Seismic Acquisition in Sensitive Desert Environment

Seismic Acquisition in Sensitive Desert Environment Mark Peach Mark Peach PDO Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Paper presented at the SPE International Conference on Health, Safety and Environment in Oil and Gas Exploration and Production, Stavanger, Norway, June 2000. Paper Number: SPE-61246-MS https://doi.org/10.2118/61246-MS Published: June 26 2000 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Get Permissions Search Site Citation Peach, Mark. "Seismic Acquisition in Sensitive Desert Environment." Paper presented at the SPE International Conference on Health, Safety and Environment in Oil and Gas Exploration and Production, Stavanger, Norway, June 2000. doi: https://doi.org/10.2118/61246-MS Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentAll ProceedingsSociety of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)SPE International Conference and Exhibition on Health, Safety, Environment, and Sustainability Search Advanced Search AbstractDeserts, often seen as ideal places to explore for oil, have sensitive eco systems, which require protection. Petroleum Development Oman's (PDO) concession area covers a number of areas of ecological importance. Special attention is required while conducting seismic acquisition in such areas. The issues to be considered include minimising disturbance, preventing damage to sites of archaeological importance, minimising (visual) pollution and maintaining communication with the authorities. Special management and operational controls are sometimes required to ensure that environmental concerns are addressed and surveys are conducted with minimal environmental damage.This paper describes the environmental aspects of seismic surveys executed in parts of PDO concession area. 3 case studies are shown which highlight some of the issues, operational controls applied, and the resulting impacts.IntroductionSeismic data acquisition is one of the activities in the initial phase of the oil exploration process. In deserts it relies extensively on vehicular transport for moving personnel and equipment along a line or swath defined as part of a survey programme.The operation is supported by a mobile base camp, which houses the 130–160 personnel making up the crew. Facilities are provided for offices, accommodation, recreation, sewage treatment, catering as well as vehicle and equipment maintenance.One of the key issues is maintaining environmental awareness amongst staff. This is particularly difficult with a multi racial, multi language workforce where initially staff may not understand why they should have concern for the environment.Environmental ImpactsEnvironmental risk can come from either physical environmental or reputational damage.Desert seismic operations have several impacts, most of which are comparatively small but may have reputational consequences based on legislative compliance. The main environmental effect is from bulldozing operations 1. However, especially in 3D surveys, the effect of tyre tracks from the line vehicles is also apparent. Other significant impacts are emissions, effluent and waste disposal.There are three significant atmospheric pollutants. Emissions related to power generation and transportation, noise from various sources and CFC / HCFC emissions related to refrigeration systems.Crew vehicles will use around 3 times as much fuel as the camp generators although this is dependent on the type of survey being run. This figure increases significantly if bulldozing is required.In general line vehicle movement is minimised for economic reasons. However this also reduces environmental impact.Where bulldozing is conducted, scarring of the landscape results in higher environmental and reputational risk than exhaust fumes. In such cases detours are used to minimise bulldozing but this may result in increased exhaust emissions.In 1999 Oman ratified the Montreal protocol. On PDO crews the only CFC is the refrigerant R-12 although other HCFC's such as R-22 and R-134a are also used. Some refrigerant is lost during recharging of units but most is lost through minor leaks which result from the frequent camp moves over graded roads2.Noise is generated by the vibroseis source, bulldozing operations and camp generators. With the exception of the camp generators the noise is transitory and the environmental damage is minimal.The main effluent resulting from seismic operations is sewage waste. To gain legislative compliance with Omani wastewater disposal requirements, mobile sewage treatment plants (STP) were introduced on PDO's operations. Keywords: rainfall, visual impact, gravel plain, recovery, jebel, acquisition, seismic acquisition, upstream oil & gas, spe 61246, dune Subjects: Reservoir Characterization, Environment, Seismic processing and interpretation This content is only available via PDF. 2000. Society of Petroleum Engineers You can access this article if you purchase or spend a download.

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