CGG : Gippsland's 3D marine seismic survey information

Last updated on June 18, 2018.

Questions & Answers

1. What kind of activities are planned to be conducted in the area?
2. How are seismic surveys approved?
3. Do CGG activities impact the environment?
4. Is there a potential impact on fish and other invertebrates?
5. What are the impacts of seismic operations on fisheries and aquaculture?

1. What kind of activities are planned to be conducted in the area?

• The aim of the proposed Gippsland 3D Marine Seismic Survey (Gipssland MSS) is to explore the area in order to evaluate its potential natural resources. The Gippsland MSS could cover an area of approximately 13,000 km2. The survey vessel will be in Commonwealth waters, at least 12 km offshore of the coast.
• The main purpose of seismic exploration is to render the most accurate possible graphic representation of specific portions of the Earth's subsurface geologic structure.
• Acquisition of seismic data involves the transmission of controlled acoustic energy into the Earth, and recording the energy that is reflected back from geologic boundaries in the subsurface.
• The images produced allow our clients to accurately evaluate a target for its potential to yield natural resources.
• Seismic surveys are the main tool used in oil&gas exploration and are used routinely throughout the world and around Australia. Numerous 2D and 3D surveys have taken place in the Gippsland Basin for over half a century, alongside other activities, such as petroleum production and commercial fishing.
• For more information on what seismic surveys are, please follow this link.

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2. How are seismic surveys authorized?

• The Australian Government requires petroleum and greenhouse gas (GHG) companies to conduct their activities in a manner that meets a high standard of environmental protection. The petroleum industry's environmental record in Australia, particularly in offshore areas, has been exemplary. No offshore petroleum development proposal would be approved unless the highest environmental standards had been met.
• Under Environment Regulations, an operator is legally required to submit a Summary Environment Plan to the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) for public disclosure. Within ten days of receiving notification that the Environment Plan has been accepted, an electronic version of the summary must be submitted to NOPSEMA for publication online.
• Summary Environment Plans submitted for petroleum activities in Commonwealth waters from January 2012 are available on the NOPSEMA website at this link.
• CGG is currently commissioning a specialist environmental consultancy to prepare a detailed Environment Plan for NOPSEMA using the best available science. If this is accepted, a permit may be granted to conduct the seismic survey under the conditions agreed to in the environmental plan.
• During the Environment Plan preparation phase, the environmental consultancy engages with stakeholders (local communities, fisheries representatives, conservation associations, regulatory bodies etc.) and addresses their potential concerns.

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3. Do CGG activities impact the environment?

• CGG's policy is to apply ecodesign principles and mitigations to prevent and remediate potential negative effects on the environment.
• Our marine seismic surveys play an important role reducing environmental footprints. Seismic surveys are short term events that provide indirect environmental benefits. First, they reveal which areas are not viable prospects. Second, they reduce the number of wells required to locate and precisely delineate oil and natural gas resources. And third, they reduce the number of wells required to produce the resources that are discovered.
• CGG diligently applies risk-based monitoring and mitigation measures which have been tailored to the local environment as a result of the Environmental Impact Assessment. These include specific measures protecting marine life in line with national requirements and international laws and regulations.
• The seismic source is progressively started ('soft-start') over a period of 20 minutes starting from the smallest single source element to the entire array. Independent Marine Mammal Observers (MMOs) ensure a watch of 30 minutes prior to the soft start from the vessel bridge, monitoring a safety zone of 1000 meters from the seismic source.
• If a mammal is detected, the soft start cannot take place until a clear 30 minutes has passed without a further sighting. Throughout data acquisition, MMOs have the authority to stop the seismic source so as to prevent any risk of harm to the animal if a marine animal is sighted within the safety zone. Equivalent monitoring and mitigation measures are conducted with passive acoustic technologies, allowing the localization of marine mammals around the vessel through their vocalizations. Records from marine life monitoring and mitigations are sent to NOPSEMA.
• Every year, CGG transparently reports its consolidated environmental performance in its sustainability report. Our 10th sustainable development report can be accessed at this link.
• More information on the impact of seismic surveys on marine life at this link.

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4. Is there a potential impact on fish?

• As part of its Care+Protect program, CGG is committed to further investigate the effects of operations on marine life and implement further measures of mitigation where necessary. CGG therefore recently commissioned original research from the UK Universities of Exeter and Bristol to assess the cumulative effect of seismic sound and other man-made sounds such as shipping and pile-driving on fish post-larvae, a very sensitive life-stage. The results, which are published in a high-level peer-reviewed scientific journal, are compelling. After having initially developed some levels of stress as a result of the exposure to seismic sound, the post-larvae have quickly developed a mechanism of tolerance to the seismic sound which has allowed them to eliminate any stress and grow the same way as the post-larvae raised in the same conditions without any exposure to man-made sound.
• The Gippsland Environment Plan will assess and discuss potential impacts including on local fish species. Fish can respond differently to seismic sound depending on whether or not they have a swim bladder, a gas-filled chamber that can detect sound pressure. The research on post-larvae referenced above focused on the seabass, a model species with swim bladder. Fish with a swim bladder include blue warehou, jackass morwong, whiting, yellow eyed mullet, Australian sardine and Australian salmon and some species of flathead. Fish with no swim bladder are less susceptible to sound pressure impacts from seismic surveys. These include sharks, rays, mackerel, tuna, as well as many flatfish and flounder.
• Past 3D seismic Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) referenced on NOPSEMA's website have determined that potential impacts from the survey on all fish, including those with a swim bladder, has been assessed as minor or insignificant, localised, and temporary. It is to be noted that no cases of fish death have been reported from seismic surveys either.
• Whenever possible, CGG is contributing to advancing science and bridging knowledge gaps on sound and marine life. This summer, CGG will be participating in the first ever test of the response of free-ranging fish to a real seismic survey by supplying one of its seismic source vessel to a world-class scientific research consortium led by the University of Leiden (Netherlands) and supported by the Joint Industry Program Sound & Marine Life. In such experiment, tagged free-ranging fish will be exposed during a week to the sound of a seismic survey and their behavior will be monitored.
• More information on the cumulative impact of man-made sound on post-larval fish at this link.

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5. What are the impacts of seismic operations on fisheries?

• Although our seismic surveys are designed, planned and executed to prevent potential conflicts of usage with other sea users, the potential exists for short-term inconvenience and disruption to the patterns of fishing and aquaculture. The survey lines are therefore carefully planned and discussed with fisheries representatives and other interested parties ahead of and during operations. Early stakeholder engagement and local consultations aim to limit interference to the lowest levels possible. Ongoing communications with all interested parties are maintained throughout the survey.
• The seismic vessel sails slowly (about 4,5 knots) and has limited manoeuver capabilities due to the length of the towed cables. One or more support vessels escort the seismic vessel, with the duty to establish and maintain communications with other vessels in the area.

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