E&P underwriters gain insights into the exploration potential of a highly attractive region.
The Arctic has re‐emerged as an area of increased exploration interest. Containing, by some estimates upwards of 30% of the world’s undiscovered hydrocarbon resources, the Arctic poses extreme challenges to all E&P activities, including seismic acquisition and data processing. Harsh weather conditions offer a narrow weather window for seismic operations, wreck havoc with in‐water acquisition equipment, and introduce unwanted noise into acquired seismic datasets. These factors have combined to limit both the quantity and quality of available seismic information in the Arctic. Without access to this critical subsurface data, E&P operators are ‘flying blind’ in making assessments about what acreage to lease and, eventually, to drill.
