Exploration
| Our geoscientists work up exploration concepts in areas where we have detailed knowledge and experience. When a target area is identified, we acquire and interpret existing data including seismic and other geological or geophysical data. The successful interpretation of data requires a high level of technical skill and significant local knowledge of the specific area. If an area remains of interest after evaluation, we seek to acquire an exploration licence from either the host government or a company holding the existing rights. The acquisition process typically requires us to pay a signature bonus, as well as to commit to a work program with certain financial and exploration milestones. |
| Acquire, interpret and integrate data Once we have secured an exploration licence, we gather and interpret additional data to plan an exploration drilling program. Data can be gathered through various means such as gravity readings, magnetic readings, seabed logging and seismic acquisitions. |
| An onshore seismic survey is conducted using a seismic or vibrator truck, transmitting an energy signal to a receiving truck which records the signals. |
 |
| An offshore seismic survey is conducted in a similar manner, with receivers (hydrophones) towed on cables behind the survey ship. A combination of air guns, water guns and other acoustic sources are used to create the pulse needed to take seismic readings. |
| Seismic acquisition is one of the most valuable tools for deducing the presence of oil and gas both onshore and offshore. It is obtained by sending high-energy sound waves into the ground or seabed and measuring how long they take to reflect back to the surface. Since sound travels at different speeds as it passes through different materials, computers can use seismic data to create a 2D or 3D map of what lies below the surface. |
| Seismic data can help explorers predict petroleum presence and determine where to drill exploration wells more accurately. |
| Geologists and geophysicists integrate the seismic images with other data to look for accumulations of oil and natural gas and build a portfolio of prospects to be drilled and leads to be studied further. Drilling exploration wells & well logging |
| Well logging helps explorers understand properties in the subsurface, such as rock types, pressure, hydrocarbon presence and more. |
| Once geological and geophysical data are interpreted, the technical team will identify the locations of prospects and leads for oil and/or gas resources. An exploration well is drilled at the target location and rock samples are brought to the surface and analysed. Well logs measure the electrical, magnetic and radioactive properties of the rocks. By examining this information, explorers learn about the subsurface structures and whether there is a discovery, and whether it is likely to contain commercially producible oil and/or gas. |
1. Origin 2. Exploration 3. Development 4. Production