i >
TRANSCRIPT
879
' I > In Reply Refer j r 0 t FO-2-1 '
Polto Oil Company
E^Sl**'* H r * J # f f r * y *• Hughes Allan Col ter . Suite 1800
SOO Dallas Street Horston, Texas 77002 Stat)
Oeceaioer 31, 1987
Ref ©renee Is rcade to your I n i t i a l P?*„ ~s * « Report receive* 0ece-£^ 21 IOSJ ^ o r a t i o n and Environmental OCS-G 5603, Sloe* 30. 1967. proposed for Vei l A . *" T h U f > l a n E l u d e s the ac t i v i t i es
In accordance w m 30 CFR 250 54 r *w , . n , « dated January ». 1979, thU p i i ^ T h e ^ ^ f , 1 9 7 9 ' lattar <s no* being considered for e£prW. * "•'•"Meed to be cosy!*** M
Your plan control nuaber fs w-9*7o ^
Sincerely yours,
(Orlf. ?:d.) A. Dcnald Giroir
<n &• J . Souryeoft ~** J * 1 * * ' S^orv lsor
Me ld Operations
b c c : ^ g - ^ * * r
( 0 ! s - 3 ; ^ ROOM) C _ 3 1*1 te I M * copy „ , t h . p l a n „ d F r ( p ( j n L I C
December 18, 1987
• • N > ^ R,£"C£IV,:D v
MLLD %. OPERAT I Of-. ^ ,
U.S. Department o f the I n t e r i o r Minerals Management Service 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard Nev Orleans, Louis iana 70123-2394
At ten t ion : Mr. Danie l Bourgeois Regional Supervisor O f f i c e o f F i e l d Operations
RE: I n i t i a l Plan o f Explorat ion OCS-G 5693, Block 68 Main Pass Area Offshore, Louis iana and M i s s i s s i p p i
Gentlemen:
Enclosed r • ase f i n d eleven (11) copies of the I n i t i a l Plan of Explora t ion w i t h associated Environmental Report, A i r Quali ty Review and Coastal Zone Consistency Statement f o r Lease OCS-G 5693, Main Pass Art a, Block F8. Five (5) copies o f the sub jec t reports are f o r "Propr ie tary" in lo rma t io . purposes and six (6) copies contain "Public I n f o r m a t i o n " ; a l l copies being marked accordingly.
Excluded from the Publ ic In format ion copies are c e r t a i n geologic discussions, depth of the w e l l and s t ruc ture map.
Pelto Oil Company proposes d r i l l i n g operat ions to commence by January iY, 1988. Should f u r t h e r in format ion be requi red , please contact me at (713) 651-1800.
/7
endent
JRH:JD:bna enclosures
"Pyiie y©riiiation" PflW Oil COMPANY • /'/••< AiHi Ct'tiW Sn.!' tHOO • MO .'>.,':ts Street Houston few* 77001' • 713BM 180
i
J
i INITIAL PLAN OF EXPLORATION NAIN PASS AREA, BLOCK 68
OCS-G 5693
Pel+ojliil Company (Pelto), as Operator of the subject block, submits thi s proposed I n i t i a l Plan of Exploration in accordanca with the regulations contdined within T i t l e 30 CFR 250.34 as follows:
1. Schedule of.Operations
In order to delineate the hydrocarbon potential and limitations of t h i s block, Pelto proposes to d r i l l one (1) well into Main Pass Area, Block 68. This well w i l l be d r i l l e d from a surface location in State Lease 10745, Main Pass 68.
The well w i l l be spudded on or about January 1, 1987, subject to the approval of t h i s Plan of Exploration and issuance of the required Permit to D r i l l . The well should take approximately 30 days to d r i l l and complete.
I t should be emphasized that th i s schedule i s tentative in the meaning of 30 CFR 250. 34-1(a). Additional exploratory d r i l l i n g must be predicated upon the need to further define structures and/or reservoir limitations. In addition to the d r i i l i n g of the well, other a c t i v i t i e s which may be conducted under t h i s Plan would be the setting of a well protector structure, a seafloor template, a velocity survey in a wellbore, and s o i l borings.
Transportation from the existing onshore f a c i l i t i e s i n Venice, Louisiana, to the block v i l l involve the use of one supply boat making seven (7) t r i p s per veek, and one cr^v boat making seven (7) t r i p s per veek.
2. D r i l l i n g Equipment
The proposed well w i l l be d r i l l e d with a jack-up d r i l l i n g r i g similar to the Teledyne 17. A typical equipment l i s t l s enclosed herewith as Attachment I .
Safety features w i l l Include well control and blowout prevention equipment as described in OCS Order No. 2. The appropriate l i f e r a f t s , l i f e jackets, ring buoys, etc. ad prescribed by the U.S. Coast Guard v i l l be maintained on the f a c i l i t y at a l l times.
