Geo-intelligence firm Fugro announced it has been awarded a contract by Shell/BG Kenya for the execution of a seabed survey to detect natural leakages of hydrocarbons, Rigzone reported.

Fugro stated the seeps survey complements a seismic exploration program that was completed recently offshore Kenya, according to Offshore Energy Today.

Undertaking a four-week campaign of multibeam data acquisition and precise sampling, Fugro will mobilize its specialized survey vessel, Fugro Discovery, to Kenya in March.

According to the company, seabed sampling will be carried out using a drop corer and multibeam data will be acquired with the latest deep-water high resolution multibeam echo sounder, installed in a newly designed gondola on the vessel hull.

Fugro noted that the project is one of many seeps campaigns completed in the world’s oceans for Shell by Fugro.

The company’s Regional Business Development Manager in Africa, Peter Boon, commented: “These important seabed surveys support the decision making process for drilling operations, especially in frontier regions like East Africa.”