Observations of the movements of humpback whales about an operating seismic survey vessel near Exmouth, Western Australia

1998 ◽  
Vol 103 (5) ◽  
pp. 2909-2909
Author(s):  
Robert D. McCauley ◽  
Micheline‐Nicole Jenner ◽  
Curt Jenner ◽  
Douglas H. Cato
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Seismic Survey ◽  
Humpback Whales

A case history of a cost effective 3D seismic survey over the Perth Basin, Western Australia

1989 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 229
Author(s):  
S.C. Stewart ◽  
B.J. Evans
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Cost Comparison ◽  
Seismic Survey ◽  
3D Seismic ◽  
Seismic Surveying ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Funded Research Project

As part of an industry funded research project into the application of the technique of LOFOLD3D land seismic surveying, a four fold three dimensional seismic survey was performed in the Perth Basin at Moora, Western Australia in July 1987. The volume covered an area of four kilometres by just under two kilometres, producing a total of 23,000 common midpoint traces. The objective was to collect and process the data in such a manner that a three dimensional structural interpretation would result, which would be the same as that resulting from a conventional three dimensional survey. A cost comparison indicates that a commercial LOFOLD3D survey would reduce the cost of performing a land 3D survey to an estimated 20% of the full fold equivalent, and the technique therefore offers potential for substantial savings if it is adopted on a commercial basis.

THE CHELONIA SEISMIC SURVEY: MINIMISING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ON A NATURE RESERVE

1992 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 429
Author(s):  
P.J. Long ◽  
V.L. Long
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Management ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Nature Reserve ◽  
Management Plan ◽  
Seismic Survey ◽  
Seismic Surveys ◽  
Innovative Methods ◽  
Environmental Management Plan ◽  
Bird Mortality

Onshore seismic surveys are traditionally associated with wide straight tracks, required for access by seismic vehicles and denuded of vegetation. The proposal by Lasmo Oil (Australia) Ltd and its co-venturers to perform a seismic survey on the Muiron Islands Nature Reserve was therefore received with some concern by residents of nearby Exmouth in Western Australia. The proponent undertook extensive surveys of the existing environment, however, and produced a strict environmental management plan which featured innovative methods to minimise impacts on both flora and fauna — in particular the extensive Wedge-tailed Shearwater colony on the islands. These methods were executed much as planned and caused negligible destruction of vegetation and no known bird mortality. The results indicate the management plan was highly successful and established a new benchmark for exploration in sensitive areas.This paper outlines the environmental management plan developed for the work and documents the results of the procedures employed. It concludes that such methods could be applied to similar projects elsewhere.

scholarly journals MARINE SEISMIC SURVEYS— A STUDY OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

2000 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 692 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.D. McCauley ◽  
J. Fewtrell ◽  
A.J. Duncan ◽  
C. Jenner ◽  
M-N. Jenner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sea Turtles ◽  
Seismic Source ◽  
Signal Propagation ◽  
Seismic Survey ◽  
Humpback Whales ◽  
Experimental Program ◽  
3D Seismic ◽  
Environmental Implications ◽  
Alarm Response ◽  
Air Gun

An experimental program was run by the Centre for Marine Science and Technology of Curtin University between March 1996 and October 1999 to study the environmental implications of offshore seismic survey noise. This work was initiated and sponsored by the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association. The program:characterised air gun signal measurements; modelled air gun array sources and horizontal air gun signal propagation;developed an 'exposure model' to predict the scale of potential biological effects for a given seismic survey over its duration;made observations of humpback whales traversing a 3D seismic survey;carried out experiments of approaching humpback whales with a single operating air gun;carried out trials with an air gun approaching a cage containing sea turtles, fishes or squid; andmodelled the response of fish hearing systems to airgun signals.The generalised response of migrating humpback whales to a 3D seismic vessel was to take some avoidance manoeuvre at >4 km then to allow the seismic vessel to pass no closer than 3 km. Humpback pods containing cows which were involved in resting behaviour in key habitat types, as opposed to migrating animals, were more sensitive and showed an avoidance response estimated at 7−12 km from a large seismic source. Male humpbacks were attracted to a single operating air gun due to what was believed the similarity of an air gun signal and a whale breaching event (leaping clear of the water and slamming back in). Based on the response of captive animals to an approaching single air gun and scaling these results, indicated sea turtles displayed a general 'alarm' response at an estimated 2 km range from an operating seismic vessel and behaviour indicative of avoidance estimated at 1 km. Similar trials with captive fishes showed a generic fish 'alarm' response of swimming faster, swimming to the bottom, tightening school structure, or all three, at an estimated 2−5 km from a seismic source. Modelling the fish ear predicted that at ranges

STRUCTURAL EVOLUTION OF THE CARNARVON TERRACE, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

1995 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 321 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.W. Baillie ◽  
E. Jacobson
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Long Island ◽  
Structural Evolution ◽  
Early Jurassic ◽  
Seismic Survey ◽  
Fault System ◽  
Late Triassic ◽  
Structural Configuration ◽  
Break Up

