Searcher shoots 3D survey offshore Gulf of Papua

Searcher Seismic has launched the Nanamarope 3D multi-client seismic survey over multiple permits offshore the Gulf of Papua.

The 1919 km2 Nanamarope MC3D, in co-operation wiit Larus Energy, is designed to evaluate and derisk several prospective plays identified within the Mesozoic and Tertiary intervals, improve imaging of secondary play types as well as resolve the velocity contrasts in the sub- surface. ‘The 3D data is crucial to enhancing the geological understanding of the sparsely explored offshore Gulf of Papua and developing drill-ready prospects like those recently identified by a supermajor in the permit immediately adjacent to the Nanamarope 3D,’ said Searcher.

Searcher said it has built up a big library of regional seismic, geochemical, and airborne data across the Gulf of Papua, a region which has attracted substantial interest from international exploration companies.

‘Searcher’s comprehensive data library has revolutionised the understanding of the tectonostratigraphic evolution of the region, unveiling numerous play types with vast untapped hydrocarbon potential including a new Mid-Miocene turbidite play,’ the company added.

Fast-track data will be available by late Q3 2023.

US launches environmental review of wind energy project offshore Massachusetts

The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has announced an environmental review of a proposed 2430-megawatt wind energy project offshore Massachusetts on the US East Coast.

BOEM is publishing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Construction and Operations Plan (COP) submitted by Beacon Wind. This is the 11th offshore wind energy COP review initiated under the Biden-Harris administration.

The lease area is 17 nautical miles (nm) south of Nantucket, Massachusetts, and approximately 52 nm east of Montauk, New York. The project comprises construction and operation of two wind energy facilities (Beacon Wind 1 and Beacon Wind 2) offshore Massachusetts with a total capacity of at least 2430 MW of wind energy, which could power over 850,000 homes a year.

Some 155 turbines will be installed, including up to two offshore substation platforms and up to two offshore export cables, which are planned to make landfall in Astoria, New York, and Waterford, Connecticut.

Since the start of the Biden-Harris administration, BOEM has approved the nation’s first two commercial scale offshore wind projects, held three offshore wind lease auctions – including a record-breaking sale offshore New York and the first-ever sale offshore the Pacific Coast in California – initiated an environmental review of ten offshore wind projects, and advanced the process to explore wind energy areas in Oregon, Gulf of Maine and Central Atlantic.