The survey will be carried out using the new, purpose-built EM vessel BOA Thalassa and will start immediately after the surveys in the Norwegian Sea have been completed.

The 3D EM survey covers parts of a license area where a number of hydrocarbon drilling prospects have been identified by the operator, First Australian Resources Ltd. (FAR). The objective of the EM exploration programme is to enable Shell to determine whether to acquire a 70% interest in the license and subsequently enter into a well commitment.

Roar Bekker, Electromagnetic Geoservices chief executive office, commented: De-risking hydrocarbon prospects with EM technology is of great value to our customers. The fact that Shell is using our EM data as a basis for a go/no-go decision is a significant endorsement of our technology’s value in exploration decision-making.