Offshore data acquisition in shallow water: challenges and opportunities
Simon J. Molyneux A D , Samantha Jarvis B and James K. Dirstein CA Molyneux Advisors Pty Ltd, 24 Stanley Street, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia.
B S2 Services Pty Ltd, 7 Chilton Street, Willagee, WA 6156, Australia.
C Total Depth Pty Ltd, 21 Churchill Avenue, Subiaco, WA 6210, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: simon.molyneux@molyneuxadvisors.com
The APPEA Journal 59(2) 915-919 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ18035
Accepted: 12 March 2019 Published: 17 June 2019
Abstract
The acquisition of geophysical data, in particular conventional marine seismic, in areas of shallow water (<20 m) has always been challenging in terms of cost, quality and permitting. A heightened sensitivity about the possible environmental impact of conventional marine seismic has made achieving environmental approval of marine seismic activity in water depths up to 60 m challenging in Australia. In this paper, a suggestion is made to re-frame permit work programs around in-permit mobilisations where impact to the exploration assessment is maximised, and environmental disturbance is minimised. This approach will be illustrated through a discussion of (1) recent approved Australian environmental plans and water depth issues and a good practice approach to permitting of shallow water seismic acquisition using the Zenaide 3D and Bethany 3D as examples, and (2) alternatives to conventional marine seismic acquisition, including an articulation of the technical strengths and weaknesses alongside a consideration of alternative approaches from an environmental, work program and regulatory point of view.
Keywords: environmental impact, environmental plan, seismic.
Simon Molyneux is a geoscientist with more than 20 years of experience acquired at Santos, Talisman Energy, Shell, Mobil and BP. He is currently Managing Director and Principal Geoscientist at Molyneux Advisors Pty Ltd, an integrated subsurface advisory. He was Santos’s Exploration Manager for offshore Australia and exploration and subsurface lead for Talisman Energy’s assets in Malaysia. Simon has a Masters degree in Earth Sciences from Cambridge University, UK; a PhD in Structural Geology from Durham University, UK; and a Graduate Certificate in Strategic Decision and Risk Management from Stanford University, USA. He is a Fellow of the Geological Society or London, a member of PESA, SEAPEX and PESGB and the Australian Institute of Co. Directors. |
Samantha Jarvis graduated from Murdoch University with a BSc in biology. Samantha is an environment professional with over 20 years of experience in mining and onshore and offshore oil and gas. She has held lead environmental roles in major oil and gas companies where she has worked in a wide variety of offshore and onshore operations and has led environmental approval teams for development and exploration programs within Australia and internationally. Samantha has an extensive understanding of oil and gas environmental impacts and risk from her hands-on experience on onshore and offshore operations facilities, onshore and offshore drill rigs and seismic, inspection and support vessels. Samantha currently runs her own business, S2 Services, and supports several oil and gas companies developing and implementing environment plans. |
With more than 35 years of international experience in the resource industry, James Dirstein has developed a rather eclectic set of skills working across a diverse range of geoscientific projects and technologies. He has a proven track record with both large and small teams identifying several transformative technologies and integrating them into corporate exploration/exploitation workflows. Jim is a University of Toronto graduate where he studied both geology and geophysics. Since Australia continues to spend more than 11% of their annual GDP (~AU$174 billion) on government compliance, our industry, now more ever, needs to be addressing these challenges to reveal commercial opportunities. |
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