Petrobras has awarded Norway-based Petroleum Geo-Services the largest contract award for a specialist oil industry survey ever, at $251 million, the seismic specialists declared Monday.

The “largest high-density 4D” marine seismic survey comprises five surveys covering nearly 5,000 square kilometres in the Campos, Santos and Espirito Santo Basins. Survey work is to start in October 2008 with the state-of-the-art ship Ramform Sovereign, which was christened in Ålesund, Norway on 12March 2008.

High density time lapsed surveys, or HD4D, are used to manager reservoirs.

“PGS' Ramform technology is tailored for these requirements due to the size and density of its streamer spreads,” a statement said, adding, “The Ramform Sovereign will reduce the data acquisition time required by standard configurations.”

The latter is said to be saving Petrobras money.

Norwegian suppliers and ship-builders have long-focused on the burgeoning Brazilian market, and their market data has served them well. A string of recent Brazil contracts has rewarded their boldness.

Tags: Petrobras, Tupi field