PGNiG to commence operations within Ras Al Khaimah licence area

Warsaw, November 29 - Neftegaz.RU. The 1st phase will involve geophysical survey to be performed using 3D seismic imaging. The work is due to start in December.

"This is a turning point for our operations in the United Arab Emirates, one of the leading regions in terms of global hydrocarbon production. The survey will help us estimate the licence area’s resource potential and identify the best drilling locations," said Piotr Woźniak, President of the PGNiG Management Board.

The survey will be performed by Geofizyka Toruń, a PGNiG Group company, one of the world’s leaders in its field, which has rendered its services to leading upstream sector operators, including Eni, Shell, Total, and OMV. In Poland, Geofizyka Toruń has carried out Europe’s largest 3D seismic survey to determine the geological profile of an area covering 1,280 sq. km.

To perform the survey in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, Geofizyka Toruń will use four vehicles to generate seismic waves and approximately 30,000 sensors (geophones). The vehicles will be moving around an area of about 350 sq. km, while the geophones will be spaced across approximately 735 sq. km. The company intends to employ a staff of about 300 to do the job.

The survey will be carried out from December 2019 until the end of February 2020. The processing and interpretation of the acquired seismic data will last until the fourth quarter of 2020. Based on the results, PGNiG will decide on further steps with regard to the licence area.

PGNiG’s licence in Ras Al Khaimah provides for three 2-year exploration periods, which may be extended by a 2-year appraisal period and 30-year production period. After each exploration stage, the company may choose to relinquish its interest in the licence.