As a result of a new initiative by PETRONAS to stimulate offshore E&P investment activity, PETRONAS through Malaysia Petroleum Management (MPM), has taken the decision to open an area of Malaysian offshore waters to the multi-client model for the first time.

A consortium comprising of PGS, TGS and Schlumberger WesternGeco, the industry’s three largest multi-client companies, has successfully won the tender for the rights to undertake a multiclient seismic program offshore Sabah.

Offshore Sabah sits in an active fold-and-thrust province that hosts a number of proven hydrocarbon accumulations. An extension of the Brunei Baram Delta play, the primary exploration target has been Miocene deltaics with some younger Pliocene. With exploration and drilling progressing into deeper frontier waters, there is potential for new plays in the carbonate and syn-rift section. This large basin will benefit from modern, high resolution broadband 3D seismic necessary to understand both the existing play concepts and new potential plays.

The consortium is planning to apply a combination of the industry’s most advanced technology solutions including multi-sensor acquisition using PGS GeoStreamer^® and WesternGeco IsoMetrix* marine isometric seismic technology, PGS Towed Streamer EM technology and advanced broadband 2D acquisition and processing techniques.

*mark of Schlumberger