Shearwater and SLB Begin 3D Seismic Acquisition Off Brazil’s Amapa Coast
Seismic contractor Shearwater GeoServices and SLB have started a three-dimensional seismic survey in the Amapa region, an emerging exploration frontier along Brazil’s Equatorial Margin, according to an announcement carried by IndexBox.
The Amapa survey targets a stretch of offshore acreage in the northernmost part of Brazil’s Atlantic margin, a geological trend that has drawn industry interest because of its potential similarity to the prolific petroleum systems of West Africa’s conjugate margin. In upstream exploration, 3D seismic acquisition involves a vessel towing airgun sources and streamers that map subsurface rock layers in fine detail, helping operators identify drilling prospects before committing to expensive exploration wells.
Equatorial Margin acreage has featured prominently in recent licensing and permitting discussions in Brazil, with regulators and operators weighing environmental review processes for drilling activity in the region. Data from surveys like the Amapa campaign typically feeds into future exploration licensing rounds and farm-in decisions by operators.
Shearwater, a privately held marine seismic player, handles vessel operations for the program, while SLB — the global oilfield services company formerly known as Schlumberger — contributes its subsurface imaging and interpretation capabilities. The collaboration pairs acquisition hardware with downstream processing and data commercialization.
SLB shares traded at $57.10 in recent dealings, up 0.18% from a prior close of $57.00, valuing the company at roughly $84.7 billion. Seismic work of this kind sits within the company’s broader digital and subsurface services portfolio, which historically generates activity tied to exploration budgets rather than short-cycle drilling.
No survey size, duration, or client details were specified in the announcement. Marine seismic programs in frontier basins generally run for months, with processed data delivered to operators and licensing authorities on a schedule set by contract.
What to watch
- Updates from Shearwater or SLB on the survey’s completion timeline and scope.
- Brazil’s regulator ANP regarding Equatorial Margin exploration permissions and future licensing activity in the Amapa area.
- Any operator farm-in announcements tied to the new seismic data.
- SLB’s quarterly reporting for commentary on exploration and data services activity in Latin America.
Source: original release
