MHI Contracted for 3D Seismic Survey Vessels

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) gets additional order to build 2 seismic vessels for Norway's Petroleum Geo-Services ASA (PGS).

The order for the two vessels was placed upon exercise by PGS of the option right that was provided when two same type vessels were ordered to MHI in April 2011. The two newly ordered vessels are scheduled for delivery in the first and second half, respectively, of 2015. With this latest order, MHI will build a total of four vessels to support PGS's deep water energy prospecting services.

The vessels ordered are the "Ramform Titan-class," the newest generation in the Ramform series featuring the's most advanced 3D seismic data acquisition/analysis capability. The 104 meter (m) long vessel has a very wide breadth of 70m. For quiet operation, the vessel adopts diesel electric for the main propulsion system and is capable of receiving supply at sea to enable a long-term exploration over an expansive area.



The Ramform vessel tows multiple streamer cables from the vessel's stern. The cables contain sensors which detect echoes of sound waves emitted from sound sources and bounced back from the sea bottom and stratum boundaries. The detected echoes are used for 3D seismic analysis. The Ramform Titan-class vessels ordered by PGS have a wider stern compared with existing vessels; this feature permits deployment of a greater number of streamer cables—up to 24 lines—enabling exploration of a wider area at one time.



MHI is currently building two previously ordered Ramform vessels at its Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works. The capability of these vessels to tow a large number of long streamer cables, further strengthens PGS' to accommodate exploration needs, including geologically complex ocean areas.