Falklands : BHP BILLITON PETROLEUM AND RPS ENERGY PRESENT EIS
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 21.11.2009 (Article Archived on 26.12.2009)
BHP Billiton and RPS Energy presented findings and a brief overview of the Environmental Impact Statement they will be presenting to FIG in February/March for approval.
BHP BILLITON PETROLEUM AND RPS ENERGY PRESENT EIS
By J. Brock (FINN)
BHP Billiton and RPS Energy presented findings and a brief overview of the Environmental Impact Statement they will be presenting to FIG in February/March for approval. Mr Scott Sanders from BHP and Ms Fay Dobson from RPS went to the Chamber of Commerce Function Room where approximately 70 people looked at the wide ranging presentation and asked questions about the environmental impact of exploratory drilling.
The meeting began with a brief intro by Stephen Luxton. Mr Sanders gave the main body of the presentation with Ms Dobson offering advice and answering some questions.
Mr Sanders explained a bit about BHP Billiton and where the company did business and a brief overview of the various aspects of the company’s businesses. He went on to explain the company’s business and ethical policies such as high performance, safety and health and a sustainable development policy.
He then went on to say that either a semi submercible rig or a drill ship would be procured for exploring the Loligo and Toroa prospecte to the east and north-east of the Islands. Once drilled the wells will be plugged and abandoned in accordance with standard practice. Water based muds would be used in the exploration project.
Ocean assessment took place at various depths and on the seabed. Ocean currents were assessed and a complete chemical analysis of the seabed was carried out. Marine mammals in the area were monitored and the migfration and breeding patterns of seabirds and marine mammals also came under scrutiny.
BHP Billitor Petroleum has an oil spill contingency plan that is being crafted for Falklands use. Given the direction and strength s’ use. It is estimated that any oil spill, could reach the shoreline in 80 hours. However, Anton Wolfaardt, freshly back from assessing seabirds on Gough Island, said that forraging hot-spots could be well offshore and this needed to be looked at again.
The Military wanted to know when drilling would begin and Mr Sanders said that they had yet to identify a rig or drillship fit for purpose. There was also some work to do before exploratory drilling could begin. He said that it could not begin before end February, beginning March 2010. However, this depends on rig and/or drillship procurement.
Mr Sanders said that his company would be looking at the kind of rig procured for Desire and Rockhopper’s prospects and consider sharing costs with them if the rig is suitable.
Another question had to do with where the drilling musd would be dispelled. Mr Sanders said that they would be sprread over an area 7 KM in length at a coverage of2mm on the seabed. This should dissipate in due course – perhaps in 3 years.
There was concern that not enough was known about the seabed in the areas where the muds would be discharged. This would be assessed.
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