The under-explored Carnarvon Terrace is situated offshore of the Cape Range area in the Carnarvon Basin near the boundary of the Gascoyne and Exmouth Sub-basins. The stratigraphy of the area is controlled by only two wells (Pendock-1, Yardie East-1), but several onshore wells aid interpretation of seismic data.Understanding of the structural evolution of the region is facilitated by interpretation of a high-resolution non-exclusive seismic survey acquired by Geco-Prakla in 1993 (GPCTR-93 Survey).Three major tectonic stages are responsible for the structural configuration of the region:Late Palaeozoic extension in the Gascoyne Sub-basin;continental break-up between Australia and Greater India which took place along a major fracture marked by the Flinders-Long Island-Learmonth fault system active in Late Triassic and Early Jurassic times; andthe collision between Australia and Asia that commenced in Miocene times and is continuing to the present day. This event, marked by wrench and compressional structures, and often reactivation of older structures, is one of the most economically important in Australian geological history.From a regional prospectivity viewpoint at least three plays are worthy of further investigation.

THE YAMMADERRY, COWLE AND ROLLER DISCOVERIES IN THE BARROW SUB-BASIN, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

1991 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 32
Author(s):  
M.K. McLerie ◽  
A.M. Tait ◽  
M.J. Sayers
Keyword(s):  
Early Cretaceous ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Oil Fields ◽  
Seismic Survey ◽  
Seismic Profiles ◽  
Water Contact ◽  
Vertical Seismic Profiles ◽  
Fluid Saturation ◽  
Oil Water ◽  
Thickness Variable

The TP/3 Part I permit in the Barrow Sub-basin has been held by WAPET since 1952. Improvements in seismic quality and oilfield economics in the early 1980s resulted in the 1985 Saladin oil discovery, which subsequently led to the Yammaderry, Cowle and Roller discoveries.Yammaderry-1, drilled in 1988, encountered 16.5 m of gas capping a nine metre oil column. In 1989, Cowle-1 penetrated a 14 m oil column and tested at 1016 m3 (6390 BBL) of oil per day. Roller-1, drilled in 1990, encountered six metres of gas capping nine metres of oil and tested at 866 m3 (5450 BBL) of oil per day. Roller-2, deviated downdip to find the oil/water contact, proved an 18 m oil column, confirmed later by Roller-4.Early Cretaceous Barrow Group deltaic sandstones are the reservoirs for the Saladin, Yammaderry, Cowle and Roller oil fields. The Barrow Group is overlain by the Mar- die Greensand, the basal unit of the Muderong Shale which forms the regional seal. The transitional acoustic character of the Mardie Greensand and its thickness, variable fluid saturation and lithology, cause problems in picking a top Barrow Group event. Vertical Seismic Profiles acquired in the Yammaderry, Cowle and Roller wells have helped tie the wells to the seismic data.With Saladin on stream, and Yammaderry and Cowle under development, a major seismic survey was completed in late 1990 to delineate Roller and to detail prospects for future drilling in the revitalised TP / 3 Part 1 permit.

scholarly journals The behavioural response of migrating humpback whales to a full seismic airgun array

2017 ◽  
Vol 284 (1869) ◽  
pp. 20171901 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca A. Dunlop ◽  
Michael J. Noad ◽  
Robert D. McCauley ◽  
Eric Kniest ◽  
Robert Slade ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Respiration Rate ◽  
Biological Significance ◽  
Behavioural Response ◽  
Seismic Survey ◽  
Humpback Whales ◽  
Similar Magnitude ◽  
Normal Behaviour ◽  
Behavioural Responses ◽  
Behaviour Changes ◽  
Behavioural Repertoire

Despite concerns on the effects of noise from seismic survey airguns on marine organisms, there remains uncertainty as to the biological significance of any response. This study quantifies and interprets the response of migrating humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) to a 3130 in 3 (51.3l) commercial airgun array. We compare the behavioural responses to active trials (array operational; n = 34 whale groups), with responses to control trials (source vessel towing the array while silent; n = 33) and baseline studies of normal behaviour in the absence of the vessel ( n = 85). No abnormal behaviours were recorded during the trials. However, in response to the active seismic array and the controls , the whales displayed changes in behaviour. Changes in respiration rate were of a similar magnitude to changes in baseline groups being joined by other animals suggesting any change group energetics was within their behavioural repertoire. However, the reduced progression southwards in response to the active treatments, for some cohorts, was below typical migratory speeds. This response was more likely to occur within 4 km from the array at received levels over 135 dB re 1 µPa 2 .s.

scholarly journals Non-song Vocalizations of Humpback Whales in Western Australia

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Recalde-Salas ◽  
Christine Erbe ◽  
Chandra Salgado Kent ◽  
Miles Parsons
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Humpback Whales
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