WesternGeco says the survey will start in November, with data to be processed in its new processing centre in Tripoli.

Gazprom was awarded offshore Area 19 in the country's third oil and gas exploration licensing round last year (MEED 5:1:07).

3D seismic involves the acquisition, processing and appraisal of a range of different data by conducting various imaging techniques that can draw a picture of what lies below the ground.

WesternGeco won a similar seismic contract for Kuwaiti onshore oil and gas fields earlier this year (MEED 16:7:08).