SAExploration continues 3-D permitting

SAExploration is continuing the permitting process for an ocean-bottom-node, marine 3-D seismic survey in the Beaufort Sea.

An incidental harassment authorization from the National Marine Fisheries Service for an SAExploration survey was public noticed in April, with comments due May 14, with the survey area described as a 300-square-mile area of nearshore waters of the Beaufort Sea between Harrison Bay and the Sagavanirktok River.

The current application, with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, requires an environmental assessment. BOEM is taking comments through June 15.

The survey would be in the Beaufort Sea outer continental shelf planning area, and would start July 1 and be completed by Oct. 30.

BOEM said the proposed survey is multi-year and multi-customer within an area of some 1,761 square miles, 756 square miles of state waters, 1,055 square miles of OCS waters and 852 square miles onshore. While the project runs from July 1 to Oct. 30 each year, BOEM said seismic data acquisition is proposed to take place between July 25 and Sept. 30.

- Petroleum News