Professional Offshore Seismic Solutions in Malaysia: Altus at the Forefront | Altus Oil & Gas

The oil, gas and energy sector is essential for global economic and social development and will continue to be as it is until the future. The high-dependence on these mineral resources has greatly impacted our environment and companies who are involved in this sector are taking steps to prevent further damage by taking precautionary steps.  Malaysia’s presence in the global energy sector is mainly due to its valuable and precious mineral resources, mainly its reservoir of petroleum and natural gas. Almost all the major oil and gas fields are offshore , specifically off the east coast of the peninsula, the northern coast of Sarawak and the west coast of Sabah. Offshore seismic solutions are fundamental in the discovery and recovery of these highly valuable natural resources. Indeed, offshore seismic solutions are the key part to the sources discovery and development mainly because it provides valuable insights under the sea for thoughtful evaluation of the resources. 

Understanding Offshore Seismic Solutions

It is important to understand what offshore seismic solutions and how does it work in the process of discovering petroleum beneath the seabed. Offshore seismic solutions involve utilising seismic waves, also known as shockwaves to map and analyse subsurface geological formation beneath the seabed.  This process works by deploying a survey vessel also known as survey ship to a presumably oil reservoir location. The ship then releases seismic waves onto the sea where it will reach the seabed. Seismic waves that come to contact with the seabed can be interpreted by geophysicists by analysing the behaviour of the waves, making it a valuable data for the procedure.  This process is essential in identifying hydrocarbon reserves for oil and gas and also assess the reservoir characteristics to ensure it is safe to conduct an exploration and recovery project. There are various types of seismic surveys that can be utilised in deepsea resource discovery. Primary methods that are usually used are as follows: 

2D Seismic Surveys: 

This survey can be considered as the most popular one up until now mainly because the process is cheaper and the data gathering process is quicker. This method provides two-dimensional cross sectional images of the subsurface, which offers initial information about subsurface geological structures. A 2D survey also works very well for imaging major structures. 

3D Seismic Surveys: 

This technique delivers three-dimensional images which give better representations that can aid reservoir description. The difference between 2D and 3D surveys is that 2D surveys reveal only sheets of information whereas 3D imaging surveys provide information continuously through the subsurface. 

4D Seismic Surveys: 

This method utilises time-lapse which monitors changes over time. It works by using 3D seismic data acquired at different times over the same area. Changes are taken into account by observing fluid location and saturation, pressure and temperature. It is crucial for reservoir management and enhanced oil recovery strategies.  Data obtained from the surveys is extremely important because it enables scientists to make decisions regarding reservoir management and production strategies. Informed decision aids in optimizing resource extraction as well as minimizing environmental impact.

The Importance of Offshore Seismic Solutions in Malaysia 

It is widely recognized that most of Malaysia’s hydrocarbon resources are located in the South China Sea, Sabah and Sarawak. This is known as Malaysia’s offshore region and it is important that the natural resources are explored and developed efficiently to ensure the nation’s energy security and economic growth.   Offshore seismic solutions is an important procedure that has to be done in the process of extracting natural resources like oil and gas. This process reduced the amount of risk that had to be faced by analysing the subsurface environment. Not to mention, the well-being of Malaysia’s rich marine biodiversity that also needs to be taken care of to ensure survivability. 

Resource Pinpointing

Offshore seismic solutions enable mineral resources to be found with minimal damage to the environment because they can accurately locate oil and gas reserves to avoid or reduce the risks of unsuccessful drilling operations. This would not only protect the environment but also manage the resources that have to be used for the operation like the machines. 

Reservoir Delineation 

The importance of offshore seismic solutions can also be seen during the process itself. The waves that are generated and reflected by the seabed can help geophysicists determine and understand the reservoir size, structure and properties. These valuable insights can help them in planning on the execution of the resource recovery. 

Environmental Safeguard

Lastly, this method enhanced risk management towards crews involved as well as the environment. By obtaining detailed subsurface imaging, geological hazards like earthquakes and landslides can be foreseen and necessary precautions can be made ensuring a safe drilling process as well as minimizing ecological disturbances. 

Altus Oil & Gas: A Seismic Offshore Solutions Provider in Malaysia

Established in Johor in 2010, Altus & Oil Malaysia Sdn Bhd framework comprises conducting seismic surveys in Malaysia. The company specialises in geophysical survey, as well as geotechnical survey for offshore drilling operations preparations. With this capability in their repertoire, Altus Oil & Gas is surely a reliable company for 2D seismic surveys in Malaysia.  Below is the general overview of offshore seismic solutions services provided by Altus Oil & Gas:

Geophysical Survey	Geotechnical Survey
Geophysical survey establishes important parameters such as seabed mapping, seabed features, water depth and soil stratigraphy. In addition, this survey also identifies hazardous areas on the seafloor and alleviates human-made risks such as unexploded ordnance.	Geotechnical surveys cover the technical aspects by conducting soil bearings to measure soil consistency, structure and groundwater levels. Data gained from this survey will be used to make recommendations for rig positioning and the initiation of drilling operations.

       

Obstacles and Prospects in Offshore Seismic Solutions

Offshore seismic solutions is a process of obtaining data using state-of-the-art technology from the subterranean in the search of oil and gas reservoirs. Regardless of how the measure was taken, it still presented various obstacles that needed to be overcome in order to recover the resources. Obstacles usually present in all aspects such as:

Extreme Environmental Conditions

Offshore environment conditions are almost always extreme with rough waves and abysmal weather presenting significant operational challenges. Equipment and technology used must be durable in order to withstand these extreme conditions which greatly improves operational costs. 

Sky-high Operational Costs

Initial costs of this procedure are considerably high due to high-costs of specialized equipment such as survey vessels and underwater sensors. Companies also need to invest in operational crews skill in order to enable them to use the highly tech effectively and efficiently.

Environmental Impact 

Companies that conduct offshore seismic solutions have to adhere to strict regulations which are designed to prevent disturbances to marine ecosystems especially when locations are regarded as environmentally sensitive areas. Aside from being accused of invading federal territory, their equipment can also cause disturbances to marine ecosystems which can be fined by the government.  Despite all of these challenges, offshore seismic solutions are imperative for Malaysia’s energy sector development particularly in the oil and gas field. A well-developed energy sector can ensure sustainable and efficient usage of natural mineral resources which hopefully can facilitate the nation for a long time. 

Partnering with Altus Oil & Gas 

Malaysia’s energy sector is well developed and will continue to grow from here on. Advanced technologies combined with our well-trained talents is a formula for success for overcoming its customers' challenges. Reach us today for a solution that caters to your projects and also acquire support to achieve success together.