Drilling application lapses
THE Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) application for exploratory drilling off the coast of Richards Bay, has lapsed.
The lapse comes amid unforeseen delays in the finalising of specialist studies for exploration drilling within block ER236.
As a result, Environmental Resources Management (ERM) could not finalise and release the draft EIA report for public comment, nor comply with the 106-day time frame in which to submit the final EIA report.
ERM said Eni South Africa intends to initiate a new EIA process for the project.
The final scoping report was submitted to PASA (Petroleum Agency of South Africa) in March and approved in April.
‘ERM is confident that the baseline environmental and social conditions described in the scoping report have not changed since the scoping report was compiled,’ said ERM.
In line with section 21(2)
(a) and (b) of the National Environmental Management Act’s EIA regulations, ERM is seeking to commence the new EIA process with the submission of an amended application form and the release of the draft EIA report for comment.
All interested and affected parties on ERM’s stakeholder database will receive notification when the new EIA process is initiated.
Eni South Africa and Sasol Africa hold exploration rights off South Africa’s east coast and are considering conducting an exploration drilling programme to assess the commercial viability of a hydrocarbon reservoir for future development.
The project requires Environmental Authorisation (EA) from the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) through the Petroleum Agency of South Africa.
Had the application process gone to plan, drilling would have commenced later this year at an expected drilling depth of 3 800 metres.
Eni is considering drilling up to four deep-water wells within a 1 840km squared area of interest, in water depths of between
1 500m and 2 100m.
The number of wells drilled, and their locations, would be determined by various factors, including seismic data analysis, geological targets and the presence of sea floor obstacles.