3. Locst lon_of_Well '
' The approximate loca t ion of the v e i l propoaed l n t h i s Plon as v e i l ac the proposed depth, are shovn on the accompanying Locat ion Pla t , enclosed herewith as Attachment I I , and Bre described as f o l l o v s :
"A- SL: 980' FNL & 5009' FEL of Hain Pass 68 (SL 10745)
Water depth i n Block 68 iB approximately 25 f e e t .
4. Geological/Geophysical Informat ion
A s t ruc ture map vhich i l l u s t r a t e s Pe l to ' s current i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of Main Pass 68 i s enclosed he rev i th as Attachment I I I .
A Shallov D r i l l i n g Hazards Report i s being submitted under separate cover.
5. Archaeological Information
An Archaeological Survey vas not required as Well A v i l l be d r i l l e d from a surface l o c a t i o n i n SL 10745, Hain Pass 68.
6. 0nshore__Faci l i t l e s
The service base f o r t h i s area v i l l be Venice, Louis iana. This v i l l be an es tabl i shed f a c i l i t y that v i l l requi re no m o d i f i c a t i o n s .
7. Pol l u t ion _Pr even tlor._ Inf ormation
Po l lu t ion prevent ion con t ro l measures v i l l be i n accordance v i t h OCS Order No. 7. Pel to has on f i l e v i t h the HHS an O i l S p i l l Contingency Plan f o r the Gulf of Hexico. I n the event of a s p i l l , t h i s Plan v i l l be actuated. Pelto i s a member of Clean Gulf Associates vhich provides s p i l l containment equipment and clean-up equipment at s i x H a l l i burton Serv ice Bases on the Gulf Coast: Galveston and Rockport i n Texas; Grand I s l e , Venice, Cameron, and In t racoas ta l C i ty i n Louisiana. I f a Ep] 11 should occur from the proposed operations, the equipment located at Venice, Louisiana vould be u t i l i z e d f i ^ s t , v i t h a d d i t i o n a l equi-rr.ent moved in f rom other bases i f necessary. Fast boat response v i t h o i i boom, skimmerB, pump and storage tanks vould requ i re approximately 4 vours, i n c l u d i n g pieparation timf-. A heavy equipment system response vould r equ i r e approximately ?4 hours, inc lud ing Bix hours preparat ion 1 in..'.
I>i 111 r u t t i n g r j ami exresr; rti 11 l i n g f l u i d ? v i l l ho disposed of i n H-'iudHii.T w i t h applicable r»r,v » ronmpnt al r rgu J nt lr»nn. The d i i l l l n y f l u i d
components and additives to be used are enclosed herevith as Attachment <V.
Enclosed! are copies of the fpllovlng information:
ATTACHMENT JO. i
I Rig Information I I Location Plats <Well & Vicinity) I I I Structure Hap IV List of Hud Components and Additives
Alec enclosed are the associated Environmental Report, Air Quality Reviev and Coastal Zone Consistency Statements for Louisiana and Mississippi.
30" - 5000 WP Annular Preventer
6" - 2000f* WP Manual Gate Valve
30" x 1" W.T. Drive Pipe
6" - 2000/' WP hydraulic operated remote controlled gate valve
6" air-opera remote contn
j butterfly va!
6" Tee
6" air-open remote cont: butterfly v«
Typical Diverter Hook-up
2" r 10,0000 • Hydraulic Operated
Gate Valvd
2" - 10,0000 Manual Gate Valve
13-5/8" - 5,0000 WP Hydril "GK"
> 1 " - 10,
Can Ty ^ "U" Doub
000/' WP Cameron
Double w/Pipe Rams top & Blind Rams bottom
4" - 10,0000 Hydraulic Operated Gate Valve
4" - 10,0000 Manual Gate Valve
3-5/8" - 10,0000 WP — Cameron Type "IT Single v/ Pipe Rams
t
S3 -T3
N r
Pelto Oil Company
Main Pass 68 VICINITY MAP
" 3
• above p roposed
rrecL
Reg. Professional E*nglneet No. 60962
Slate of T e x a a
Pelto O i l C o m p a n y
P E L T O OIL COMPANY
O C S - G - 6 6 9 3 > 0 . A
PERMIT PLAT MAIN P A 8 3 A R E A
S C A l f I " * 7000 17/18/8?
I.
