Norwegian geophysical company TGS is launching a new multi-client 2D-cubed project in the offshore Andaman Sea region of India, an area recognized as a current exploration hotspot in Asia. The project is designed to cover a vast 640,000 square kilometers, providing critical insights into the region's siliciclastic shallow and deepwater sediment basins. The project area specifically encompasses four blocks from India’s OALP-X Bid Round located in the Andaman-Nicobar basin.

Industry Collaboration and Regional Potential

The exploration potential of the Andaman basin is underscored by recent industry activity. TotalEnergies and Oil India Limited (OIL) have entered into a technology services agreement to collaborate on appraising OIL's recent gas discovery in specific Andaman basin blocks and evaluating opportunities in the ongoing OALP-X licensing round. TGS highlights that this discovery, combined with ongoing deepwater drilling campaigns and recent gas finds on the Indonesian side of the basin, points to the region's significant hydrocarbon potential.

Market Drivers and Project Benefits

The initiative is driven by India's rapid economic growth and a corresponding 3% annual increase in hydrocarbon demand, which emphasizes the necessity for continued exploration investment. The new dataset is intended to support companies as they assess new opportunities and plan future exploration programs more efficiently and with reduced uncertainty, particularly in this frontier region.

2D-Cubed Technology Explained

The project utilizes 2D-cubed technology, which is a structurally conformable interpolation method that transforms 2D seismic data into a regional-scale 3D volume. This technology enables interpreters to leverage the full capabilities of their 3D interpretation software on existing 2D datasets. The result is an enhanced geological analysis and improved clarity in communicating subsurface plays among teams.

Strategic Importance

An executive from TGS stated that this new 2D-cubed product expands the company's regional multi-client footprint and significantly complements its existing India multi-client data library. The product is designed to provide operators with a clearer and more detailed understanding of the subsurface, thereby increasing confidence in evaluating prospectivity. By expanding its product portfolio in this promising frontier basin, TGS aims to equip operators with the necessary insights to accelerate their decision-making processes.