Improving data quality, adding value

Seismic Consultancy Services

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RPS Energy helps its clients develop natural energy

resources across the asset life cycle. We combine

our technical skills with an in-depth knowledge of

environmental and health and safety issues to provide

world-class support for projects. This independent, flexible

support has been used by clients in their operations all

over the world for many years to help them achieve their

projects goals.

We operate from regional offices in major petroleum

centres in North America, Europe, Australia and South East

Asia as well as having local offices and agencies in many

other countries worldwide.

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Proj

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Operatio

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Processing

SeismicOperations

Technical Specifications

Project Management

Technical Audit

Start-up and Testing

Quality Controland Assurance

Positioning Q C andProcessing

UnexplodedOrdinance

Logistical Support

Marine MammalObservers

Driver training

Reconnaissance

Permitting

Survey Design

Reprocessing andParameter Analysis

Velocity controland Statics

Processing QC

SpecialistProcessing

EnvironmentalImpactAssessment

Tendering& Procurement

HSE & RiskManagement

Seismic Operations

With in-depth expertise in the full range of 2D, 3D, 4D, wide azimuth, long offset and VSP operations, RPS Energy provides support across all aspects of land, marine, OBC and TZ seismic operations in any environment.

Our skills cover the technical, health & safety and environmental aspects of seismic programmes. Clients can use this

expertise either as individual services or as a multidisciplinary package throughout the life cycle of a project.

We maintain the flexibility and independence of approach that our clients require, whilst also having the scale and global presence to respond quickly to requests for additional personnel, different skills or ad hoc advice.

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Project Planning & Management

As the starting point for a successful seismic project, good project planning needs in-depth technical and operational experience .

Project management requires the appropriate experience and skills to co-ordinate input from the end-user, the seismic contractor and third parties. Some of our clients outsource the complete management of their projects to RPS Energy, whilst others use our resources to assist their own teams by providing specific functional or geographic experience.

Survey Design is a key point where we can often help from reconnaissance to parameter selection. Applying lessons learnt over many years to a similar environment or requirement, RPS Energy is involved in the design of 2D, 3D, 4D and multi-component land, marine and TZ surveys world-wide. We use this

experience to help clients meet their technical objectives in a cost-effective manner. A careful review of existing data often helps define problem areas and we frequently undertake selective re-processing for this purpose, using our geophysical expertise to understand and model the behaviour of energy in the earth.

Tender Process Management needs a good understanding of the technical, commercial and HSE requirements of the survey. Our complete independence from contractor interests, together with our experience, allows us to provide appropriate and impartial advice at all times.

HSE Risk Management is an important component of on or offshore seismic surveys. Over many years, RPS Energy has developed a core capability in the whole sphere of risk management, allowing us to undertake or supervise Environmental

Impact Assessments, develop appropriate HSE management systems, and ensure that the necessary licences and permissions are obtained. These are often critical path issues and the timely delivery of such aspects can be key to a successful project. We have in-depth knowledge of environmental legislation and requirements in many countries and can help ensure that operations are planned and conducted within this legislative framework.

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High quality seismic data requires contracted acquisition parameters to be adhered to and all equipment to be working to specification.

Seismic Quality Control / Technical Assurance is an important element in ensuring that data is acquired correctly. By placing first-class client representatives in the field we help ensure that the client’s interests are properly represented on seismic crews and vessels.

We have provided seismic quality control for over 25 years and have more than 300 personnel engaged in land, marine and transition zone projects and borehole seismic surveys. Expertise covers 2D, 3D, time lapse (4D), ocean bottom cable (OBC) and multi-component (4C) seismic projects. Onshore we have worked in all terrains – from the Arctic to tropical rainforests. Offshore we have managed complex wide azimuth and multi-azimuth 3D projects. In addition to conventional recording, we also have experience of less common surveys such as permanent oil-field seismic monitoring systems, as well as gravity and magnetic surveys, and Controlled Source Electro Magnetic (CSEM) acquisition.

An equally important aspect of our work is an independent audit. RPS Energy audit engineers are senior consultants with years of experience with different seismic instrumentation, who use independent test equipment to check that recording equipment operates to manufacturer’s and contractual specifications.

