TGS applies for Chukchi seismic permit

Geophysical company TGS has applied to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management for a permit to conduct survey operations in the Chukchi Sea during this year’s Arctic open water season. The application says that the company plans to conduct 2-D seismic and gravity surveying operations between Aug. 1 and Oct. 31 using a survey vessel towing an air-gun sound-source array and a single streamer of seismic hydrophones. A scout vessel will monitor for marine mammals in the area of the survey operations.

A map of the survey area indicates that the surveying is planned over much of the northern U.S. Chukchi Sea, and extending north and west in what appear to be international waters.

TGS conducted survey operations in a similar region during the 2013 open water season but has not commented on the outcome of those operations. The company has said that it wants to acquire high-quality modern 2-D seismic data that companies can license as an information source for exploration decisions.

—Alan Bailey