DOE to conduct energy exploration surveys

The Department of Energy (DOE) is planning to conduct geological surveys aimed at gathering data on the country’s oil and gas resources to entice investments in the exploration of indigenous energy sources.

At the 3rd Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (EJAP) Energy Forum on Tuesday, DOE Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella disclosed that the agency is procuring a service provider that will conduct “gradiometric surveys.”

Gradiometric surveys detect density contrasts in the subsurface of the landmass, which can link to geological features of interest for possible energy resources.

Fuentebella described gradiometric surveys as being akin to an X-ray, which will then move to something like a “CT scan.”

“Once we identify an anomaly… we can do 3D scanning,” he said.

“It’s more of the data that we are working on which the government should provide,” he added.

For this year, the DOE’s Philippine Gradiometry and Seismic Survey Project (PGSSP) has an approved budget of P624.72 million.

In March, the agency posted an invitation to bid for the P624.72-million PGSSP. —VAL, GMA News