Walvis Bay

Piet has been working on the Namibia project since 2013, and the team has been struggling to make progress the last few years, for various reasons. In 2018 there has been a positive change, and since April Piet has been planning a large offshore seismic survey with a dedicated team of specialists. Over the summer this resulted in the award of the contract to seismic acquisition contractor Polarcus, and an increase in activity to get ready for operations. This culminated in a mobilisation in Walvis Bay, a small harbour in Namibia, where the fleet, consisting of three vessels, gathered before leaving to the prospect area, some 300 km off the southern coast of Namibia.

Piet, and three other Shell staff, went to Walvis Bay to carry out final inspections of these vessels, discuss project details with staff going offshore, and to host a large kick-off meeting. At the end of four days the fleet was accepted, and the project could begin. It will take some 3 months to complete, followed by another 6 months to process the data, before a detailed subsurface evaluation can start.
Walvis Bay is a small town, and except the hotel and the harbour Piet didn't see much. Luckily the hotel was on the edge of a shallow bay, where a lot of flamingo's and pelicans are living. Early in the morning it was possible to walk around, and take some pictures. It was generally calm weather, with the wind picking up during the morning, and a howling storm every afternoon. With 15 degrees it was not very pleasant in Africa!

Early morning in Walvis Bay

Flamingo's at dawn

Selling tourist souvenirs, with few takers

Showing seismic equipment

Piet and the Shell Namibia team in the control room

 The Shell team in front of the seismic vessel

 A flight of flamingo's