DOI: 10.15468/7ghw9z
title: Environmental Baseline Survey, Blocks 11B/12B – South Africa – 2022 – TotalEnergies E&P South Africa B.V.

description: TotalEnergies E&P South Africa (TEEPSA) contracted Benthic Solutions Limited (BSL) for the provision of a regional campaign of Environmental Baseline Studies (EBS) within Block 11B/12B and along the Petro SA Block 9 pipeline corridor connected to Block 11B/12B located off the south coast of South Africa.
Survey operations were carried out aboard the Bourbon Evolution 807 between the 28th of November 2022 and the 18th of December 2022. Environmental operations were conducted within the Block 11B/12B and B9 PL corridor survey area to gather information on the physico-chemical and biological environment prior to commencing further drilling and possible development activities. 
A time constraint on the survey scope was imposed due to the marginal weather conditions experienced onsite and the large survey area to cover (~18,870km2). As such, a priority list of operations was provided by TEEPSA, advised by BSL, to ensure data obtained within this survey covered a sufficient area of seabed before the exploration operations. The water depth in the survey area showed large variation ranging from 114m (B9 PL corridor) to 1,871m (B11B/12B Paddavissie) below sea level.
This survey included characterisation of the seabed and water column physico-chemistry and biology, as well as, opportunistic observations of marine megafauna by marine mammal observations (MMO) and passive acoustic monitoring (PAM), to provide an understanding of the baseline conditions prior to commencing further drilling and development activities. 

The main objectives for the survey were to:
• Acquire baseline data of sediment and water column physico-chemical characteristics within the survey area.
• Identify and assess any existing pollutants within the sediment and the water column, in particular, those related to oil and gas activities within the survey area.
• Identify sensitive habitats or species susceptible to disturbance from drilling and construction related activities.
• Establish an understanding of the natural variation in environmental conditions against which the environmental impact of future oil and gas operations can be assessed.

The sampling plan consisted of sediment and water column sampling combined with seabed video acquisition to provide a greater understanding of the regional seabed habitats. Opportunistic marine megafauna observations were also undertaken during the survey to provide an understanding of the marine mammal communities present in the Block.
Sampling locations were assigned prioritised rankings which included the development and the exploration areas of Block 11B/12B, the proposed pipeline corridor to Block 9, and sensitive areas (including the Kingklip Ridge and Kingklip Koppies. Consideration was given to areas of interest including marine protected areas, critical biodiversity areas, ecological support areas, TecGeo point locations, and possible underwater infrastructure.
The proposed pipeline corridor between Block 11B/12B and Block 9 consisted of eight sediment stations, two water sampling station and nine camera transects. A further six sampling stations, one water station and 18 camera transects were positioned throughout the rest of the Block for spacing to provide whole Block coverage or to cover areas of the seabed nearby sensitive areas.

Based on time constraints as a result of weather, the survey strategy was continually modified to acquire data for priority areas, or areas with no previous data, as agreed with the client.