DRILLING HUD COMPONENTS
COMMON CHEMICAL OR CHEMICAL • TRADE NAHE_ DESCRIPTION OF MATERIAL
Aluminum Stearate •AXTAFLO-S" Barite Calclua Carbonate Calcium C h l c r d i e Calcium Oxide Calcium S u l f a t e Carboxyaethyl Cel lu loae Caustic Potash Caustic Soda Chrome L i g n i t e Chrome Lignosul fona te D r i l l i n g Detergent •E-Pal" Ferrochrome Lignosulfonate Gel
Gypsum Ligni te Lignosulfonate •Mud Sweep" •MOR-REX" "Shale-Trol" Sapp Soda Ash Sodiun Bicarbonate Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose Sodium Chlor ide Sodium Chromate Starch •TX-9010-"TORO-Trim" "Black Mag ic " "Black Magic Supermix* Dieael
"Jelf lake" MICA ~FIpe-Lax" "Wbll-Nut" Wood Fibeie
Aluminum Stearate Nonionic Surfactant. Barium S u l f a t e (BaSo4) Aragonlte (CaCo3). H y d r o p h l l l t e (CaC12) Lime (Quick) Anhydri te (CaS04) Carboxymethyl Cel lu lose Potassium Hydrate Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) Chrome L i g n i t e Chrome Lignosul fonate Soap
Non-toxic, biodegradable defoBmer Derived f rom wood pulp Sodium mon tmor i l l on i t e , bentonl te , a t t a p u l g l t e CaSo4.2H20 L i g n i t e Lignosulfonate Cement Pre-f lueh Hydroloyzed Cereal so l id Organo-aluminum complex Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate Sodium Carbonate NaHC03 Sodium Carboxymethyl Cel lu lose NaCI NaCr04. 10H20 Corn Starch Biodegradable d r i l l i n g l u b r i c a n t Biodegradable d r i l l i n g l u b r i c a n t Oi l base mud cone. Sacked concentrated o i l base mud Used t o mix c e r t a i n l o s s - c i r c u l a t i o n p i l l s P l a s t i c f o i l , shredded cellophane L o s s - c i r c u l a t i o n mater ia l Surfactant mixed wi th d iese l Ground walnut she l l s lose c i r c u l a t i o n mater ia l
PROJECTED AIR EMISSION SCHEDULE FOR EXPLORATION PROJECT
GENERAL INFORMATION
Location of F a c i l i t y :
Distance O f f s h c r e : Name of R i g / P l a t f o r m : Operator:
Contact Person: T o t a l Well Footage to be D r i l l e d Date D r i l l i n g W i l l Begin:
Hain Pass'66 OCS-G 5693 6 miles Jackup Pel to O i l Company 1800 One A l l e n Center Houston, Texas 77002 Hr. J e f f r e y R. Hughes 10,324' January 7, 1968
MAJOR SOURCE (OFFSHORE)
Power uBed aboard d r i l l i n g vesse l ; approxi - ,te foo ta r . l i e d 1 0 , J . ' 4 ' »
Projected Emissions Emitted ( l b s / d a y » * ) t o n s / y e a r
Substancr? 1988
CO (136-1 2.044 SO (43) .650
2 NOx (640) 9.601 VOC (52) .774 TSP (45) .681
« Based on 60 h p h r / f t . from Table 4-3, Oi l and Gas Development and Product i
«« Emission f a c t o r s from Table 3 . 3 . 3 - 1 , Emission Fac to r s : , EPA Report AP-42,
"Atmospheric Emissions from Offshore n \ EPA No. 450/3-77-026, June, 1977.
"Compilation of A i r Po l lu t an t August, 1977.
Projected Air Emissions PeJ co Oil Company Main Pass. 66/
Page 2
MINOR SOURCES (OFFSHORE)»
Including supply boats (7 trips/week); crew boats (j trips/week); oading and unloading operations; and incineration of waste paper (average 750 pounds of waste per month).
Projected Emissions Emitted (tons/year)
Substance ~ 1988
CO .003 SO 2
NOx . 024 VOC . 001 TSP
• Tables 3.2.1-3, 3.2.3-1, and 2.1, "Compilation of Air Pollutant Emission Factors', Third Edition, EPA Repcit Ar 412, August, 1977.
TOTAL ALL SOURCES (TONS/YEAR)
1968 CO SO NOX voc T P 2
Major 2.044 .650 9.601 .774 . »Q1 Minor .003 .024 .001 Total 2.047 .650 9.625 • -yt .681
ONSHORE SOURCES
These should be about the same as minor sources unlesj p«» f a c i l i t i e s are installf at the onshore base. No additional f a c i l i t i e s or«. required or planned at t h i s time.
EMISSION EXEMPTION DETERMINATION
2/3 2/3 For CO: E = 3400D = 3400 (b> =11,226 tons/vcar For NOx, VOC, TSP & SO : E s 13.3D -- 32.3 '6> = 200 tons/year
2
As per DOl/HMS regulations, this f a c i l i t y is exempt from fu ther air quality review as i t has been determined that i t s operations w i l l not have significant adverse environmental impact on a i r quality.
ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT
FEDERAL LEASE OCS-G 5693 HAIN PASS AREA, BLOCK 66
OFFSHORE LOUISIANA AND MISSISSIPPI
THE FOLLOWING ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT WAS PREPARED BY J. CONNOR CONSULTS FT* PELTO OIL COMPANY FOR COASTAL ZONE CONSISTENCY DETERMINATION BY THS S T .TE OF LOUISIANA AND MISSISSIPPI ON OPERATIONS PROPOSED TO BE CONDUCTED IN 7WE PLAN OF EXPLORATION FOR LEASE OCS-G 5693. FOR INQUIRIES REGARDING THIS JcEPORT PLEASE CONTACT:
PELTO OIL COMPANY
18t0 OP-' ALLEN CENTER
HOISTON, TEXAS 77002
ATTENTION- f N . 7FFFREV R. HUGHES
DECFMBER, 198?
