G.D.Nalivkin Update – Nov 06
The Nalivkin in dry dock in Bremerhaven, Germany.

             

BP – CARSP Project Update – Nov 06
The Chirag Azeri Reservoir Seismic Project (CARSP) has now commenced mobilisation phase in Baku, Azerbaijan. WGP Projects has been contracted by BP to provide design and project management services for the modular source system, plus overall offshore operational management of the cable/shooting vessel.

The preceding months have seen the build stages of the modular source / cable handling system by the various manufacturing companies comprising the source handling frame, containerised compressor, umbilical and workshop plus cable handling units.

Through October, with significant supervisory input from the WGP Offshore and Engineering Managers, the cable handling units have been assembled shoreside followed by installation on the vessel and subsequent shakedown and integration. The focus of activity is now the source handling frame where the Bolt AGP Guns and associated firing lines and rigging are being assembled.

Upon completion of the installation and acceptance of the cable units onboard the vessel, the project will move into the first cable deployment and subsequent shooting / data acquisition phases.

It is envisaged that the first program of work, comprising a series of cable deployment / recovery iterations coupled with data acquisition, will be completed by the end of April 2007 allowing a period of time for data analysis before the second program of work commences later in 2007.

WGP Projects remains satisfied with the progress of the procurement, manufacturing and assembly stages of the project, despite the pressures on manufactures in the current buoyant market. With the project now moving into the installation and operational phases the project team is looking forward to seeing the conceptual and design drawings and plans realised into a working operation.

WGP Group Overview – Nov 06
Since the S/V Geolog Dmitriy Nalivkin commenced operating under the control of WGP Seismic Limited in June 2005, we are pleased to advise that the vessel has operated very successfully and safely in areas as diverse as North Africa to the Russian Barents Sea. The vessel is currently en route to Germany for a dry dock prior to heading to West Africa for the winter months. The vessel is then contracted for the period from April through October 2007 in NW European waters.

WGP Projects has had an exciting year with projects including the fitting out of source vessels and has an on-going project management contract in the Caspian Sea. In addition, WGP Projects provides equipment and personnel resources to the industry for the acquisition and processing of high quality magnetic and gravity data at very cost effective and competitive prices.

OceanEar, WGP’s Environmental Services Company, benefits from a UK Government sponsored Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with the University of Plymouth. The Cetacean Detection and Monitoring Services provided by OceanEar have been enhanced by the establishment of a 3 Day Marine Mammals Observers (MMO) Course, to be held at the University of Plymouth. The course includes an introduction to seismic exploration, current mitigation guidelines both in the UK and worldwide, acoustic theory and the use of Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) devices, positioning, geodesy and GIS, and the role of the MMO onboard the vessel.

G.D.Nalivkin Update – Nov 06
The Nalivkin has completed a successful program of work in both the Norwegian and Russian sectors of the Barents Sea. Working for Fugro Geoteam AS, the vessel acquired some 9,100 km and 4,400km of 2D plus magnetic and gravity data in the two regions respectively.

Following the completion of the work, the vessel is currently in transit to Germany where a period of planned maintenance will be undertaken prior to moving on to the next contract.

For the winter months, the vessel has been contracted to PGS to perform a survey offshore République de Côte d'Ivoire that is envisaged to take between 8-10 weeks to complete depending on the final size of the program. Thereafter, the vessel will return to the North Atlantic region where the vessel has work commitments from Spring 2007 through October 2007.

Environmental Update - New Look OceanEar - Nov 06
OceanEar Ltd, one of the WGP Group of companies, has been given a new look with a new website. OceanEar offers environmental services concentrating on the design, development and utilisation of special products and procedures designed to minimise the impact of geophysical exploration on the marine biosphere. Our clients include oil companies and other organisations sharing a common interest in this service. The company also benefits from a UK Government sponsored Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with the University of Plymouth.

