TotalEnergies has partnered with Shearwater Geoservices, a leading Norwegian marine geoscience company, to carry out an Ocean Bottom Node (OBN) survey in Angola’s Block 32.
This collaboration marks an important step in TotalEnergies’ efforts to gather more detailed subsurface data for the Louro and Mostarda fields. These fields are part of a broader group of fields in Block 32, which includes Canela, Caril, Gengibre, and Gindungo, all of which have significant oil deposits. The OBN survey is scheduled to begin in January 2025 and will take approximately two and a half months to complete.
Shearwater’s deployment of its SW Tasman seismic node laying vessel, along with the SW Gallien as a source vessel, will be instrumental in conducting the survey. The company will also utilize its Pearl node, which has already proven successful in deepwater operations since its introduction last year. Shearwater CEO Irene Waage Basili emphasized the importance of the SW Tasman/Pearl OBN platform, stating that its performance has been consistent and reliable, making it a valuable asset for conducting deepwater OBN surveys in new regions, including Angola.
The partnership between TotalEnergies and Shearwater builds on their previous collaborations, particularly a 4D streamer survey that Shearwater conducted in the same Block 32 area. This new OBN survey represents an advanced method of acquiring subsurface data, allowing for more precise mapping of the reservoir, which is essential for optimizing oil production. Given the complexity of Angola’s deepwater environment, the use of OBN technology is expected to provide TotalEnergies with high-resolution imaging of the fields, which will enhance their understanding of the geology and enable more efficient extraction methods.
Block 32 is one of TotalEnergies’ key offshore assets in Angola, where the company holds a 30% stake and serves as the operator. The fields within Block 32 are linked via subsea pipelines to the Kaombo Norte and Kaombo Sul FPSO vessels, which handle production and exportation of the oil. This project further underscores TotalEnergies’ commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology to optimize their operations and maximize output from Angola’s offshore oil fields.
