ADNOC awards $490m contract to expand world’s largest 3D seismic survey

The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has awarded a significant contract valued at $490m to BGP, a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Company (CNPC), to expand the scope of the world’s largest combined onshore and offshore three-dimensional (3D) seismic survey.

The survey, which is currently underway in Abu Dhabi, aims to identify additional oil and gas resources in ADNOC’s producing onshore fields.

The expanded survey will build on ADNOC’s ongoing efforts to enhance its oil and gas exploration capabilities to maximise resource recovery.

ADNOC and BGP will employ advanced artificial intelligence (AI) tools to accelerate the interpretation of seismic data, improving efficiencies and optimizing the use of existing infrastructure across ADNOC’s producing fields.

AI-driven technology to boost resource recovery

By incorporating AI, the collaboration between ADNOC and BGP is set to enhance data interpretation, providing faster and more accurate insights into the region’s complex geological structures. This approach is expected to significantly improve the speed at which ADNOC can identify and access new oil and gas reserves, ultimately driving more sustainable and efficient energy production in the UAE.

“ADNOC continues to capitalize on industry-leading technologies to maximise value creation and responsibly meet the growing demand for energy,” said Abdulmunim Saif Al Kindy, ADNOC’s Upstream executive director.

“Our investment in the world’s largest 3D mega seismic survey highlights the role advanced technologies play in our operations as we continue to realise the full potential of our oil and gas resources to ensure the UAE remains a long-term and reliable energy provider to the world.”

A key feature of the contract is the commitment to ADNOC’s In-Country Value (ICV) programme, with over 70 per cent of the total award value expected to flow back into the UAE’s economy.

The ICV programme is designed to promote local economic and industrial growth, supporting ADNOC’s efforts to strengthen its position as a responsible global energy provider.

This focus on local content further underscores ADNOC’s commitment to supporting the UAE’s economic diversification while advancing its exploration and production capabilities.

The ICV programme remains a core component of ADNOC’s strategy to foster sustainable growth and job creation within the UAE.

The world’s largest 3D seismic survey

The 3D mega seismic survey, which began in late 2018, represents a landmark project in the oil and gas sector.

Covering a vast 85,000 square kilometres across onshore and offshore areas in Abu Dhabi, the survey is designed to provide high-resolution, high-fold 3D seismic data that will offer a comprehensive understanding of the region’s geological structures.

The data gathered from this project will be vital for ADNOC’s future exploration and production strategies, allowing the company to optimise its field development plans.

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