New seismic project on the table
CNSOPB inviting comment on EA scoping document
A new 10-year seismic project that “encompasses the majority of the CNSOPB jurisdictional area originating approximately 40 km from the southern coastline of Nova Scotia to 350 km offshore” along the Scotian Shelf and Scotian Slope is on the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNSOPB) table.
A draft project description, filed with the CNSOPB by Multiklient Invest AS (MKI), Oslo, Norway and TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Company ASA (TGS), Houston, Texas, is the first step in the CNSOPB environmental assessment (EA) process.
Designated the Multiklient Invest AS Nova Scotia Offshore Seismic Program, 2019-2028, the project description reads: “MKI is proposing to conduct a multi-vessel geophysical program offshore Nova Scotia on the Scotian Shelf and Scotian Slope that may include up to 15,000 square kilometres of 3D seismic data acquisition and potentially up to 10,000 km of linear 2D seismic survey lines per year.”
“Specific data acquisition plans for 2D and 3D seismic surveys during 2019-2028 have not yet been determined and are dependent on industry demand,” it says. “The project area is 259,400 square km and encompasses the majority of the CNSOPB jurisdictional area originating approximately 40 km from the southern coastline of Nova Scotia to 350 km offshore.”
The project area excludes the Gully Marine Protected Area (MPA), St. Anns Bank MPA, Georges Bank Moratorium Area and is located a minimum distance of 40 km from critical North Atlantic right whale habitat in Roseway Basin. The proponents are proposing to conduct the seismic surveys between May 1 and Nov. 30 each year.
“The duration of the survey will depend on the acquisition methodology, survey size and design and is anticipated to take between one and five months,” the project description says. “The survey will run continuously, subject to weather and equipment delays.”
Before any activity can take place, MKI would have to make application for, and be granted, a Geophysical Work Authorization, says the CNSOPB in a press release.
“No such application has been submitted at this time. A project-specific environmental assessment (EA) would need to be submitted in support of such an application; the Project Description has been filed to initiate this process,” the release reads. “The CNSOPB has developed a scoping document (SD) outlining requirements and key topic areas for MKI to asses within their EA.”
The CNSOPB is inviting Indigenous groups and the public to submit written comments via email (comments@cnsopb.ns.ca) on the draft SD, which is available at: https://www.cnsopb.ns.ca/ sites/default/files/MKI_Scoping_Document_draft.pdf.
The deadline for comment is Oct. 29 at 4 p.m. Atlantic time.
All comments received will be considered public and will be posted in the CNSOPB EA Registry. The final SD will be posted on the CNSOPB EA Registry, once this process is complete.
The project description can be found online at https://www. cnsopb.ns.ca/sites/default/files/ pdfs/FA0164_MKI_NS_PD-3_ August_18-Final_jrcrevised26Sept2018.pdf