France

Gippsland Offshore and its partner in the St Griede Block of the Aquitaine Basin in France awarded their first data acquisition contract in July 2009. The JV is acquiring a high resolution airborne gravity gradiometer survey across the permit to record the density of the underlying rocks. This data will be readily integrated into the existing seismic and well database to delineate drilling prospects. The airborne gravity gradiometry technology (AGG) will play a highly important role in exploration of the block as acquiring new seismic data will be difficult due to restricted ground access. Bell Geospace of Aberdeen will be undertaking the survey, commencing in October, 2009.

Gippsland Offshore is a 50% equity partner in the St Griede permit in the Aquitaine Basin, France after a successful application for the acreage.

There has been no active exploration in the basin since the mid-1980’s even though there has been 13TCF of gas and 450mmbbls of oil discovered to date. Markets and infrastructure are well developed, so the commercialization of even small discoveries is unlikely to be problematic.

Last updated 7 Oct 2009