If you’re a seismic data contractor, don’t even think about stopping to catch your breath. There’s no time.
Demand for seismic crews is soaring not just in the United States but on the entire international scene as well, particularly on land. Major players, e.g., WesternGeco, CGG and BGP, are busy adding crews in Africa and the Middle East.
IHS Energy reported a breakdown of the world share of geophysical activity in a recent issue of its World Geophysical News:
- United States: 24 percent.
- Far East: 20 percent.
- Africa: 13 percent.
- Canada: 12 percent.
- CIS: 11 percent.
- Latin America: 10 percent.
- Middle East: 6 percent.
- Europe: 4 percent.
“We’re seeing an increase in activity in all the regions,” said Elaine Buck marketing manager-North America at WesternGeco, “specifically in Algeria, Libya and India.”
Libya is on a lot of radar screens (see related story, page 12).
“The hottest thing now is Libya in specific,” said Gehrig Schultz, vice president-Eastern Hemisphere of business development at PGS Onshore, “and North Africa in general.
“Egypt went from a crew count of three to six from June to now,” Schultz said. “Libya has gone from June of ’05 with 13 crews in the country to 25 or 26 today either operating or mobilizing in the country. Algeria is a similar picture.
“Last year in early February, we looked around Dubai where everyone had gear in warehouses, and there were 60 vibrators sitting in people’s yards,” Schultz noted. “Today, there’s no available equipment in the region.”
In fact, Schultz said, there’s a sixmonth wait to rent the small IVI minivibes, which weigh only 12,000 pounds and go up to 250 Hz. They offer the ability to traverse streets and get close to houses.