TABLE_QF^CC> TEWTl j ' r
TITLE PAGE |, i
TABLE UF CONTENTS i i
I . DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED ACTION 1
A. DESCRIPTION OF PR1POSED TRAVEL MODES, ROUTES AND 1 FREQUENCY
B. ONSHORE SUPPORT SYSTEMS 1 C. NEW OR UNUSUAL TE'HKOLOGY 1 D. VICINITY MAP 1 E. PROPOSED MEANS TO TKAKT KT OIL AND GAS VO SHORE 2
ROUTES, OUANTITIES
13. DESCRIPTION OF AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT >
A. COMMERCIAL FISHING 2 B. SF1PDING 3 C. FLEASURE BOATING, SPORT FISHING ANH RECREATION 3 D. POTENTIAL OR KNOWN CULTURAL RESOURCES 4 E. ECOLOGICALLY SENSITIVE FEATURES 4 F. PIPELINES AND CABLES 4 G. OTHER MINERAL USES 5 H. OCEAN DUMPING 5 I . ENDANGERED OR THREATENED SPECIES AND CRITTCKL 5
HABITAT
I I I . UNAVOIDABLE ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS 6
A. WATER QUALITY 6 B. FPF-.:TS OF MAPTNE JRliANISRS 6 C. W, 1 iA.-: "3 h*V.) &£.' Ch 7 D. Alh >A . " Y 7 E. CO'iHt' . ' AL FISHING 7 F. SHIP KAV GATION 8 G. CULTURAL D F.30 'T /-S 8
H. RECRRTJGII AND lESTHETIC VALUES 8
I V . SUMMARY 8
REFERENCES 10
LIST OF ATTACHMENTS
NO. 1 - VICINITY MAP
- i i -
• * ' pESCRIPTIOr LT PROPOSED ACTION Pelto o i l «nrpany (Pelto) piano .o conduct exploration a c t i v i t i e s on Main' Pass A ea, Block 6fil/ OC -G 5693. As proposfJ. the Initial Plan of Exploration for Hain Pass B.'ock 68 includes e drilling of one (1) well in order to delineate the h/drocari;. .1 pctential and limitations of Block ri\.
Planned commencement date for d r i l l i n g the explo. ? ory weli i s on or about January 7, 1986.
A. DESCFIPTiOiJ Cr PROPOEED TRAVEL MODES, ROUTES ANP FREOUENCY-. ft —• ••
Boats w i l l be dispatched from support b^ses ioo..led in Venice, Louisiana. The boats w i l l move to Block 68 vlu the most direct route from Venice, Louisiana. Following i s an estimate of boat t r i p s to the proposed operations on Main Pass 68.
D r i l l i n q Operations
supply Boats 4 t r i p s per week u.ew Boats 7 t r i p s per week
B. ONSKOK'E SUPPORT BASE
The proposed a c t } " i t i e s w i l l u t i l i z e e. suppert base located at Venice, Louisiana. ?his base provides 24-hour service, 3 radio tower v i t h Oone patch, dock space, o f f i c e space, parking l o t , equipment anc' supply storage space, drinking and d r i l l waiter, etc. The prcooscd exploration a c t i v i t i e s w i l l help to maintain this iaase st ."tB piesent I f vel of ac t i v i t y . No expansion of the ,M ycical f a c i l i t l e t - or th- creation of new jobs i s expected to result from the wor> p:a."i*d in conjunction with Block 68.
C. NEW OR JNu"*L'AL TECHNOLOGY
?Jn r^w t#»« *r»ic<u#E or unusual technology w i l l be required for these t»r »tio in.
I). VICINITY MAP
:1am Pass 68 is looal ed approximately 6 miles east of the Louisiana coastlir?. The wa^t. depth i s approximately 25'.
E. PROPOSED MEANS TO TRANSPORT OIL AND GAS TO SHORE, ROUTES, QUANTITIES f « ,
I f producible hydrocarbons sre found they are l i k e l y to be transported tc shore), through connections with pipelines already in plaie in cr neai Bloc 68.
DESCRIPTION OF AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT
A. COMMERCIAL FISHING
Louisiana i s the nost p T i v c t i v e State in the Gulf in terma of commercial f i sher ISR. Vole has been at t r ibuted to extensive coastal marsheii and nutj lent i.»jut I r ^ th* Mississippi and Atchafalaya Pivers. Louisiana coatiins 64'/. o, the t i da l marshes alony the Gulf,
In Louisiana, shrivo ( p n t s i l l y brown aid white) r;onr,t i t ' i tes the must Important f i she iy . F r o c c t i o n ui thriep in an/ part icular year depends largely on environment?' :onditions l n t>'» estuaries during port larval recruitment. Productai.n i s good when t i e re ie a warm, di y spring.
