The shelf in 2007 – Seismic
14/01/2008 In 2007, the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate collected 2617 kilometres of seismic data in the Nordland VII and Troms II areas. Data acquisition will continue in the summer of 2008.
When the Storting considered the Management Plan (integrated management of the marine environment in the Barents Sea and the waters off Lofoten) in 2006, the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) was assigned the task of acquiring geological/geophysical data in Nordland VII and Troms II, i.e. in the waters off Lofoten and Vesterålen.
These areas have not been opened for petroleum activities, but the authorities want to obtain more information about potential oil and gas resources in this area. This knowledge will help form the basis for renewed consideration of the Management Plan in 2010.
The Storting allocated NOK 70 million for this purpose in 2007. A total of 2615 kilometres of two-dimensional (2D) seismic were acquired last year, which amounts to about half of the seismic data the NPD expected to acquire last year. This was due to problems in obtaining seismic vessels.
The data acquisition period, the month of July, was selected in consultation with the Directorate of Fisheries and the Marine Research Institute – and in a dialogue with the fishermen's organisations. The acquired data is now being processed and interpreted.
The NPD is currently planning the seismic program for the summer of 2008. This year, the Storting has allocated NOK 140 million for this purpose. Asquisition of seismic data is also planned for the summer of 2009.
Updated: 04/09/2009