2000 km2 of seismic data from Lofoten
The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate in 2009 collected more than 2000 square kilometers of seismic data from the Lofoten and Vesterålen waters.
According to the 2009 annual report presented by directorate leader Bente Nyland last week, a 2063 square kilometers big area was seismically mapped in the Troms II and Nordland VII areas in 2009.
The collection of data in the area is expected to continue. According to the report, a total of 1200 square km are of interest in the Troms II area, while 2600 square km in the Nordland VII needs mapping.
As reported by BarentsObserver, the seismic studies in the vulnerable Lofoten and Vesterålen waters have been met by major skepticism both by environmentalists and by local fishermen.
At the same time, some researchers believe the potential of the area is far from as big as estimated by the oil industry. Among them is Bent Kjølhamar, senior geologist at TGS Nopec. In an interview with newspaper Stavanger Aftenblad, he said that a major part of the oil and gas resources might have simply leaked out from the area and that chances for a big finding are slim.
