Underwater Sound/Marine Environment Update Joint IAGC / OGP Global HSE & Security Forum David Hedgeland/Sarah Tsoflias Gatwick, United Kingdom 3 November 2010
Outline IAGC/OGP Sound/Marine Life Task Force - SMLTF IAGC SML Workgroup Update - SML Wkgrp World Ocean Council - WOC
IAGC/OGP Sound/Marine Life Task Force Model based Assessment of Underwater Noise from an Airgun Array Soft-start Operation Report complete Overview of Marine Seismic Operations Technical Document; publication expected in 2010 Development of PAMGuard communication material. Submitted comments on Draft OSPAR Guidance on Measures to Mitigate the Emission and Environment Impact of Underwater Noise
PAM & the JNCC Guidelines August 2010 JNCC guidelines for minimising the risk of injury and disturbance to marine mammals from seismic surveys In addition to the visual mitigation provided by MMOs, if seismic surveys are planned to start during hours of darkness or low visibility it is considered best practice to deploy Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM). If marine mammals are likely to be in the area, only commence seismic activities during the hours of daylight when visual mitigation using Marine Mammal Observers (MMOs) is possible. Only commence seismic activities during the hours of darkness, or low visibility, or during periods when the sea state is not conducive to visual mitigation, if a Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) system is in use to detect marine mammals likely to be in the area, noting the limitations of available PAM technology (seismic surveys that commence during periods of darkness, or low visibility, or during periods when the observation conditions are not conducive to visual mitigation, could pose a risk of committing an injury offence).
Regulatory and Government Engagement Brazil IBAMA revising 2005 Guide for Monitoring Marine Biota during Seismic Data Acquisition Activities The revised Guidelines expected 2010/11; could include: PAM during certain operations/conditions 60-minute pre-survey visual observation period Colombia August 2010 - MAVDT issued a decree requiring an Environmental License for geophysical operations in water depths < 200 m Environment License requires the submission of an Environmental Impact Study Likely to increase time necessary to procure a permit for geophysical operations in water depths < 200 m
Regulatory and Government Engagement United States?? National Science Foundation Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (DPEIS) for Marine Seismic Research IAGC needs your comments by 12 November 2010 Most likely, US government agencies will apply information from the NSF DPEIS to Industry geophysical operations European Union EU Marine Strategy Directive Good Environmental Status - GES Indicator 11 underwater sound
Research OGP E&P Sound & Marine Life Joint Industry Program PAMGuard user interface software now in regular use by industry and research community.... PAMGuard, an open source software that has been developed as part of the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers Joint Industry Project (JIP). JNCC recognises that PAMGuard is currently in a transition period between use as a research tool and widespread adoption as a monitoring technique. - JNCC 2010 3D Source Characterization Study and Single Airgun Measurement Study initial results expected by Q1 2011 Australian Humpback Whale Behavioral Response Study (BRS) Thanks to IAGC members who have provided information about softstart procedures http://www.iagc.org/marineenvironment/sml_jip/ http://www.soundandmarinelife.org
IAGC SML Workgroup Update 2009 - Recommended Mitigation Measures For Cetaceans during Geophysical Operations 2010 - IAGC Guidance for Marine Life Visual Observers 2011 PAM technical and/or operations guidance Marine Mammal Statement of Principle
World Ocean Council Inaugural Sustainable Ocean Summit June 2010 Reducing Risk, Increasing Sustainability: Solutions through Collaboration Business leaders from a range of ocean industries shipping, oil and gas, fisheries, aquaculture, mining and offshore renewable energy IAGC invited to participate in Round Table of Ocean Industry Association Leaders Underwater Sound/Marine Life session
World Ocean Council... need and opportunity for an ocean industry leadership alliance on Corporate Ocean Responsibility Paul H, WOC UN summit on biodiversity - Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) October 2010
Thank You!