Searcher Seismic Pty Ltd (Searcher) commenced a two-dimensional marine seismic survey (Bilby 2D Survey) in Commonwealth waters of the Offshore Roebuck Basin, Western Australia, in two phases, between March and June 2015 in accordance with the Environment Plan titled “Bilby 2D Multi-client Marine Seismic Survey 2015” (NOPSEMA Reference 2974) accepted by NOPSEMA on 5 March 2015.
 
Due to operational reasons, the Bilby 2D Survey was not completed within the stated timeframes in the Environment Plan, and therefore Searcher proposes to complete an additional phase of seismic acquisition, Phase 3 of the Bilby 2D Survey (Bilby 2D Phase 3 Survey), between April 2016 and June 2016, lasting for a total estimated duration of 35 days. The survey will be undertaken in a similar acquisition area presented for the Bilby 2D Survey, located approximately 95 kilometres (km) north of Port Hedland and approximately 160 km west south west of Broome.
 
The operational area (including boundary coordinates) within which Phase 3 of the Bilby 2D Survey will be acquired covers approximately 55,000 km2. The operational area incorporates the necessary space for seismic acquisition activities, vessel manoeuvring and ancillary activities (i.e. additional area for the purpose of line run-outs, source testing, soft starts and turns etc.).
 
The operational area is also sized to accommodate flexibility in the area of data acquisition. Searcher currently anticipates acquiring approximately 4,900 full fold line km of 2D seismic data during Phase 3 of the Bilby 2D survey.