ION and LARGEO, a Moscow-based seismic data processing company, have formed an alliance to provide advanced imaging services for seismic data acquired in the Russian market.
Launch and ‘Buzz' in St. Petersburg
The official signing took place at ION's booth during the EAGE's Bi-annual Trade Show and Technical Conference in St Petersburg on April 8, 2008. The alliance ceremony was represented by key officials from both companies and the agreement was signed onsite by LARGEO General Director, Andrey Elistratov and ION CEO, Bob Peebler.
After the proceedings, customers and guests were treated to a champagne reception and details of the partnership were explained by ION host, Jean Januard, Vice President, Russia and CIS countries. Immediately following the briefing by Januard, there was plenty of opportunity for informal discussions between ION and LARGEO personnel, as well as many other conference guests who attended the event, whilst sipping champagne and enjoying great hospitality.
Local Capabilities, International Expertise
The alliance, known as LARGEO-ION, combines the technological strengths of ION's GX Technology (GXT) Imaging Solutions group with the local market knowledge and extensive regional processing experience of LARGEO to bring best-in-class imaging services to E&P firms operating in Russia.
LARGEO was established in 2004 and since its inception, has rapidly gained a presence in the highly competitive Russian market. The company's client base includes RosNeft, LUKOIL, Sibneft, Ritek, Yukos, ONGC, SHELL, Gaither Petroleum and other Russian and foreign oil and gas companies. The company's key strategies focus on technical excellence and response service, which contribute to LARGEO's success in tackling the most complex imaging projects in Russia.
The LARGEO-ION Imaging Center will be staffed mainly by LARGEO geophysicists who have been trained by GX Technology at other geophysical service centers around the world.
"We believe our collective processing experience, advanced technology, market knowledge and personnel will allow LARGEO-ION to deliver the highest quality seismic imaging with reduced turnaround time. The opening of this Russian processing center marks a key milestone in the global expansion of GXT's data processing services," stated Nick Bernitsas, Senior Vice President of ION GXT Imaging Solutions.
A Logical Union
Russia is the world's second largest oil producer and the largest holder of proven natural gas reserves. The Russian market attract vast numbers of E&P participants with keen interest from major national and international oil and gas companies.
Strategically located in Moscow, the center will deliver a wide range of advanced seismic data processing services with an initial focus on data acquired in the marine environment.
Imaging services will use the latest Linux-based server hardware and will include:
- Pre-stack depth and time migration
- Reverse time migration (RTM)
- Azimuthal velocity analysis
- Full-wave imaging
- AVO and inversion
- Velocity Modelling
- Data conditioning
"The alliance between our two companies will create one of the most powerful seismic data processing centers in Russia. We believe LARGEO-ION will be capable of delivering the highest quality seismic images and will allow our E&P customers to rapidly take advantage of the latest data processing innovations such as reverse time migration and full-wave imaging," stated Alexandre Yakovlev, LARGEO General Manager.