RPS Energy has also developed independent Instrument Test Analysis software to enable the tests to be processed on-site.

Navigation and Positioning is an essential component in ensuring optimum quality seismic data.

RPS Energy has positioning experts for both land and marine surveys. Onshore, surveyors provide QC and positioning/survey control audits. The surveyor monitors survey operations and audits equipment and procedures and ensures that all data is correctly linked to seismic trace information. Offshore, in particular for OBC operations, we provide experienced navigation QC personnel and on board QC systems to run in parallel with the contractor’s system providing real time QC and verification of navigation integrity.

We also offer office-based navigation QC processing. Our geomatics engineers receive the data daily and process it in house, providing verification that all P1 and P2 data sets are correct and that all parameters are in accordance with contractual requirements. We can also take old seismic navigation data sets and verify the integrity of data before reprocessing or integration into new data.

Technical Support

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Operations Support

RPS Energy has developed a range of additional services to help ensure that seismic operations, whether on or offshore are conducted safely and in accordance with local legislation and guidelines.

Marine Mammal Observers have become a familiar part of the crew of a seismic vessel due to the increasing concern over the effect of underwater noise on marine species, particularly mammals, and many countries have legislated for this. RPS Energy has highly trained observers to monitor the presence

and help mitigate the effects of operations on these animals, whilst helping to ensure an efficient seismic operation. We also use passive acoustic monitoring systems (PAM) to detect these mammals, often allowing activity to continue when visual monitoring is impaired.

Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) is unfortunately a major safety concern for on and offshore operations. Many areas of the world harbour unexploded ordnance from previous conflicts, often in a degraded and unstable condition. RPS Energy has developed management and QC services for UXO mitigation by using appropriately experienced specialists. By combining their own experience, often gained in the armed forces, with existing maps, local information, and sometimes on-ground survey, our personnel can determine likely areas of potential danger and identify dangerous items. This allows effective use of clearance groups so that operations can proceed safely and in accordance with local regulations and international best practice.

Archaeology is of frequent interest from both an operational and CSR perspective. Land operations often take place in areas of archaeological significance and many countries have specific legal requirements in this respect. RPS Energy employs archaeologists with broad experience in preserving sites of value and interest but who also understand seismic surveys. Their knowledge allows them to help formulate management plans so that work can proceed efficiently without compromising these sites.

Logistics Support – Land surveys are often undertaken in remote and hostile areas and environments. Extremes of topography and temperature as well as security issues are a challenge that must be managed to allow safe and effective operations. RPS Energy has years of experience in working in these environments and provides logistics experts, mountaineers, transport specialists and communications specialists to assist with the smooth conduct of operations.

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Processing Support

RPS Energy provides experienced seismic data processing consultants for on-board or on-crew processing QC or for the final processing phase. Our processing personnel work with our navigation specialists when appropriate to help ensure rapid turn-around times and define optimum quality data.

On Crew Processing has developed with increasing computer power and software capability into an industry standard tool to generate quick-look volumes or to ‘fast-track’ final processing. This approach helps monitor the suitability of parameters over diverse terrain and allows near real time decisions on data coverage to be made. This is an area that we have worked on since on-crew processing first became a possibility and we frequently provide experienced personnel to help ensure that the best possible quality is obtained.

Data Processing Supervision and Management helps ensure that contractors produce the best possible data for interpreters. RPS Energy has provided support to seismic data processing projects for over 20 years. We have a team of more than 50 personnel based worldwide engaged in land, marine and transition zone projects to assist clients throughout the processing phase; at start up with procurement and tender design; during processing with supervision and QC and with specific expertise such as statics, PSDM etc.

Specialist In-House Processing projects require a tailored data analysis and processing approach so that specific

objectives are met. Frequently this is in areas such as complex statics and multiple discrimination, reprocessing where original field data is missing, high density velocity control and cases where attribute analysis is going to be crucial. We have the in-house expertise and systems to undertake this type of analysis.

rpsgroup.com/energy

rpsgroup.com/energy

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For further information please contact: energy@rpsgroup.com

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