Menhaden are the basis of the State's .arcpst f ishery and rink atr und in value. Unlike th» chrimp f lshei y, '"him fishery c>erates excK*i\ply offshore.
Oysters consti tute the t h i rd most valuable f i shery in Louisiena. Thp wa t important areais for oyster production are Terrebonne Pariah. Barataria Bay, and the Lake Borgne-Breton Sound system. 0>eter peed ground reservations are located In Cail lou Lake (9,772 icrei.) i n Terrebonne Parish, Hackberry Bay (4,015 acres) in Jefferaun and Lafourche Parishes, Bay LcrJene (2,666 acres, i n Pl?nuerm€ i Parish, and Bey Junop (2,448 acres) Teirebonne Pa-ish (Boudrntx l r 8 1 ) . Theae areas are managed by the State for the taking of seed oysters. There are about 234,000 acres of private oyster leases l n Louisiana that are concentrated l n Plaquemines, St. Bernard, Terrebonne, Jefferson, and Lafoirent Parishes. Public oyster g ounds occupy approximately 690,G"<0 acres, most of which are east of the Mississippi River (Groat, 1931).
The blue crab I P the State's fourth most valvai-'lfc commercial f ishery species. L:ue crabs spend the majority of the i r l ives i f i estaurine v*tei s which produc? nver 90X of the catch. Other important fisheries include th% fond f i n f i s h and those fo r industr ia l pur noses, su~li as pet *ood.
Main Pate 68 l s located within the- major f i n f l s l groot.ds and white shrimp harvest areas. F i n f i t h i-oluim? for the Gulf slai*? is dominated by nwnhadf Hlseipsippi produces large quantities of shel l f ish ond if inf isl i t h shiimp repredenting tne most important catch Oysters and blue craDs also contribute s inn i f i can t ly to i.if.cisHippi *p shell f i sh landings. The Gulf menhaden is the principal species of econc-mic value in Mississippi f i n f i s h catches, while cot.mercia1 landings cf foodlishen include croaker, snapper,
and flounder.
Suppo/t vessels servicing the d r i l l s i t e w i l l be passing through high marine productivity areas; however, they should not interfere with llouisiana's or Mississippi 'e commercial fishery.
B. SHIPPING
Hain Pass 68 i s clear of a l l shipping fairways and anchorage areas. The d r i l l i n g r i g and each of the marine vessels w i l l be equipped with a l l U.S. Coast Guard required navigational safety aids. There should be l i t t l e or no Impact on shipping resulting from the proposed operationa.
PLEASURE BOATING, SPORT FISriJH. AND RECREATION:
Sport fishing ir. Louisiana is a very popular form of recreation. Louisiana's coastal marshland with few roads reaching the shoreline has limited fishing access and precludes f u l l u t i l i z a t i o n of the saltwater fishery resources. Nevertheless, a high percentage of Louisiana residents own or have access to boats. Spot fishing around offshore o i l and gas rigs i s popular. Results of recreational fisheries surveys by Ditton and Graefe (197e> in the northwestern Gulf 01 Mexico's Houston-Galveston area indicated that only one-third of the boating population was saltwater fishermen and only 5% fished offshore. However, o i l and gas structurt . attracted more fishing than any other structure, natural or a r t i f i c i a l (87% of the boats and 50% of a l l offshore recreational fishing e f f o r t were directly associated with o i l and gas platforms). Offshore fishermen were estimated to have contributed ovei fi v e million dollars to the local economy. (The Ecology of Petrcle; « Platforms in the Northweste*n Gulf of Hexico; A Community Pro f i l e ) . Recreational fishing and recreational shrimping are also important a c t i v i t i e s offshore Mississippi.
Boating ln Louisiana's coastal areas ie most often related to recreational f i s h : . Vater skiing and sailing are growing in popularity, especially in estuarine lakes near South Louisiana's major urban centers.
Hunting is a popular recreational a c t i v i t y in the Gulf Coast Region. A variety of water fowl are taken throughout the coastal marshes. There are state w i l d l i f e refuges and numerous state and federal biological'y sensitive land areas onshore from the area of opeiation.
With the exception oi Grand Isle and v i c i n i t y and a stretch of beach area in Cameron PiMsh, (Peveto/Constance/Ocean View Beaches, Holly Beach, Hackber.) Beach) Louisiana has very limited bpach area suitable ftn .ration. Host of it. is very narrow, of poo/ reci eat Ional r«ual ly and generally inarressihle by automobile, some of thr> highest quiHty beach areas in ronntal Louisiana are found
t i '• of the highest quality beach areas in coastal Louisiana a'e found along the barrier islands chain off Terrebonne Parish.
r i Major recreatlonali. beaches in Mississippi include Buccaneer Stete
Park, Waveland/Bay St. Louis Beach, Gulf Island National Seashore, * Harrison County Beaches, and Pascagoula Beach.
i
Several a d d i t i o n a l s i g n i f i c a n t r ec rea t iona l resources are found along the Gul f Coast. Louisiana has ornamental gardens, scenic roads, r i v e r s , and t r a i l s . No adverse impacts are an t i c ipa ted since the referenced a c t i v i t y w i l l cons is t of boat t r a v e l on ly .
