Atlantic Permit Application E14- 008

The following document is a Geological and Geophysical (G&G) permit application from ARKeX Limited 

to conduct an offshore airborne gravity survey on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf of the United 

States. Magnetic data will also be collected. This survey will be conducted offshore of South Carolina, 

North Carolina and Virginia. 

ARKeX Limited will use a light aircraft to conduct this survey. Gravity and magnetic surveys are “passive” 

surveys. They use onboard instrumentation to measure changes in the Earth’s gravity and magnetic 

fields. The changes reflect variations in the structure and materials located in the Earth’s subsurface.

The survey grid size flown by the aircraft depends on the several factors, but principally the resolution of 

the data needed. In the past, a grid size of 3 km or more was typical; however, surveys needing higher 

resolution may use a grid size of 1 km or less.

This Atlantic G&G permit application will be available for public review and comment on the 

Regulations.gov web site for a period of 10 calendar days starting on March 30, 2015. The application is 

placed on Regulations.gov after BOEM has received all of the pertinent application information from the 

permit applicant and before the completion of BOEM’s environmental review process. As part of 

BOEM’s environmental review process for G&G permit applications, BOEM will consider potential 

impacts to local and regional resources. This environmental review process will tier from the 

Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) prepared for G&G activities on the Mid-Atlantic 

and South Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf. The G&G PEIS described and evaluated the potential 

environmental impacts associated with reasonably foreseeable G&G survey activities in Federal waters 

overlying the Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), including potential effects 

on many resources such as marine mammals (e.g. north Atlantic right whales), sea turtles, and 

commercial and recreational fishing. The G&G PEIS also evaluated mitigation measures to reduce 

potential impacts of G&G activities on marine resources, such as marine mammal exclusion zones near 

airgun operations, and time-area closures. BOEM will require permit applicants to comply with 

applicable mitigation measures based on the results of the site-specific environmental analysis 

conducted for each Atlantic G&G permit application. BOEM will review the comments received during 

the public comment period for this permit applications and will take them into consideration during the 

environmental review process.

Please note that the G&G activities proposed under these Atlantic G&G permit applications will also be 

subject to additional public review and comments as part of the review processes undertaken by both 

State and Federal agencies. One of the Federal agencies that will review the proposed activities will be 

the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). The review is required as part of NMFS’ statutory and 

regulatory obligations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Its statutes, regulations and guidelines 

govern NMFS’ authorization processes and public comment review periods. Additionally, States also 

have an opportunity to review the activities proposed under these permit applications as part of their 

federally-approved Coastal Zone Management Programs (CZMP) if it has been determined that the 

activity to be authorized under BOEM’s G&G permit may have an impact on their coastal resources. 

Please note that each State has its own process for public review and comment under its approved 

CZMP.
UNITED STATES 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

BUREAU OF OCEAN ENERGY MANAGEMENT 

Gulf of Mexico 

(Insert Appropriate Regional Office) 

Attachment I 

APPLICATION FOR PERMIT TO CONDUCT GEOLOGICAL OR GEOPHYSICAL 

EXPLORATION FOR MINERAL RESOURCES OR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH 

ON THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF 

(Section 11, Outer Continental ShelfLands Act of August 7, 1953, as amended on September 18, 1978, 

by Public Law 95-372, 92 Statute 629, 43 U.S.C. 1340; and 30 CFR Parts 251 and 551) 

ARKeX Limited 

Name of Applicant 

c/o 11490 Westheimer, Suite 850 

Number and Street 

Houston. TX 77077 

City, State, and Zip Code 

Application is made for the following activity: (check one) 

Geological exploration for mineral resources 

Geological scientific research 

X Geophysical exploration for mineral resources 

Geophysical scientific research 

Submit: Original plus three copies, totaling four copies, which include one digital copy, and one public 

information copy. 

Permit Number 

To be completed by BOEM 

Date: 

For m BOEM-0327 (January 2012 - Supersedes all previous versions of this torm whicfi may not be use J) 

GOM OCS REGION 

BOEM 

RELEASABLE 

New Orleans, LA 

OFFSHORE RESOURCE EVALUATION 
A. General Infonnation 

1. The activity will be conducted by: 

ARKeX Limited 

Service Company Name 

do 11490 Westheimer, Suite 850 

Address 

Houston, TX 77077 

City, State, Zip 

713 425 6351 

Telephone/FAX Numbers 

ian.lambert@arkex,com 

E-Mail Address 

2. The purpose of the activity is: 

p o r ARKeX Limited 

Purchaser(s) of the Data 

c/o 11490 Westheimer, Suite 850 

Address 

Houston. TX 77077 

City, State, Zip 

713 425 6351 

Telephone/FAX Numbers 

ian lambert@arkex com 

E-Mail Address 

Mineral exploration 

Scientific research 

3. Describe your proposed survey activities (i.e., vessel use, benthic impacts, acoustic sources, etc) 

and describe the environmental effects of the proposed activity, including potential adverse effects 

on marine life Describe what steps are planned to minimize these adverse effects (mitigation 

measures). For example: 1) Potential Effect; Excessive sound level Mitigation; Soft Start, 

