The Crown in right of Victoria is proposing to conduct the Pelican three-dimensional marine seismic survey (‘Pelican 3DMSS’) in the Gippsland Basin off eastern Victoria in Greenhouse Gas Assessment Permits VIC-GIP-002 (Commonwealth waters) and GGAP006386(V) (Victorian state waters). These permits are managed by the CarbonNet project (CarbonNet) within the Victorian Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (DEDJTR).
CarbonNet is investigating the potential for establishing a commercial scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) network in Gippsland. CarbonNet’s preferred contingent storage formation, Pelican, is located in the VIC-GIP-002 GHG and GGAP006386(V) assessment permits.
The purpose of the Pelican 3DMSS is to gain deeper knowledge of the subsurface geology of the area. This will help inform the potential for carbon dioxide (CO2) storage in the survey area.
The proposed MSS area is located between 1 and 13 km from the shoreline off the township of Golden Beach, midway along the Ninety Mile Beach between Loch Sport and Seaspray in south Gippsland. The proposed MSS area will cover approximately 166 km2, in water depths ranging from 15 m to 40 m. The survey will be conducted 24 hours a day except when sea states exceed operational parameters.
The Pelican 3DMSS acquisition is expected to take place over approximately 13 to 16 days (but up to 27 days depending on vessel selection), commencing between the start of November 2017 and the end of March 2018. The exact timing of the project is contingent on the receipt of environmental approvals, the contract of a suitable survey vessel and fair sea state conditions suitable for seismic survey acquisition. CarbonNet believes this survey ‘window of opportunity’ balances operational requirements with environmental and socio-economic constraints.
Based on feedback from stakeholder consultation, CarbonNet has committed to not undertaking the survey between the Christmas holiday period (24th December 2017 to the Australia Day long weekend, ending 28th January 2018) – due to the popularity of the coastline with holiday makers and a fishing competition over the Australia Day weekend. It will also endeavour to avoid survey acquisition during the Easter long weekend (30th March to 2nd April 2018) – due to the Golden Beach Surf Fishing Competition taking place between Seaspray and Loch Sport.
The Pelican 3DMSS will be similar to most surveys conducted in Australian waters (in terms of technical methods and procedures). No unique or unusual equipment or operations are proposed. The survey vessel will acquire the seismic data by towing two acoustic source arrays operating alternatively. The source volume will be a maximum of 2,800 cubic inches (cui) with an operating pressure of 2,000 pounds per square inch (psi). There will be between four and 10 hydrophone ‘streamer’ cables towed behind the vessel.