DOG issues seismic survey permit

Alaska’s Division of Oil and Gas has issued a permit to SAE Exploration Inc. to conduct a 3-D seismic survey onshore and offshore the eastern coastal region of the North Slope. Referred to as the Aklaq survey, the survey will be carried out this winter and will cover about 841 square miles of state land and nearshore waters, between the central North Slope and the western border of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Although predominantly onshore, the survey will extend onto sea ice on state waters of the Beaufort Sea.

Vibroseis equipment which imparts controlled vibrations into the subsurface will be used for seismic sound sources. Source lines will be oriented east to west at 550-foot intervals. Seismic sound receiver lines will run at right angles to the source lines and will be spaced at 600-foot intervals, the approval document says.

SAE says that it will stage equipment for the survey in Deadhorse and will truck equipment over the North Slope road system to appropriate onshore or sea-ice access points. Crews will mobilize from existing gravel pads, which will also support resupply. If aircraft are needed to transport fuel or other supplies, field crews will establish temporary landing strips on frozen lakes - an advanced scouting trip supported by a subsistence representative will identify suitable ice-grounded lakes that could be used for this purpose, the approval document says.

- ALAN BAILEY