Discovery Geo will definitely use the Viking II after it has finished working for Pogo. Austral Pacific Energy and the “West Maui” PEP 38460 partners are also likely to use the vessel.

Discovery Geo New Zealand spokesperson Bruce Morris confirmed the Viking II was due to shoot about 600 square kilometres of seismic over Discovery’s PEP 38471 and 38479 licences once it had finished acquiring at least 1760 square kilometres over Pogo’s three permits (PEPs 38488-490).

“The work is principally for exploration but with some prospect detailing also,” Morris told EnergyReview.Net.

Austral Pacific chief executive Dave Bennett told ERN that his company was thinking of using the Viking II, or perhaps the Norwegian Multiwave vessel Pacific Titan that is expected to arrive from South Australia later this month for a Crown Minerals East Coast survey.

Operator Austral and partner Durum Energy had some 2D seismic shot over the PEP 38480 licence last year and a more detailed 3D survey is a natural next step in the joint venture’s petrophysical and seismic modelling studies.

The PEP 38460 partners, headed by operator Transworld subsidiary New Zealand Overseas Petroleum, have said they are considering shooting further 3D seismic over their triangle of discoveries – Amokura, Pateke and Tui.

Last September former New Zealand Oil & Gas exploration manager Eric Matthews told ERN the partners would be further assessing the many targets already identified in PEP 38460 for future drilling, as well as assessing likely development options and further exploration, starting with more 3D seismic.