D. POTENTIAL OR KNOWN CULTURAL RESOURCES
Main Pass 68 l i e s inside the C u l t u r a l Resource S e n s i t i v i t y Demarcation Line (USDI, 1979, Visua l 1), and t he r e fo re , f a l l s i n an area where c u l t u r a l resources are l i k e l y to be found. As t h i s w e l l w i l l be d r i l l e d from a surface l oca t i on i n State Lease 10745, Meln Pass 66, an Archaeological Survey was not requi red . However, Pe l to O i l Company agrees that i f any s i t e , s t ruc tu re or ob jec t of h i s t o r i cal or a rchaeologica l s i g n i f i c a n c e should be discovered during any operation, the f i n d i n g w i l l be immediately reported to the Regional Director and every reasonable e f f o r t w i l l be made t o preserve and protect the c u l t u r a l resource from damage u n t i l the Regional Director g ives d i r ec t i ons as t o i t s preservat ion.
E. ECOLOGICALLY SENSITIVE FEATURES
There are no areas of p a r t i c u l a r concern w i t h i n Main Pass 68. However, the re are several areas of environmental concern that l i e onshore f rom the lease s i t e .
Clean Gulf Associates has prepared and d i s t r i b u t e d to members, maps of the c o a s t l i n e of the Gulf o f Hexico l i s t i n g environmental ly sens i t ive areas onshore and near-shore which might be a f f e c t e d by an accidental hydrocarbon release.
Since the e n t i r e coas t l ine of the s tates of Louisiana, & H i s s i s s i p p i can be considered environmentally sens i t ive i n varying degrees, there i s no b e n e f i t seen i n l i s t i n g a l l the major bays and w i l d l i f e refuges along th? coast. No adverse impacts are an t i c ipa t ed by vessel t r a f f i c passing through the coastal waters of Louisiana and Hi s s i s s ipp i .
F. PIPELINES AND CABLES
Haln_PaBS_Block 68
A 10" l i n e crosses the south l i n e approximately 5300' from the west l i ne , and crosses the east l i n e approximately 13300* from the nor th 1 ine.
4
• t
F \ • '
A 6" line crosee the south li n e approximately 5900'' irom the west ' ' line and corsses the east line approximately 13600' from the north
line.'
An 6"l li n e crosses the1 north line approximately 1900* from the east line pnd crosses ihe south line approximately 100'.from the west line. '
All pipelines and cables w i l l be avoided during this exploratory Operation.
G. OTHER MINERAL USES
The a c t i v i t i e s proposed for Main Pass 68 w i l l have no direct or indirect impact on other mineral uses.
H. OCEhN DUMPING
Ocean dumping i s prohibited in this area.
I . ENDANGERED OR THREATENED SPECIES AND CRITICAL HABITAT
Five federally l i s t e d endangered whale species occur within the Central Gulf. These include f i n f humpback, right, sei, and sperm whales. Generally, these large cetaceans inhabit the continental slope and deep oceanic waters, occasionally they are sighted nearshore (Schmidly, 1981). Sperm whales have been sighted near the Louisiana Delta and offshore Brownsville ( F r i t t s et a l . , 1983).
Red wolf hybrids occur along the Gulf coast in Cameron Parish, Louisiana and Jefferson County, Texas, for a l l practical purposes, pure-blood red wolves are extinct in the wild (McCarley and Carley, 1979).
Four federally l i s t e d endangered t u r t l e species (Kemp's ridley, green, hawksbill, and leatherback tur t l e s ) and one threatened species (loggerhead t u r t l e ) occur in the Gull of Hexico.
The American alliga t o r occurs generally throughout the Central Gulf coastal areas. The alligator i s l i s t e d as endangered throuqhout i t s range except i n the coastal areas of Florida and Texas where i t i s listed as threatened and ln Louisiana where i t ie l i s t e d as "threatened by simi l a r i t y of appearance".
The red-cockaded woodpecker occurs primarily i n mature open pine forest throughout the Eastern and Central Gulf area and into eastern Texas.
Arctic peregrine falcons migrate along the eastern coast of Florida, the Florida Keys, and the Gulf coast of Texas. Some peregrine falcons overwinter along the Gulf coastal areas.
• • •
The endangered eskimo curlew's northward migration corridor crosses ' j the-Louisiana and Texas coastal area.r.
r I Brown Pelican'jS occur along the coast oi Cameron Parish, Louisiana.
