In spite of action by Greenpeace, seismic acquisition activity on UK 17th round acreage in the Atlantic Margin is at its peak for the 1997 season. There are currently five seismic crews including one dual-vessel spread working in the area, although precise details about the location of most of the vessels are not being released.

Having returned to Northwest Europe from Angola, the Petroleum Geo-Services vessel Ramform Challenger is believed to be working on a multi-client survey in the Atlantic Margin, although this is unconfirmed. The Challenger had been scheduled to go to work for Amoco on its return, to shoot 400 sq kms of 3D in blocks 208/11, 208/15 and 208/19, but the start of this survey has been delayed until around August 8.

Shell has moved the Geco Mintrop to Tranche 65, northeast of Shetland, where it is planning to acquire 1,000 sq kms of 3D data over the next two months. The Mintrop had previously shot 242 sq kms of 3D for Shell over the southern basin Schooner Field, in block 44/28, finishing on July 10.

Horizon Exploration is expected to complete a 2,100-km 2D survey for Texaco in Tranche 36 with the Pacific Horizon at the beginning of August and will then begin shooting for Fina Petroleum Development in Tranche 21. The Pacific Horizon has twice been the target of disruption by Greenpeace, which is protesting against exploration activity in the Atlantic Margin.

Greenpeace also attempted to disrupt a multi-client 3D survey by PGS over Phillips Tranche 44, but the dual-vessel spread Geoexplorer and Malene Ostervold refused to stop operations when approached by the environmental protester's vessel. Another PGS 3D vessel Atlantic Explorer was boarded by Greenpeace activists in Ullapool harbour at the beginning of July but since then has operated without interference on a 3D survey for Conoco in Tranches 48 and 52.

Late in June, the American Explorer completed a group shoot in the Rockall Trough which had been suspended in 1996 and is now on contract with Amerada Hess in the North Sea. Statoil does not expect the Geco Diamond to begin operations on its UK 17th round acreage until mid-August. The Geco-Prakla vessel is engaged until then with Statoil in Norway on a survey in the Statfjord Field area.