The Cooper Basin in central Australia is a fragile, diverse environment and an important source of oil and gas. Pastoralists have operated in the area for many years and the desert environments are attracting increasing numbers of tourists. All of these land uses have to be balanced with the region's conservation values. The Seismic Challenge Santos's petroleum exploration and production operations are undertaken over a vast area of some 120,700 sq km, which includes all of the diverse environments of the Cooper Basin. The region is also prone to extreme variations in flood and drought which add to the particular challenges for environmental management.
Seismic exploration is an essential part of oil and gas exploration.
It is the grids of seismic lines which define underlying geological structures and allow explorers to pin point possible underground petroleum reservoirs. Seismic exploration can also leave serious scars on the landscape if it is not undertaken with careful planning and a commitment to environmental responsibility. To minimise the risk of environmental damage, Santos's environmental personnel are involved at the planning stage for all new projects. Contractor personnel undertake induction training and presentations by company environmental and exploration staff as part of the preparation for new seismic exploration programs. All exploration activities are subject to detailed operating requirements developed by the company to minimise the impact seismic operations have on the environment.