I Baid eagles inhabit several Gulf coastal counties. A small j population of nonmigratory Mississippi sandhill cranes inhabits an
area in Jackson County, Mississippi. '
These species may be affected by the development of coastal lands and/or the occurrence of o i l s p i l l s which may affect the species directly or through their food sources. Since the proposed activities include no plans for the development of the coastal lands, the impact on endangered or threatened species i s primarily based on the occurrence of o i l s p i l l s .
On pages I I I - 5 through 111-72 of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for OCS Sale No. 47 there i s a discussion of the factors for estimating the significance of o i l s p i l l s and their impacts. The impacts on various endangered and threatened species v i l l depend on the nature of the s p i l l , weather conditions, proximity of s p i l l to species, tolerance for o i l of species, and the response time and effectiveness of the o i l s p i l l cleanup and containment servies. Given these variable, the impact on the various endangered or threatened species w i l l vary from l i t t l e cr no effect to serious. The experience of o i l and gas exploration in the Gulf of Mexico indicate that there is a small probability of an occurrence of an o i l s p i l l . The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for OCS Sale A-62 and 62 indicates on page 71 that "the aggregate 15 year s p i l l rate i s .0009 percent of the t o t a l volume produced". Table 7, page 73, of the DESI indicates that there has been only 30 incidents of o i l s p i l l s f or t h i s 15 year period. The probability remains low because of the level of technology used by the o i l and gas industry to insure safe a.. responsible operations.
Pelto Oil Company as a prudent operator, w i l l take the necessary measures to reduce ihe probability of o i l s p i l l s . Pelto's proposed exploratory operations on Main Pass Block 68 should pose no threat to any endangered or threatened species.
I I I . UNAVOIDABLE ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
A. WATER QUALITY
Dril l i n g a c t i v i t i e s w i l l temporarily reduce water quality adjacent to the location. This w i l l increase t u r b i d i t y in a plume down-current from the work sites. Released waters and a minor o i l s p i l l cou^d also contribute to water quality degradation.
B. EFFECTS ON MARINE ORGANISMS
Some organisms w i l l nr ki l l e d and some w i l l be temporalily 1 unrt lona I 1 y impaired as a result c-1 exploratory opeiations. Vine most affected groups w i l l br plankton nnd benthos lmmrdlnte^y around
r
I
\
r k : ' ' the d r i l l i n g r i g . Damage w i l l be both mechanical and toxicological. Discharge of hole cuttings w i l l damage plankton within the plume and bdry some of the less mobile benthic fauna. These impacts are
i considered to be localized, short term and reversible at the population level.
An o i l s p i l l could affect a broad spectrum of•marine organisms. However, most effects would be localized and short term. Any effects on mammals and t u r t l e s would be significant.
C. WETLANDS AND BEACH
In the unlikely event of a s p i l l occurring and reaching shore, organisms in wetland and beach habitats could be k i l l e d or functionally impaired. Human community disruption•could also occur. Although a l l such effects would be localized,'any effects on endangered species and/or c r i t i c a l habitats would be significant.
D. AIR QUALITY
The air quality at the lease s i t e w i l l be degraded temporarily during operations, but should return to normal once operations are measurably completed. Offshore a c t i v i t i e s probably w i l l not affect onshore a i r quality. Air quality at the onshore base w i l l be only ins i g n i f i c a n t l y reduced by onshore a c t i v i t i e s . Any such effect w i l l be temporary.
E. COMMERCIAL FISHING
Of the various types of fishing gear in use in the OCS areas, trawls have the greatest chance for operational co n f l i c t s vith o i l and gas ac t i v i t i e s . Losses may, however, be compensated under the Fishermen's Contingency Fund or other legal routes. Trawl nets can be snagged on underwater stubs causing damage or loss of the nets. In addition, i t i s conceivable that snags could damage underwater production equipment of pipelines causing a s p i l l of o i l or gas. Because safety equipment i s installed, which shuts in production when a loss of pressure occurs, the likelihood of a major s p i l l resulting thereby i s considered very small. Less frequently, large objects which were lost overboard from petroleum industry boats, pipeline lay barges, and platforms are caught by fishing gear resulting in damage to the gear and/or i t s catch of fish ; however, occurrence of this type of incident is low. Also, commercial fishermen would probably not harvest f i s h in the area of an o i l s p i l l , as spilled o i i could coat or contaminate commercial f i s h species rendering them unmarketable. Other unavoidable adverse impacts include loss of fi s h space caused by ins t a l l a t i o n of unburied pipelines, rigs, platforms, or by other OCS-related structures. There may be some localized competition for shore f a c i l i t i e s . These effects and ary effect that the exploratory operations w i l l have on stocks of important species are considered minoi.
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F. t SHIP NAVIGATION j ' ' Very l i t t l e i n t e r f e r e n c e can be expec ted between t h e r i g and mar ine
(vesse ls u t i l i z e d d u r i n g d r i l l i n g o p e r a t i o n s and s h i p s t h a t use e s t a b l i s h e d f a i r w a y s . However, a t n i g h t and d u r i n g rough weather , f og , and heavy seas, s h i p s not u s i n g e s t a b l i s h e d f a r : w a y s c o u l d c o l l i d e w i t h t h e r i g . '
G. CULTURAL RESOURCES
There i s o n l y a sma l l p r o b a b i l i t y t h a t an unknown c u l t u r a l r e s o u r c e e x i s t s i n t h e l ease area.
