the Perth Basin.”

Roc Oil chief operating officer Bruce Clement said the use of technology such as 2D and 3D seismic exploration had increased in the past 10 years.

The company conducted several such surveys off the WA coast in 2002 to gather environmental information regarding the interaction between seismic operations and migrating humpback whales.

However, environmentalists remain concerned that the use of seismic equipment can harm marine mammals.

This has meant WA’s oil and gas industry continues to operate within stringent rules and regulations concerning exploration activities with the timing of seismic surveys restricted to windows of opportunity based around the seasonal migration cycles of cetaceans and other marine life.

Curtin University Centre for Marine Science and Technology has also been involved in other studies.