Geophysical Prospecting

CNPC has four geophysical prospecting companies, 188 seismic crews and over 200 seismographs that provide professional services in seismic data acquisition, processing and interpretation throughout the world.

We provide high resolution 2D, 3D, 3D VSP, 4D and multi-wave and multi-component seismic prospecting & acquisition services under various surface conditions of mountainous areas, plains, deserts, jungles, swamps, tidal and shallow water areas and offshore areas. We have successfully executed contracts on seismic data acquisition, processing and interpretation won from Eni S.p.A, Total, Shell, PDVSA, Petronas, Woodside Energy and Norway DNO, etc.

In addition to onshore prospecting, we actively developed our deep-sea prospecting business, and established certain capabilities in deep-sea seismic acquisition and data processing.

GeoEast is an integrated seismic data processing and interpretation software developed by CNPC, and has been widely applied in domestic oilfields and overseas oilfields in Algeria, Sudan, Chad and Kazakstan.

In 2010, the Bureau of Geophysical Prospecting (BGP), our wholly owned subsidiary, and American ION established a joint venture — INOVA (Tianjin) Geophysical Prospecting Equipment Co., Ltd. — to further the research and development of new seismic apparatuses, high-performance vibroseis and other onshore exploration apparatuses and equipment.

Throughout 2010, CNPC acquired 32,959 kilometers of 2D seismic data and 15,671 square kilometers of 3D seismic data in China, and 48,171 kilometers and 38,667 square kilometers abroad.

S-49 2D seismic acquisition project in Saudi Arabia

CNPC won the bid of the S-49 project in 2004.The S-49 2D seismic acquisition project was carried out in the transition zone of shallow waters at SAFANIYA Field, an oilfield on the west coast of the Arabian Sea featuring numerous oil wells and complicated submerged pipelines.

The shallow-water drilling barge was reformed into a small-sized air gun source boat that can realize the effective link of various sources in this complex water area. The project was successfully completed in February 2007 with an acquisition scope of 10,766 kilometers, making it the world's largest 2D transition zone project.