Page 4 - AfrOil Week 02 2023

AfrOil COMMENTARY AfrOil

TGS teamed up with NOCAL last May to reprocess more than 5,100 square km of 3D seismic data (Photo: TGS)
How geoscience companies

benefit African oil and gas

Geoscience providers, including members of Houston-based EnerGeo Alliance, are

poised to play a vital role in supporting African oil and gas in 2023, writes NJ Ayuk

IT didn’t surprise me when TGS, the Norwe- This very public proclamation was made
gian seismic data company, announced last amid a seemingly endless stream of calls by
WHAT: May that it would work with National Oil Co. of Western voices and environmental activists to
TGS and other geoscience Liberia (NOCAL) to reprocess more than 5,100 halt in Africa to support global zero-emission
providers are demon- square km of 3D seismic data captured in the goals. As a result, I find it particularly encour-
strating their ongoing offshore Liberian basin. After all, the company aging to hear someone say he wants to help our
commitment to support- has a 20-plus year history of working in west energy industry succeed.
ing oil and gas explora- Africa. TGS has helped countries strengthen
tion and development in
Africa. their petroleum laws and supported author- Supporting Africa’s success
ities’ efforts to promote licensing rounds and Fortunately, that’s typically the sentiment I hear
WHY: farm-outs. from geoscience providers in Africa. These com-
This commitment has But the comments from one TGS leader panies — along with the Houston-based Ener-
remained steady despite struck me. In one simple sentence, Will Ashby, Geo Alliance, the global trade alliance for the
efforts by some activists the company’s Executive Vice-President for the energy geoscience industry — have been willing
to discourage investment Eastern Hemisphere, expressed both pride in his to stand alongside African energy stakeholders,
in fossil fuel projects. company’s African involvement and reiterated even as others try to demonise them.
his company’s steadfast promise to continue its The geoscience providers here understand
WHAT NEXT: work on the continent. why we advocate for African countries to con-
Geoscience companies “TGS has been active in acquiring data over tinue capitalising on their petroleum resources:
are in a position to the West African Transform Margin for the past They’ve seen the devastation of energy poverty
build on their record of two decades, and this update of a key 3D survey for themselves and recognise the good that oil
successes in Africa. demonstrates TGS’ ongoing commitment to and gas can do for African countries, businesses
exploration success in the country,” Ashby said. and communities.

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