Nalivkin Heads North - Sept 06
For the summer season the Geolog Dmitriy Nalivkin has been working on two very interesting surveys in the Barents Sea for Fugro Geoteam AS.

The first survey, NBR-06 (Norwegian Barents Regional) was a large scale regional survey located in the Norwegian Barents Sea comprising approximately 12,600 kilometres . The survey area stretches across the whole northern Norway peninsula from Trømso to Kirkenes with an average line length of 210 Kms. The Nalivkin pulled off early from the Norwegian survey to enable the vessel to move onto the second survey located in the Russian sector of the Barents sea to take advantage of the window of opportunity for data acquisition during the summer months.

The follow on work in the Russian sector, RBS-06 (Russian Barents Sea 2006) comprises approximately 15,500 kms of 2D Seismic and Gravity acquisition . This is a ground breaking survey working in an area of great current interest in the exploration industry. The vessel has started the survey well working in a difficult survey area that spreads north to almost the 76 parallel of latitude, well inside the Arctic Circle. The Nalivkin has already collected almost 2,000km of data in the first month. It is estimated that acquisition will continue until the end of October, with all fingers are crossed for some good weather for the remainder of the survey. Upon completion of the work in the Barents Sea, the Nalivkin is scheduled for dry docking and a well deserved few days rest, whereupon the vessel will once again head south for the winter with likely work programs in Asia / Africa

Environmental Update - Sept 06
The Marine Mammal Observer (MMO) training course developed with the University of Plymouth has now been accredited by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC). This 3-day course is aimed at equipping new MMOs with the skills to effectively monitor for marine mammals and other protected species in the vicinity of geophysical survey vessels. The teaching staff consists of experts in marine biology and hydrographic surveying from the university, as well as staff from WGP introducing delegates to modern seismic survey techniques and life on a working seismic vessel. The course is international in scope, covering the guidelines that have been implemented within the UK, Gulf of Mexico, California, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Brazil and Sakhalin. The first full course is expected to run early in 2007. More information is available from www.oceanear.com All enquiries regarding booking should be made to the University of Plymouth Short Course Unit; scunit@plymouth.ac.uk.

Environmental Update - April 06
In order to test the efficacy of the sea bed in the region of the proposed Lynn and Inner Dowsing wind farm site, Centrica installed a test pile over the Easter weekend. WGP provided marine mammal monitoring personnel, to ensure pile driving operations using an 800kJ jackhammer didn't affect nearby wildlife. The pile was successfully installed within two days, with no marine mammals sighted close to the pile during operations.

BP LoF Seismic Source System - April 06
As the largest partner in, and operator of the Azerbaijan International Oil Company (AIOC), BP is responsible for the CHIRAG AZERI RESERVOIR SEISMIC PROJECT ( CARSP ) implementation.

BP has selected WGP Projects to coordinate the procurement and integration of its LoF ( Life of Field ) Modular Seismic Source system for use in the Caspian Sea. WGP Projects are coordinating the procurement of the ISO Containerised Compressor /Gun Handling /Winch modules, assisting in the design detail as well as taking responsibility for the integration of the modules before installation on the acquisition vessel.

Manufacture and delivery are expected to be completed by the end of the third quarter followed immediately by acquisition operations. The senior acquisition operations personnel will be managed and supplied by WGP Projects.

Environmental Update - March 06
Our Environmental Manager, Ross Compton, is attending the 20th European Cetacean Society conference, http://www.ecs2006gdynia.univ.gda.pl/, in Poland this April. Of particular interest are workshops discussing the state of research in measuring cetacean auditory abilities and new static tools for cetacean monitoring. Ross will also be presenting work detailing the summer distribution of cetaceans in the North Atlantic.

Environmental Update - January 06
Our current partnership with the University of Plymouth is gathering pace as we prepare for sea trials of a new Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) array. The partnership is also allowing us the opportunity to work with the University of Plymouth on addressing the training needs of Marine Mammal Observers and PAM operators.

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