Seismic Acquisition: Going the Extra Environmental Mile
Authors: Casson G. A. , MacGlennon G. S. , Neilson P 
Published: April 2018

National law, National Oil Companies (NOC) codes of practice and environmental authority Health, Safety, Environmental Impact Assessment (HSEIA) Instruction stipulate the requirement for waste management, physical environmental damage limitation and anti-pollution procedures. These requirements are well known within the oil and gas industry regardless of geographical location.

Emirate of Abu Dhabi National law exists for the protection of the environment and the species therein (Abu Dhabi 1999a & b). There also exists the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD), established in 1996 for the protection of the environment in the Emirate (Abu Dhabi 1993; Abu Dhabi 2005). The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has comprehensive, rigorous, and established Codes of Practice (CoP), as substantially revised in 2014. All quality geophysical and seismic acquisition contractors have robust health, safety and environment management systems (HSEMS) which bridge with mandated legislation and client CoPs. Historically, the Emirate's existing marine mammal environmental mitigation used for offshore seismic surveys were loosely based on third party HSEIA requirements and stipulated Joint National Conservation Council (JNCC) guidelines; applicable to deep-water towed streamer operations. The extensive transition zone areas of Abu Dhabi cannot accommodate towed streamer acquisition inside 100+km of the shoreline due to shallow water, islands and shoals.

Our opinion was; where mitigation instruction is only partially applicable then contract and HSE complications were likely and this was found to be the case. We hypothesised that thorough and rigorous analysis of environmental data collection, specific mitigation instructions better suited to the acquisition could be formed and made relevant to the survey areas. Further, data collection used for progressive mitigation purposes and used as proof of effect could also enhance environmental knowledge known to be data deficient (Marsh 2015).

From 2014 to 2017, 3D transition zone seismic surveys were conducted in the Marawah Marine Protected Area; a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Area, which hosts several environmental sensitivities and protected species. These include the second largest, known population of Dugong (Dugong dugon), nesting sites of the Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricate), and approximately 10% to 12% of the world population of Socotra Cormorant (Phalacrocorax nigrogularis). Each of those species appear on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

We approached the marine environmental mitigation issue to improve existing instruction such that mitigation was applicable, robust, and in a final form could be used as Technical Guidance Notes (TGN) for future shallow water seismic surveys in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

We suggest the value of environmental monitoring during seismic acquisition can extend further than pure compliance and observation of required mitigation. We show the design and application of a comprehensive environmental monitoring program in association with an obliging seismic contractor can bring specific and substantial environmental benefits, extends working relationships with environment agencies and other offshore stakeholders, and brings a heightened environmental awareness within the industry and environmental community.