MMOs, mammal exclusion zone or 2) Potential Effect; Bottom disturbance; Mitigation; ROV 

deployment/retrieval of bottom nodes) (use continuation sheets as necessary or provide a separate 

attachment): 

Airborne Gravity Gradient and Magnetic Survey. Passive measurements only Aircraft will fly 

a grid pattern at an altitude of approximately 400ft, with lines spaced approximateiy 1-2 km apart 

4. The expected commencement date is: August 2014 

The expected completion date is: August 2015 

5. The name ofthe individual(s) in charge of the field operation is: 

lan Lambert 

May be contacted at: 

ARKeX Limited, Cambridge, UK 

Telephone (Local) +44 1223 427400 (Marine) 

Email Address: ian.lambert@arkex.com Radio call sign 

For m BOEM-0327 (January 2012 - Supersedes all previous versions of this form which may not be used.) Page 6 Of 13 
6. The vessel(s) to be used in the operation is (are): 

Name (s) Registry Number(s) Registered owners) 

DHC6-200 N181CS Rampart Aviation, LLC 

DHC6-300 N162DE Rampart Aviation. LLC 

DHC6-300 N344CS Rampart Aviation, LLC 

7. The port from which the vessel(s) will operate is: North Raleigh Airport. Franklington. NC 

8. Briefly describe the navigation system (vessel navigation only): 

Aircraft equipped with dual IFR 

certified GPS navigation units in addition to being equipped with DME, ADF, VOR and Radar Altimeter. 

B. Complete for Geological Exploration for Mineral Resources or 

Geological Scientific Research 

1. The type of operation(s) to be employed is: (check one) 

(a) _ Deep stratigraphic test, or 

(b) Shallow stratigraphic test with proposed total depth of , or 

(c) Other 

2. Attach a page-size plat showing: I) The generalized proposed location for each test, where 

appropriate, a polygon enclosing the test sites may be used, 2) BOEM protraction areas; 

coastline; point of reference; 3) Distance and direction from a point of reference to area of 

activity. 

C. Complete for Geophysical Exploration for Mineral Resources or 

Geophysical Scientific Research 

1. The type(s) of operation(s) to be employed is (are): 

a) Acquisition method (OBN, OBC, Streamer): Airborne, fixed wing aircraft 

b) Type of acquisilion: (High Resolution Seismic, 2D Seismic, 3D Seismic, gravity, magnetic, 

CSEM, etc.) 

Gravity, magnetic 

2. Attach a page-size plat showing: 

a) The generalized proposed location of the activity with a representative polygon, 

b) BOEM protraction areas; coastline; point of reference, 

c) Distance and direction from a point of reference to area of activity. 

3. List all energy source types to be used in the operation(s): (Air gun, air gun array(s), sub-bottom 

profiler, sparker, towed dipole, side scan sonar, etc.). 

For m BOEM-0327 (January 2012 - Supersedes all previous versions of this form which may not be used ) Page 7 of 13 
No energy sources will be used, survey Is a passive measurement only 

4. Explosive charges will will not X be used. If applicable, indicate the type of 

explosive and maximum charge size (in pounds) to be used: 

Type Pounds Equivalent Pounds of TNT 

D. Proprietary Infonnation Attachments 

Use the appropriate form on page 9 for a "geological" permit application or the form on page 11 for a 

"geophysical" permit application. You must submit a separate Form BOEM-0327 to apply for each 

geological or geophysical permit. 

E. Certification 

1 hereby certify that foregoing and attached information are true and correct. 

Print Name: Richard Foster-Turner 

SIGNED J^^^<^Cc-cc ^ DATE CTum 'ZS 

TITLE Chief Operatma Officer 

COMPANY NAME: ARKeX Limited 

TO BE COMPLETED BY BOEM 

Permiitt No. EMrSCS . Assigned by C G^f^u/ / Date 26QwnL/f 

of BOEM ' (/ 

This application is hereby: 

Accepted 

b. Retumed for reasons in the attached 

SIGNED/^^^ ^V^-^C^^ITL E Regional Supervisor DATE ^^-^/^Y ^ 

For m BOEM-0327 (January 2012 - Supersedes all previous versions of this form which may not be used ) Page 8 of 13