The effects of marine seismic acquisition in a coral reef environment: results from a multi-disciplinary monitoring program at Scott Reef, Western Australia
Cameron Grebe A , Luke Smith A and Craig Reid BA Woodside Energy Ltd 240 St George’s Terrace Perth, WA 6000
B Environmental Resources Management
The APPEA Journal 49(2) 567-567 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ08040
Published: 2009
Abstract
In September 2007 Woodside Energy Ltd, as operator of the Browse LNG Development , conducted the Maxima three-dimensional marine seismic survey (Maxima) at Scott Reef, a shelf-emergent coral atoll located in the Indian Ocean approximately 425 km north of Broome, Western Australia
Implementation of the survey followed extensive state and Commonwealth environmental approvals processes that began more than 12 months earlier.
The survey drew regulator and stakeholder attention, with focus on the uncertainties associated with predicting impacts on Scott Reef marine environment as a result of exposure to airgun noise emissions.
Ministerial conditions for approval of the survey concluded that significant impacts were unlikely (Woodside 2008), but required Woodside to address the inherent uncertainties through implementation of a suite of research and monitoring activities prior to, during and after Maxima. Most were completed in on site Scott Reef as part of a field verification study, conducted in advance of the full data acquisition phase of Maxima.
These monitoring studies showed that the actual effects of exposure to an airgun array were lower than predicted and established new sound exposure thresholds.
keywords: Seismic, environmental impact assessment, Scott Reef, Woodside, Browse Basin, coral reef, environmental research, monitoring, appraisal
Cameron Grebe has worked in sustainability roles in the resource industry since 1995, including positions with Shell, Woodside and BHP. His experience covers environmental, health and safety, and social management in LNG, upstream oil and gas and mining projects in Australia and overseas. He has been involved in a wide range of impact assessments and approvals in sensitive areas including the Niger Delta, European coastal waters and, most recently, off the northwest coast of Australia. He is currently the environment manager for Woodside’s Browse LNG Development and has an honours degree in environmental engineering from RMIT in Melbourne. Cameron.Grebe@woodside.com.au |
Luke Smith is a principal environmental scientist and leads the environmental studies program that support Woodside’s Browse LNG Development. These studies range from collecting baseline environmental data and monitoring ecosystem health to modelling the environmental impact of future developments. He has over 15 years experience in undertaking research on tropical marine ecosystems and has published extensively in the field of coral reef ecology and rehabilitation. He has a PhD in marine ecology from James Cook University. |
Craig Reid is a principal consultant with Environmental Resources Management (ERM) and is the leader of Hong Kong’s marine sciences and ecology group. With a background in marine biology, Craig has over 11 years experience in environmental assessment and management. Based in Hong Kong, Craig specialises in marine science projects regionally and internationally. These projects range from environmental impact assessment and ecological monitoring to decommissioning strategies and natural resource management. craig.reid@erm.com |
References
Hastings, M.C., Reid C.A., Grebe C.C., Colman J.G. and Hearn R.L., 2008—The effects of seismic airgun noise on the hearing sensitivity of tropical reef fishes at Scott Reef, Western Australia, Proceedings of the Institute of Acoustics Conference on Underwater Noise Measurement, Impact and Mitigation, Vol. 30 part 5.Woodside Energy Ltd, 2007—Final Adaptive Management Program—Maxima 3D Marine Seismic Survey, Scott Reef, Woodside Energy Ltd, viewed on 20 February 2009, Accessed at: http://www.woodside.com.au/Our+Business/Development/Browse
Woodside Energy Ltd, 2008—Environmental Compliance Report—Maxima 3D Marine Seismic Survey, Scott Reef, Woodside Energy Ltd, viewed on 20 February 2009, Accessed at: http://www.woodside.com.au/Our+Business/Development/Browse
Woodside Energy Ltd in Press—Summary of Results from Adaptive Management Program and Fish Monitoring Program—Maxima 3D Marine Seismic Survey, Scott Reef, Woodside Energy Ltd.
