mao-drl-pn-0003-003s.v1.0 ep summary pre-drill …...geophysical survey vessel, mv southern...

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MAO-DRL-PN-0003-003S

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2 of 18Document Title

Environment Plan Summary for performing a pre-drill geophysical site survey

CONTENTS

CONTENTS ........................................................................................................................................................2

1. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................3

2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION .....................................................................................................................6

3. EXISTING ENVIRONMENT ...................................................................................................................8 3.1. PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT .......................................................................................................................... 8 3.2. BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT ...................................................................................................................... 8

3.2.1. Protected marine species ........................................................................................................ 9 3.2.2. Commercial fisheries ............................................................................................................... 9

4. ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY .......................................................................................................10

5. RISK ASSESSMENT ...........................................................................................................................11

6. MANAGEMENT APPROACH .............................................................................................................15

7. EMERGENCY RESPONSE ARRANGEMENT ....................................................................................16

8. CONSULTATIONS ..............................................................................................................................17

9. CONTACT DETAILS ...........................................................................................................................18

TABLES

Table 1: Summary of Eupheme-1 pre-drill site surveys ................................................................................ 6 Table 2: Environmental effects identification and risk assessment ............................................................ 12

FIGURES

Figure 1: Location Map ................................................................................................................................... 4 Figure 2: Environmental Features .................................................................................................................. 5

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1. INTRODUCTION

This document is a summary of an Environmental Plan (EP) prepared for Murphy Australia Oil Pty Ltd (herein after referred to as MAO), the permit holder of the WA-423-P permit, to address the performance of a pre-drilling geophysical site survey at the Eupheme-1 location (Figure 1-1).

Permit Area WA-423-P is located within the southern Browse Basin, with its southern boundary approximately 200 km north of Broome, off the Kimberley coast of Western Australia, as shown in Figure 1-2.

The survey is expected to be carried out during May/June 2012, pending survey vessel availability. The survey is expected to take approximately three days and will acquire data over a 3 km square centred on the proposed Eupheme-1 well location in 62 m water depth.

The EP was prepared to:

Identify the applicable regulatory requirements pertaining to environmental management of the pre-drill survey program associated with the proposed Eupheme-1 exploration well.

Describe the surrounding environment and activities occurring within the vicinity of the Permit Area.

Identify and assess the potential environmental risks associated with the proposed pre-drill survey activities for planned and unplanned events.

Document the environmental performance objectives, targets and key performance indicators (KPIs) to minimise environmental effects of the pre-drill survey program.

Document environmental management strategies that are to be implemented to manage the environmental effects of the pre-drill survey program.

The Murphy Oil Corporation Worldwide Environmental, Health and Safety Policy applies directly in Australia and the MAO Australia Country manager is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the policy for MAO activities.

Environmental management of the survey will be implemented through policies and procedures that are framed and implemented within the MAO Drilling Management System and MAO Drilling Health, Safety and Environment Management Standard, which is the governing system for the drilling program activities, including working with contractors.

Personnel engaged in the survey program will operate under the Fugro Survey (operator of the geophysical survey vessel, MV Southern Supporter) management system and vessel and project specific Health, Safety and Environmental Management Plan while on-board the site survey vessel. These systems include elements such as environmental management, general shipboard management and procedures for the bridge, engine room, deck, cargo and use of geophysical survey equipment.

If the proposed site survey program’s activities or schedule were to change from the concept described within this EP to the extent that new significant environmental impacts could occur, MAO will consult with NOPSEMA to ensure that any approvals already received are still relevant, or that the revised program concept is offered back to the regulators for further assessment.

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Figure 1: Location Map

Figure 2: Environmental Features

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2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The pre-drilling geophysical site survey is associated with the proposed exploration well Eupheme-1, located within exploration permit WA-423-P in the southern Browse Basin. The site survey is constrained within a 3 km x 3 km area centred upon the proposed drilling location. Table 2-1 summarises the relevant details of the proposed site survey program.

Table 1: Summary of Eupheme-1 pre-drill site surveys

Details Eupheme-1 Pre-Drill Survey

Location WA-423-P

Browse Basin

Geographic coordinates

(centre of activity)

Latitude: 15º 15’ 4.45” S

Longitude: 121º 56’ 14.09” E

Water depth 62 m

Type of activity Bathymetric survey

Geophysical survey

Sediment sampling (drop core or grab)

Survey Duration (approx.)

Timing

3 days

2nd qtr 2012

The geophysical survey data will be acquired from a dedicated geophysical/hydrographic survey vessel, the Fugro operated MV Southern Supporter.

The principal objective of this survey is to acquire sufficient high quality data to allow detection of any seabed impediments or possible hazards (natural or man-made) at the seabed or in the shallow sub-surface to safely position and drill the proposed Eupheme-1 exploration well.

To achieve this objective, the geophysical site survey will acquire and process data to provide the following:

i. Bathymetry: Accurate bathymetry (water depth measurements) will be obtained via the acquisition of echo-sounder and mutlibeam echo-sounder data in conjunction with speed of sound in water measurements;

ii. Seabed topography: Multibeam bathymetry data will be used to generate a topographic map over the survey area outlining areas of differing water depth;

iii. Seabed heterogeneity:

a. Sidescan sonar data will be used to determine areas of the seabed with contrasting acoustic properties that relate to different seabed sediment composition, sedimentary features and rock outcrops.

b. Such features often are associated with changes in seabed depth and so the Multibeam-derived topographic map will be used to augment interpretation;

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iv. Seabed/shallow sub-surface mechanical properties: Sediment samples will be acquired via drop core or grab-samples to ‘ground-truth’ the various seabed sediment types identified by the side-scan sonar to understand the nature of contrasting seabed types;

v. Seabed obstruction/contact map: Sidescan sonar will be used to locate any significant seabed anomaly present within the survey area such as geological features or man-made debris, for future avoidance by the jack-up leg locations etc. associated with the proposed Eupheme-1 exploration well;

vi. Shallow subsurface geology: Sub-bottom profiling systems will be used to identify any subsurface geological feature that may provide impediments to anchoring and shallow drilling of the proposed Eupheme-1 exploration well. Maps will be created to chart the location of these features;

vii. Deeper subsurface geology: UHR 2D system will be used to provide information at a deeper level than the sub-bottom profiling systems to investigate potential drilling hazards deeper in the section. Of particular interest are the identification and avoidance of any high-amplitude seismic anomalies that may represent shallow over-pressured gas. Maps will be created to chart the location of any such features.

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3. EXISTING ENVIRONMENT

3.1. PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

The climate of the region is tropical monsoonal with two distinct seasons: winter from April to September, and summer from November to March, with a brief transition season in April and September-October. The region is also influenced by a complex system of ocean currents that vary significantly in behaviour between seasons and between years. The Indonesian Throughflow (ITF) current dominates the North-West Marine Region bringing warm tropical waters from the western Pacific and Indian oceans into Australian areas of the Timor Sea.

The WA-423-P Permit Area is located on the continental shelf, approximately midway between Broome and Scott Reef. The continental shelf includes topographic features such as the Rowley Shoals and Adele Island, as well as broad areas of shelfal flat. In general, the continental shelf is a flat featureless plain that dips gently northward toward the edge of the shelf, but scattered throughout the area are sea mounts, shoals and occasional islands that support a diverse flora and fauna.

Only one named geomorphic structure, Lynher Bank, has been identified within the permit area. This feature rises less than 10 m above the surrounding seabed and its surveyed depth is 28 m below chart datum.

3.2. BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT

Biologically, the region is characterised by high species diversity and is important to globally-significant populations of internationally-threatened species such as the humpback whale, flatback turtle and the whale shark.

The most ecologically productive offshore areas are those associated with coral reefs and islands. The closest to the Eupheme-1 location are: Adele Island, some 100 km to the west-south-west; and Scott Reef, which lies 100 km to the north.

Across the broad shelfal plains, the area in which the survey will take place, benthic abundance and diversity is low in the predominantly soft bottom communities. Benthic epifauna (animals living on the seabed) such as sponges, soft corals, echinoderms and crustaceans are sparsely distributed and the predominant infauna (animals living within seafloor sediments) are burrowing worms (polychaetes) and crustaceans (prawns, shrimp, crabs, etc.).

The open waters support a variety of shark and pelagic finfish species, including a number of species of commercial and recreational game-fishing importance (e.g. tuna, mackerel and swordfish).

Foraging habitat for whale sharks has been identified across a broad area of the Kimberley coast and extending as far south as Ningaloo, where high density prey occur. The area of lower density foraging includes most of Permit Area WA-423-P and it is likely also that some individuals may migrate through the permit area en route to and from Ningaloo Reef.

Marine turtle species that may occur in the area are: hawksbill, green turtle, leatherback, loggerhead, olive ridley and flatback turtles.

Humpback whales are known to migrate between the Antarctic waters and the Kimberley region of WA. Humpback whales complete the northern migration in the Camden Sound area of the West Kimberley approximately 200 km to the east of the Eupheme-1 location. The peak of the northerly migration occurs around mid-June to late July, while the southerly return migration peaks around late August to early September. The peak southward migration of cow and calf pairs in the Browse

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Basin region is likely to occur between late August and September. The migratory whale route, where most whales are observed, occurs in waters passing Frost and Tasmanian shoals before crossing King George Sound and continuing south along the coast between Cape Leveque and Pender Bay. The migratory path then diverges west around Lacepede Island before continuing the southward migration. The same route is followed in this region for the northward migration (Figure 1-2).

3.2.1. Protected marine species

Ten listed threatened species (including the whale shark, marine turtles and humpback whale described above) were identified from a search of the EPBC Act Protected Matters Database within a 100 km by 100 km block (plus 10 km buffer) with the Eupheme-1 well site at its centre.

The search of the EPBC Protected Matters database also returned a list of 20 migratory species that may pass through the Permit Area. Nine of these migratory species are also identified as threatened species.

While any of the threatened and migratory species may occasionally be observed in the permit area, they are likely to be transient through the area as there are no known breeding or roosting or specific feeding habitats for these species within the Permit Area. Accordingly it is considered highly unlikely that the area is a habitat critical to the survival of any listed species.

3.2.2. Commercial fisheries

There are a number of commercial fisheries however not all of these are currently active in the Eupheme-1 area.

The principal commercial fishing activity in the Kimberley offshore area (inshore of the 200 m isobath) principally comprises line and trap fishing for demersal scalefish and targeting of pelagic species by longline. Demersal fishing activity is concentrated around reefs and broken ground and is unlikely to be significant around the Eupheme-1 location.

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4. ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY

The principal risk associated with hydrocarbon exploration activities is perceived as an oil spill. However, the potential for a hydrocarbon spill to occur during the pre-drill survey program is small as a result of:

the short (3 day) duration of the survey

the limited amount of fuel carried, i.e. a maximum of 400 m3 (fuel is only carried for the use of the survey vessel)

absence of any refuelling activity at sea

depth of water (~62 m) in the survey area which eliminates any risk of grounding

conduct of the survey by a single vessel which limits the potential for loss of fuel due to collision.

For the purpose of risk assessment, two potential hydrocarbon spill scenarios considered as relevant to the pre-drill survey program:

a surface spill of 10 m3 of marine diesel oil

a surface spill of 100 m3 of marine diesel oil.

Simulations of oil weathering and random trajectories of oil slicks were based on local environmental conditions (winds, ocean currents, water salinity and temperature) and the chemical and physical characteristics of the spilled hydrocarbons.

The modelling results for both scenarios indicate that there is a low probability for slicks to be transported beyond a 50 km radius of the well location. 40% to 45% of the diesel would evaporate within the first 20 to 24 hours after the spill, while the rest of the spilled diesel would disperse within two days after the spill. The threat to sensitive habitats is very low as there are no sensitive habitats identified within this 50 km radius, the closest such resources being Scott Reef and Adele Island which are both located some 100 km from the Eupheme-1 location.

The risk to migrating marine fauna is also considered low. Both cetaceans and marine reptiles may be present in this area posing risks to some individuals. However, there is no identified feeding or breeding areas for these species located in the vicinity of the survey area. The survey will also be conducted outside of the peak northward and southward humpback whale migration periods and the survey location is also distant from the identified humpback whale migration route (both northward and southward).

The MV Southern Supporter has an endorsed Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan (IMO No. 8518364, approved by the Lloyds Register on behalf of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and dated 10 May 2011).

In the event of a spill, given the remote location of Eupheme-1, the preferred strategy may be to allow small spills to disperse and evaporate naturally. Initial containment will be undertaken by the survey vessel with subsequent actions determined in consultation with the regulatory authorities under the National Plan to Combat Pollution of the Sea by Oil (NATPLAN) having regard to the potential impacts posed by the spill.

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5. RISK ASSESSMENT

The identified hazardous events, associated environmental effects, consequence, frequency, and risk score are summarised in Table 5-1. This table also identifies the specific environmental management strategies that have been developed to manage the key environmental risks.

Due to the low biological and socio-economic sensitivity of the well site and immediately adjacent area, the environmental impacts from routine operations associated with the proposed pre-drill geophysical site survey program is anticipated to be negligible.

No chemical or hazardous wastes are planned to be discharged to the ocean. Potential disturbance and impacts on commercial fishing operations, recreational vessels and commercial shipping transiting the area during the time of the survey will be managed through adherence to standard maritime safety procedures and notification requirements.

The results of spill trajectory modelling for the proposed drilling period also indicate that, under most modelled conditions, the hydrocarbons from a spill of up to 100 m3 of diesel fuel will disperse and evaporate within a 50 km radius of the well site.

Performance criteria and objectives for the project are therefore related to compliance with environmental management procedures and OPGGS Regulations 2009, APPEA’s Code of Environmental Practice and MARPOL agreements.

The performance objectives, standards and measurement criteria include emission levels and defined waste management procedures. It is anticipated that, if these performance criteria are met, no significant environmental impacts will result from the proposed pre-drill geophysical site survey program.

At the end of the pre-drill site survey program, MAO will compile a summary report for submission to NOPSEMA which will report actual environmental management performance with reference to the Environmental Management Strategy objectives and targets.

The relevant Regulator (e.g. NOPSEMA or AMSA) will be notified in the event of a reportable or recordable incident as appropriate.

Table 2: Environmental effects identification and risk assessment

Effect no.

Program activity Environmentally hazardous event

Potential environmental effect

Controls and mitigation Consequence Frequency Residual

risk

A1 Normal Operations – Fuel consumption by geophysical survey vessel

Exhaust gas emissions from main engines and power generation on survey vessels

Greenhouse and ecotoxic (NOX, SOx, HCs and CO) gas emissions. Release of particulate matter.

Maintenance of equipment to sustain efficient fuel burning.

Negligible Will occur Low

M1 Abnormal event – Hydrocarbon spills

Discharge of fuel from survey vessel

Marine pollution if fuel/oil is lost to sea.

Impact on marine species (including oiling and ingestion).

Routine integrity checking of all fuel lines, couplings and seals.

NOTE: Refuelling at sea is not required for this activity.

Survey will be conducted in 62 m of water, presenting no risk of grounding.

Notice to Mariners and regular alerts will be issued, use of navigation aids to reduce risk of collision.

Minor to Significant

(depending on volume, total loss of fuel is not considered a credible scenario in the context of this activity)

Unlikely

(for a Moderate volume of fuel) - to

Rare

(for spill of a Significant volume of fuel)

Low – Moderate


Discharge of engine oil from survey vessel

Marine pollution if oil is lost to sea.

Impact on marine species (including oiling and ingestion).

Any machinery space bilge water to be discharged overboard is routed to the MARPOL approved oily water separator before disposal.

Negligible Possible Low


Loss of hydraulic fluid from lifting, winching equipment

Marine pollution with hydraulic fluid if spill reaches sea. Likely to involve small volumes only.

Routine integrity checking of all hydraulic hoses, couplings and seals.

Onboard spill kits.


M4 Abnormal event –Chemical spills

Onboard spillage of chemicals

Marine pollution if spill reaches sea. Likely to involve small volumes only.

All chemical stored in secured containers.

Containment bunds in place onboard vessel, as appropriate.

Minor Unlikely Low

M5 Deck Wash and Oily Wastes

Discharge of oils, lubricants and detergents to sea

Marine pollution with oil, lubricant and detergents. Likely to involve small volumes only

Designated storage zones. Use of biodegradable detergent for deck wash.

Onboard spill kits.

Negligible Unlikely Low

Effect no.




risk

W1 Normal – Operation of geophysical survey vessel

Inappropriate handling and disposal of sewage and grey water

Marine pollution from raw sewage waste, increased biological oxygen demand (BOD) as a result of organic material.

All sewage waste to be treated in the platform and vessel’s sewage treatment facilities, according to applicable standards, prior to discharge.

Waste logs shall be maintained.

Minor Unlikely Low

W2 Normal – Operation of geophysical survey vessel

Inappropriate handling and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous solid and other liquid waste.

Incorrect identification and/ or segregation of waste may lead to inappropriate waste handling and disposal practices. Consequences may include contamination of the atmosphere, soil and/ or water resources, either on location or at the waste disposal facility.

Hazardous wastes will be segregated from other wastes for onshore recycling or disposal.

Recyclable and non-hazardous wastes will be segregated from other wastes and returned to shore for reuse, recycling or disposal.

Waste logs shall be maintained.

Minor Unlikely Low

P1 Abnormal – dropped objects and disturbance of the seabed by the towed acoustic sensor (tow-fish) during geophysical acquisition activities

Environmental impact on the seabed from dropped objects and disturbance by the tow-fish

Physical damage to seabed benthic communities

Secure all heavy or unstable objects on deck or within compartments and maintain rigorous control over tow-fish depth to prevent contact with the seabed.

Negligible Unlikely Low

P2 Normal – geophysical survey activities

Collision of vessel with marine fauna, or their disturbance by marine noise from vessel engines and equipment.

Potential injury or mortality of wildlife due to physical impact.

