New analysis indicates that the marine seismic equipment and acquisition markets will reach a value of $1,040.5m and $6,323.6m respectively in 2013 as caution from operators continues and E&P capital expenditure growth rates cool.
Marine seismic is the first step toward locating and mapping a hydrocarbon reservoir. There are different methods for acquisition, with 3D seismic the most popular. Increasingly, production-stage seismic is being employed as a part of the method for enhancing hydrocarbon recovery from producing reservoirs. Demands to enhance data fidelity without compromising recovery costs, as well as emerging offshore developments, such as East Africa, are two core factors that help underpin incremental spending increases in both markets going forward. Less volatility than in the past is also expected in these market spaces.
The lead analyst of The Marine Seismic Equipment and Acquisition Markets 2013-2023: Offshore Seismic Survey Contracts for Oil & Gas E&P; 2D, 3D & 4C Vessels & Equipment report commented that, “The outlook for marine seismic in the medium term is positive. Spending on both equipment and acquisition will experience a greater degree of stability than has been possible in the past. This is because confidence in the oil price looks set to continue, new technologies are required to enhance operational efficiency and data fidelity, production-stage seismic is becoming more important and the subsurface of emerging offshore spaces, such as Brazil, needs to be more intensively and extensively imaged.”
Oil prices and E&P CAPEX are the two benchmarks seen as key to the determining the future of the marine seismic markets. Although this will remain broadly true moving forward, stability and confidence in the oil price, a cautious marine seismic spending culture and emerging trends that positively affect its E&P CAPEX share reduce the extent to which it is a leading edge indicator of E&P spending trends. Growth will remain incremental, but the reduction in volatility over a 3-5 year period means that this is a market that requires reconsideration in the minds of its stakeholders and other interested parties.
The 150 page report contains 77 tables, charts and graphs that add visual analysis in order to explain developing trends within the marine seismic equipment and acquisition markets. Visiongain provides individual global forecasts, in terms of capital expenditure (US$), on marine seismic equipment and acquisition for the period 2013-2023. In addition to these global forecasts, there are five equipment submarkets analysed and forecasted: