Innovative Frontier Exploration Using Seismic and SeaSeep Data, Indonesia: Implications for Malaysia

Most of the world’s oil was discovered using onshore surface maps and seeps. Within the past few years, technologies developed for conventional marine hydrographic surveys and anti-submarine warfare have been upgraded, modified, and integrated for offshore petroleum exploration and in particular, deepwater (400– 3,500m) exploration. Very high resolution maps of the sea bottom and zones of oil and gas seepage may be identified using a vessel traveling at 10 knots and surveying a swath of about 4 km. Similar advances in subsea positioning enable accurately-navigated piston-core to sample features we identified on sea-bottom map. These cores can be subjected to modern geochemical analysis and therefore locations of thermogenic hydrocarbon charge may be identified. In December 2006, TGS-NOPEC commenced the world’s largest multibeam and the world’s first non-exclusive SeaSeepTM survey as part of an innovative exploration program in the offshore frontier basins of Indonesia. The program was underwritten by Black Gold Energy and co-sponsored by Joint Study partner MIGAS.