August 14th 2018: Ikon Science has been awarded one of the four contracts from the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) designed to stimulate exploration activity on the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS). The study is a 40 well rock physics and seismic calibration catalogue of the Central North Sea and East Shetland Basin.
Sven Larsson, Senior Geophysicist at the Oil and Gas Authority said: “The aim of the Ikon Science study is to provide a comprehensive geophysics analysis and further insights into the mature reservoirs in the Central North Sea and East Shetland basin in preparation for next year’s 32nd Offshore Licence Round. By having access to high-quality and trusted data, reports and studies, the OGA is committed to supporting industry in identifying additional exploration opportunities, leading to the discovery of new oil and gas reserves.”
This initiative builds upon the 2017 enterprise from the OGA, whereby Government funding made a selection of Ikon Science’s existing regional Roknowledge Rock Physics and GeoPressure studies available for Operators use ahead of the 30th rounds.
Mark Bashforth, Ikon Science CEO, commented “Ikon Science has built a business based on the value of using rock physics to understand and predict regional geology. By making Ikon’s project in this area available to all it is evident that the OGA is committed to driving maximum efficiency and profitability of the UKCS’’.
For more details on the other contracts awarded by the OGA or to read the official OGA press release please visit their website.
Notes
OGA
The Oil and Gas Authority’s role is to regulate, influence and promote the UK oil and gas industry in order to maximise the economic recovery of the UK’s oil and gas resources.
The Authority recently launched the 31st Offshore Licensing Round, offering blocks in frontier areas of the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS), supported by government-funded data to stimulate interest in these under-explored basins and assist companies in their activities.
A total of 1766 blocks (370,000 km2) of open acreage is now available across the West of Scotland, the East Shetland Platform, the Mid North Sea High, South West Britain and parts of the English Channel, covered by over 80,000 km of high-quality, publicly-available seismic data generated through the 2015 and 2016 Government seismic programmes. The new seismic data, together with supporting datasets and reports, were released in advance of the round.
The suite of exploration data packs and reports includes, regional geological maps for the Northern North Sea, East Shetland Platform and SW Approaches; final and interim products from the Frontier Basins Research programme; joined digital well logs; and a report on the hydrocarbon potential of the Liassic. Data and reports can be downloaded from the OGA Data Centre.
About Roknowledge Regional Studies.
The basis of Ikon Roknowledge studies is that a regional geological pressure, geomechanics or rock physics model and that the regional model informs the local situation.
Knowing what is happening across a regional scale is simply invaluable because it gives context to the local conditions. What may seem anomalous in local terms, can make perfect sense when it is viewed in light of regional trends.
Roknowledge geopressure and rock physics studies provide a regional understanding across these disciplines. They offer enhanced exploration and production success, together with increased drilling safety across the globe. Regional studies can also be utilised as a powerful and cost effective insight into analogous basins in other parts of the world, for example, the Labrador Basin and Mid Norway, Offshore Brazil and Offshore Niger Delta.