Potential disturbance to local marine fauna.

Behavioural changes by migrating cetaceans and turtles.

Marine fauna watch maintained at all times when vessel is under way.

Vessel movement corridors not believed to traverse significant feeding, breeding or resting areas for other protected marine species (cetaceans, turtles, etc.).

Protected species are able to move away from slow moving survey vessel.

Mortality

Significant

Rare

Moderate

Disturbance

Minor

Unlikely

Low

Effect no.




risk

P3 Normal – geophysical survey vessel activities

Vessel lighting during night-time program attracting fauna to light.

May result in a temporary local concentration of marine fauna (e.g. fish, seabirds) that are attracted to the night lights on the vessel/platform.

Light expected to have negligible impact on breeding, nesting or migration.

Light is a safety and navigational requirement for night operations. Any marine fauna attracted to the light are expected to disperse during daylight hours. Program is of short duration (3 days) and any impacts will be temporary and transient.

Site survey program is sufficiently distant (>50 km) from known turtle nesting sites for there to be negligible risk of impact upon nesting turtles or hatchlings.

Negligible

Will occur Low

S1 Normal – bathymetric and geophysical survey activities

Interference with normal operations of commercial fishing vessels, shipping, Navy and Customs vessels and other marine users.

Temporary (3 day) navigation hazard

Watch (visual, radio and radar) maintained at all times that survey vessel is under way. Navigation Aids (lights, flags, radar, etc.) on survey vessel.

Short duration program (3 days).


S2 Abnormal – Introduced species

Transport of marine pest species into Australian waters.

Elimination of a commercially important native Australian marine species through competition with introduced pest species.

Vessel to conform to Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) guidelines relating to ballast water exchange and hull fouling.

Moderate Rare Low

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6. MANAGEMENT APPROACH

In addition to the controls specified in the risk assessment table, a series of management strategies has been established for ensuring all identified risks are reduced to as low as reasonably practicable. The strategies detail applicable environmental objectives, performance standards and measurement criteria. The criteria enable evaluation of whether objectives have been achieved and provide the basis for ongoing performance review and improvements.

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7. EMERGENCY RESPONSE ARRANGEMENT

A project-specific Emergency Response Plan (ERP) has been prepared by Fugro for use on the project as an adjunct to the Southern Supporter HSE Plan. This document supplements the vessel’s documentation, highlighting specific actions and communications relevant to the occurrence of an emergency at the offshore work site.

The MV Southern Supporter has an endorsed Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan (IMO No. 8518364, approved by the Lloyds Register on behalf of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and dated 10 May 2011).

The purpose of the SOPEP is to provide guidance to the Master and Officers on board the ship with respect to the steps to be taken when a pollution accident has occurred or is likely to occur. The endorsed SOPEP addresses the operations of the vessel, including the activities to be undertaken as part of the pre-drill geophysical survey.

In the event of an oil spill initial containment will be undertaken by the survey vessel with subsequent actions determined in consultation with the regulatory authorities under the National Plan to Combat Pollution of the Sea by Oil (NATPLAN) having regard to the potential impacts posed by the spill.

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8. CONSULTATIONS

Organisations selected for consultation were based on consideration by HSE and operational personnel within MAO of the following (and in accordance with Regulation 11A of the OPGGS (Environment) Regulations 2009):

Consideration of the relevant Department of the responsible State Minister

The likely level of interest or concern in the activity

The extent to which the person might be impacted by the activity

Anyone else considered relevant.

The following organisations were contacted by MAO during the preparation of this environment plan:

WA Department of Mines and Petroleum

WA Department of Fisheries

WA Fishing Industries Council.

No significant disturbance to fishing activity is anticipated given the location and duration (2-3 days) of the survey activity and no objections were raised by the stakeholders consulted.

MAO will continue to review the EP for suitability as any new information from the ongoing consultation process comes to light.

Marine operators that may potentially wish to operate in or traverse the area of the survey will be notified in advance of the survey activity through standard maritime safety procedures and notification requirements (Notices to Mariners).

Similarly, the survey managers will review all notifications to confirm that there are no planned activities in the area that may conflict with the survey.

During all operations where survey equipment is towed, regular broadcasts will be made by the MV Southern Supporter, advising all vessels of the need to remain clear of the survey operations.

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9. CONTACT DETAILS

Murphy Australia’s nominated contact:

Derrick O’Keeffe Country Manager – Australia Murphy Australia Oil Pty Ltd Level 1 London House 216 St George’s Terrace Perth WA 6000 Tel: +61 8 6313 5250 Fax: +61 8 6313 5201 Email: [email protected]

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