The Honourable Stuart R. Young S.C., M.P Minister of Energy and Energy Industries and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister toured the PXGEO 2 seismic vessel and met with its specialist crew on 26th September 2024.
This comes after cabinet approved negotiations towards a production sharing contract (PSC) between Shell Trinidad and Tobago and the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, for Block Modified U (c), which is located in the ‘Shallow Water’ area off the south-eastern coast of Trinidad and Tobago.
Mr. Adam Lowmass, Senior Vice President and Country Chair, Shell Trinidad and Tobago accompanied Minister Young on the tour of the vessel, which is currently alongside Point Gourde, Chaguaramas.
The PXGEO 2 seismic vessel’s assignment in Trinidad and Tobago spans three major projects pioneered by the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (GoRTT). These include the seismic surveys of deep-water blocks, awarded as a result of the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries’ (MEEI) 2021 Deepwater Competitive Bidding Round; seismic surveys at the Manakin- Cocuina field, after a cross-border unitization agreement was successfully negotiated by the GoRTT in July 2024; and the pending seismic survey of Block Modified U (c) which is a result of the PSC negotiations coming out of the MEEI’s 2023 Shallow Water Competitive Bidding Round.
The PXGEO 2 seismic vessel is equipped with seismic acquisition systems including Sercel Sentinel solid streamers and Sercel G-Source II energy arrays. For the specific protection of marine life during marine surveys, the vessel sails with a team of marine mammal observers (MMO) and passive acoustic monitoring operators (PAMO) trained to visually watch and acoustically monitor for the presence of marine mammals and sea turtles. When an animal is detected, specific protocols are taken to minimize any interactions.
At the tour, Minister Young took the opportunity to specially mention and thank the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) for approving the three seismic programmes for these projects in record time and highlighted the government’s commitment to collaborating with stakeholders in the interest of pursuing hydrocarbon resources in our own waters. Minister Young also thanked the staff at the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries for their support and expertise on these projects.