Fugro, GMGS commit to fifth offshore China hydrates survey

Fugro will start work this spring on a US$40-million contract from Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey (GMGS) to investigate gas hydrate potential on the northern continental slope of the South China Sea.

This is Fugro’s fifth gas hydrate field research program for GMGS: the two companies have worked together since 2007.

Gas hydrates – frozen gas-water solids resembling ice – may provide a source of future energy.

The site characterisation programme, operated from the drilling vessel, Fugro Voyager, will involve logging while drilling, pressure coring, and geotechnical sampling.

GMGS will use Fugro’s subsequent report and assessment of gas hydrate reservoir volumes delivered to plan China’s second gas hydrate marine production test, currently scheduled for 2019.

Source: Offshore