Publications

The recently acquired North West Tunu (NWT) 3D seismic survey was the last campaign of 5 years of intensive geophysical activities in the Mahakam PSC by Total. It was the widest and longest survey, after Central Tunu 3D (CT3D) in 2009-2010, Handil 3D in 2011 and Bekapai OBC in 2012. It was also the most varied in terms of working environment, as it summed up all the challenges met during previous surveys: 29% swamp (mostly shrimp ponds), 59% transition (sand banks, currents, fisherman, traffic) and 12% shelf/offshore environment (up to 50m water depth, with coal barge traffic), in addition to the many installations and pipelines which crisscross the acquisition area.. The prime objective was to allow full and proper development of the shallow gas accumulations, starting at the crest of the Tunu field. A new 3D seismic survey data set was considered critical for the further development of the field and to fight against gas production decline. The acquisition was aimed at improving imaging of the shallow interval, and detecting seismic amplitudes associated with shallow gas accumulations, and delivering images which facilitate drilling horizontal and deviated producers at optimal locations for improved gas recovery. A multidisciplinary team named “Seismic Task Force” was established to obtain permits from the authorities and to facilitate the integration of the project within internal Total E&P Indonesie (TEPI) entities, and with non TEPI stakeholders. Considerable progress has been made in managing and supervising seismic in Mahakam delta since 2009. The new contractor initially had some difficulties during the mobilization phase and after the start of the acquisition, but eventually the average performances were good to excellent in all aspects (HSE, Production, Administrative, Procedure and Financial). Data quality is “acceptable to good” and consistent with the previous survey CT3D 2010.