Shell planning 3750 km2 3D seismic survey off W. Australia

Oil and gas major Shell has applied for permission to carry out a seismic survey offshore Kimberley, Australia.

Shell Australia is planning to carry out the “Factory” 3D marine seismic survey within the Browse and Bonaparte Basin offshore Western Australia (WA).

The Factory 3D survey will comprise acquisition of approximately 3,750 km2 of 3D seismic data in Exploration Permits AC/P65, AC/P41, WA-534-P, and a very small portion of adjacent acreage for the purposes of acquiring sufficient data to fully-image the prospects on the titles, the Australian offshore safety regulator NOPSEMA has said.

The Factory Operational Area (OA) is located approximately 100 kilometers from the Kimberley coast of northern WA and is around 200 km from the Indonesian archipelago and East Timor.

The plan is for the 3D survey to be carried out over a period of 2-3 months from July 1 to December 30, 2019. NOPSEMA is currently reviewing Shell’s environment plan for the operation and will come up with a decision by April 29.

To remind, Shell had in January filed an environment plan for the drilling of the Bratwurst exploration well in the nearby AC/P64 permit, however, NOPSEMA has requested further information from Shell on this, and expects to have a decision on Bratwurst plan Friday, April 5.

Offshore Energy Today Staff