Finding Petroleum - ARKeX completes gravity survey in Tajikistan

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ARKeX completes gravity survey in Tajikistan

Thursday, September 15, 2011 in Exploration / Seismic

Gravity surveying company ARKeX reports that it has completed a "G-Qube" airborne gravity gradiometry survey in Tajikistan for Tethys Petroleum Ltd.

The "G-Qube" survey also surveys for magnetic data. It takes absolute readings of gravity as well as measuring gravity gradiometry (how the gravity measurement changes). Airborne gravity gradiometry surveys are ideal when you have a large amount of land to survey, and where it is difficult to survey using seismic sensors on the ground.

The survey covered the majority of a 35,000km2 Bokhtar Production Sharing Contract (PSC) area. The Bokhtar PSC lies to the south-west of Tajikistan bordering Uzbekistan and Afghanistan and has great potential, ARKeX says.

The survey took 6 weeks to complete.

The Tajikistan survey aims to map a salt layer, get a better understanding of the basement rock and sub-salt carbonates.

It will be integrated together with 2D seismic survey data which has already been gathered. ARKeX says there is a "sparse database of varied vintage 2D seismic."

"We will use it to image our prospective sedimentary package and the salt tectonics in particular, thus shortening our exploration cycle, and targeting our seismic and drilling spend more effectively," says Rosemary Johnson Sabine, VP Exploration with Tethys Petroleum.

The final processed data and results are expected in Q4 2011 and will play an important role in helping Tethys to evaluate its large acreage position and to potentially find a suitable farm-in partner for its exploration programme in Tajikistan.