TGS secures mega project for Indonesian frontier basins

Projects and Operations - January 4, 2007

TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Company has announced that it has commenced acquisition of a series of non-exclusive geoscientific surveys to be conducted over Indonesia's under-explored
frontier basins.

The project is undertaken in cooperation with the Directorate General of Oil and Gas (MIGAS). MIGAS, a subdivision of the Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, is responsible for all aspects of the Indonesian petroleum
industry.

The surveys will acquire a variety of data to conduct a comprehensive prospectivity analysis over an area of around one million square kilometers. The studies, involving some 16 sedimentary basins, will include:

- 33,000 kilometers new 2D seismic data
- 419,000 square kilometers of Multibeam
SeaSeep, gravity and magnetic data
- 1,500 sediment cores
- 4,500 geochemical analyses
- 250 heat flow probes

All operations will be managed by TGS, with interpretation of the data carried out by an expert team of geoscientists with extensive knowledge of Indonesian basins and a proven record of exploration success in the region.

The project is designed to couple innovative, new technologies with proven geologic concepts.

The gravity and magnetic data will provide valuable information on the tectonic fabric and basement architecture in the basin while the seismic data will provide more detailed structural mapping capabilities. The Mutibeam SeaSeep data will provide a high-resolution view of seafloor topography and will be used to
detect hydrocarbon seeps on the seafloor. The sediment cores, geochemical analyses, and heat probe tests will all be used to evaluate the commercial viability of petroleum systems within
the frontier basins. The complete, integrated data package will be marketed to the exploration industry.

"The geology and petroleum potential of Indonesia`s frontier basins are not well understood by industry, with large areas written off with little or no data," said Paul Gilleran, TGS' General Manager for Asia-Pacific. "Modern, integrated data can help open these frontier basins to new, 'clever' exploration."