usability of search form

I have been asked to review a search form

This is the default view for a search engine on a web application.

This approach is more like an advanced search and it jars with me. I am told that this is a common user behaviour for when the search must be very accurately controlled. But I am of the opinion that the search engine's algorithm must be terrible if the user is forced into this form!

My question: are multi field search forms like this ever used in the place of a singular search box and if so, are there any examples where this kind of complex search is preferable to a single search box?