CGG wins Airborne Gravity Gradiometer Survey over Two Areas Onshore Tanzania

Integrated Geoscience Company CGG has announced that it has been awarded a contract by the Tanzanian Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) to acquire high-resolution gravity gradiometry and aeromagnetic data over two onshore areas along the South-Eastern Tanzanian Coastal Basin and the eastern arm of the East African Rift.

The acquisition over a total area of 30,000 sq km will commence in mid August 2015 and is scheduled to last up to two months and will use the industry’s lowest noise Gravity Gradiometry, FALCON® that will help CGG deliver high-resolution data and interpretation to enable evaluate the hydrocarbon potential of these basins ahead of future licensing rounds.

Tanzania which has already established itself as a highly prospective hydrocarbon province in East Africa with a series of significant discoveries offshore and CGG is excited to be part of this next phase of TPDC’s exploration of the onshore basins.

According to TPDC this survey will see it benefit from the experience gained through the completion of many projects throughout Africa using the most advanced technologies available in the industry.

“We know that there have been significant discoveries in the Kenyan and Ugandan parts of the Rift Valley, and there may well be undiscovered oil or gas reserves on Tanzania’s side”.The two-month-long basic Airborne Gravity Gradiometer survey is imperative given the significant reserves discovered in similar geological settings in Kenya and Uganda. The promotion of our blocks is part of TPDC’s core business and this exploration effort will add value and attract investors,” Dr. Mataragio, the Managing Director of TPDC explains.

Senior Vice President CGG Multi-Physics Greg Paleolog adds that  the survey will help improve the understanding over the region for future exploration companies.

“CGG is delighted to work with TPDC to improve understanding of the structure of these basins and to assist in the identification of suitable areas for future seismic acquisition. With the selection of our FALCON service, we can ensure that TPDC and potential operators will have the best quality data and interpretation products ahead of the proposed licensing round,” says Greg

Early this month the Parliament of the United Republic of Tanzania passed a new Petroleum Bill, which recognizes TPDC as a National Oil Company (NOC) which will participate fully in Exploration and Production of Oil and Gas and this campaign in particular signifies the commercial commencement of NOC in E&P activities in Tanzania.