Polarcus Seismic Limited (Polarcus) proposes to undertake a three-dimensional marine seismic survey (Cygnus 3D MSS) in Commonwealth waters of the Vulcan Sub-basin (in the Western Bonaparte Basin), approximately 150 km off the Kimberley coast of northern Western Australia (WA) and 110 km from the Indonesian archipelago and East Timor.
 
The Cygnus 3D MSS is anticipated to take a total of approximately 12 months to complete with two phases of approximately six months each. The survey has the potential to start as early as October 2015.  Exact start and end dates and phasing will be communicated by Polarcus (in accordance with the Cygnus 3D MSS EP’s stakeholder consultation process) based on seasonal restrictions due to environmental sensitivities, availability of vessel and weather conditions; although it is currently proposed that the survey be completed no later than October 2017.
 
Seismic data acquisition will be undertaken by one Polarcus-owned and operated seismic vessel.  The total volume of the seismic source proposed for the survey is 3,090 cubic inches.  This source size was selected as the minimum size to achieve the technical objectives.  The seismic source will be towed at approximately 4.5 knots along pre-determined survey lines with 562 m spacing.  Three seismic sources will be discharged alternately (‘flip-flop-flap’ source configuration) at 12.5 m intervals (referred to as the shot point interval) along each survey line.  A total of 10 solid hydrophone streamers each measuring approximately 8,900 m in length will be towed at a depth of between approximately 15 m below the surface.