TGS-NOPEC Begins New 2D Seismic Survey Offshore Louisiana

Houston, Texas, October 23, 2002

 

 

The Phase 50 program is designed to improve the image of the deeper geology in order to fully explore the deep gas play on the Louisiana shelf. Earlier in 2002 TGS-NOPEC acquired a 3,400-kilometer proof of concept pilot program with super long acquisition offsets and Kirchhoff prestack time migration processing. The results of the pilot project clearly demonstrate improvements in image quality of the deeper data, generating enough interest and funding from exploration companies to expand the program to 48,000 kilometers. To view a map of the program and an example of the image improvement, visit the TGS-NOPEC web site at www.tgsnope.no <http://www.tgsnope.no> or use the following link

(http://www.tgsnopec.com/gulf_of_mexico/phase50_comparisons.htm).

 

Acquisition of the expanded Phase 50 program began in early October with the M/V Odin Explorer. TGS-NOPEC plans to add the M/V Zephyr to the project in November 2002. The 8,000-meter streamer lengths and 14-second record lengths incorporated into Phase 50 far exceed the acquisition technology available on any previous 2D projects in the area. TGS-NOPEC's processing sequence for Phase 50 includes pre-stack time migration and angle/offset corridor stacks for amplitude versus offset (AVO) analysis.

 

In conjunction with this project, TGS-NOPEC's wholly owned subsidiary A2D Technologies offers a complementing package of digital workstation-ready (WSR) well logs. Consisting of logs from 500 wells drilled deeper than 15,000 feet within the Phase 50 survey area, the package provides an excellent starting point for exploring the deep gas play on the continental shelf. TGS-NOPEC offers delivery of the seismic and well log data in a single integrated package ready for use in multiple workstation formats.

 

TGS-NOPEC is a leading global provider of multi-client geoscience data and associated products and services to the oil and gas industry. TGS-NOPEC specializes in the planning, acquisition, processing, interpretation and marketing of non-exclusive seismic surveys worldwide. A2D Technologies, a wholly owned subsidiary, pioneered the delivery of digital well log data over the Internet and currently offers a one-of-a-kind integrated solution for well log data sourcing, well log data management, and well log correlation. The TGS-NOPEC group places a strong emphasis on providing high-quality data and the highest level of service to the industry.

 

All statements in this press release other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, which are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Such factors include any significant change in the oil and gas business or the economy.