EMGS begins Brazil equatorial margin seismic survey for round 11 blocks

Seismic processing provider EMGS has embarked on a multi-client data acquisition campaign for blocks set to be auctioned at Brazil's 11th licensing round in May. The survey aboard the Boa Galatea vessel will cover about 8,000km2 in the equatorial margin off Brazil's north and northeast coast, EMGS said in a release. It follows Monday's completion of a two-month 3D multi-client program off the coast of Ceará state, also in the country's northeast. "The vessel will make a port call and immediately mobilize for the highly prospective equatorial margin," the release said. The May 14-15 bid round will be Brazil's first tender of oil and gas exploration blocks for five years. It will offer 289 onshore and offshore blocks totaling 155,000km2. The equatorial margin, which includes the sedimentary basins of Foz do Amazonas, Pará-Maranhão, Barreirinhas, Ceará and Potiguar, is said to boast geological similarities with the vast oil-bearing fields off Africa's west coast. Last week UK-based Spectrum announced the completion of a 4,133km 2D survey of six block's in the Potiguar basin. Brazil's hydrocarbons regulator ANP has given oil companies a March 26 deadline for the purchase of its own data packages for round 11 blocks.