H. RECREATION
The r i g and mar ine vesse l s may r e p r e s e n t ar. o b s t a c l e t o some s p o r t f i she rman , b u t such an e f f e c t i s expec ted t o be n e g l i g i b l e and n o t permanent.
Even though e x i s t i n g r e g u l a t i o n s and o r d e r s p r o h i b i t i n d i s c r i m i n a t e l i t t e r i n g o f t h e marine env i r onmen t w i t h t r a s h , o f f s h o r e o i l and gas o p e r a t i o n s i n v o l v i n g men, machines, equ ipment , and s u p p l i e s i s bound t o r e s u l t i n some l i t t e r i n g o f t h e ocean. Human n a t u r e and a c c i d e n t s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h o f f s h o r e o p e r a t i o n s w i l l c o n t r i b u t e some f l o a t a b l e d e b r i s t o t he ocean env i ronmen t wh ich w i l l e v e n t u a l l y come ashore on ma jo r r e c r e a t i o n a l beaches.
The e f f e c t s t h a t normal o p e r a t i o n s o r a minor o i l s p i l l would have on any f i s h s t o c k s i m p o r t a n t t o s p o r t f i s h e r m e n a r e e l s e c o n s i d e r e d t o be n e g l i g i b l e .
A minor o i l s p i l l and/or n o n - p e t r o l e u m f l o a t i n g d e b r i s c o u l d f o u l beaches i n s h o r e o f the l ease a r e a . The f o u l i n g o f t he beaches would be an a e s t h e t i c d e t r i m e n t t h a t c o u l d a d v e r s e l y a f f e c t r e c r e a t i o n . Any e f f e c t s on beach r e c r e a t i o n c o u l d a d v e r s e l y a f f e c t t o u r i s m and, c o n s e q u e n t l y , t h e l o c a l economy.
SUHHARY
The proposed a c t i v i t y w i l l be c a r r i e d ou t and comp le ted w i t h t h e guarantee o f t h e f o l l o w i n g i t e m s .
A. The best a v a i l a b l e and s a f e s t t e c h n o l o g i e s w i l l be u t i l i z e d th roughou t t h » p r o j e c t . T h i s i n c l u d e s meet ing a l l a p p l i c a b l e r e q u i r e m e n t s l o r equipment t y p e s , g e n e r a l p r o j e c t l a y o u t , s a f e t y systems, and equipment and m o n * l o r i n g systems.
B. A l l o p e r a t i o n s a re covered by a M i n e r a l s Management S e r v i c e approved O i l S p i l l Con t i ngency P lan .
C. A l l a p p l i c a b l e F e d e r a l , S t a t e and Local r e q u i r e m e n t s r e g a r d i n g a i r emiss ion and water q u a l i t y and d i e - b a r g e i o r t he proposed a c t i v i t i e s , as we l l as any o ther permi t c o n d i t i o n s , w i l l be comp l i ed w i t h .
P
D. The p roposed a c t i v i t i e s d e s c r i b e d i n d e t a i l l n t h e P lan o f E x p l o r a t i o n w i l l comply v i t h L o u i s i a n a ' s , and M i s s i s s i p p i ' s Cbasta l Zone Management Programs and v i l l be conduc ted i n a manner c o n s i s t e n t i y i t h such Programs.
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VICINITY MAP
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REFERENCES
1. iFinal_Environmental mpact ,_St at ement, roposed Oil and Gas Lease Sales 94,1 3B and 102, Guif of Hexico OCS Region, OCS EIS, HHS 84-0057.
2. Flnal_Environmental_Impact_Statement, Proposed 'Oil and Gas Lease Sales 94, 98 and 102, Gulf of Hexico OCS Region, OCS EIS, HHS 84-0057, visual*.
3. FiBheries_of_the_Unlted_States, 198*, April, 1986.
I . The_Ecology_of_Petroleum Platforms in the_.Ncrthweetern_.Qulf of Hexico: A Community .Profile, Bureau of Land Hanagement Open File Report 82-03, July, 1982.
5. Environmental_Report__West_Cameron_Area.Blocks Sl6_and_5r « zh, 1987.
6. JLH Draf 1 .Environmental_ImpBct_Statement, OCS Oii and Gas Lease Sales A-62 and 62.
7. BLB_. Final Environmental Impact Statement, OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales A-62 and 62.
8. BLH Final Envitonmental_Impact.Statement, OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sale 47.
9. Hinerals Management.Service, .1983. Final_Regional_EnvironmentaI_Impact Statement, _Gulf Of Mexico. J.S. Department of the Interior.
10. Final _Environmental_Impact_St at ement, Proposed Oil and Gat. .eu?.e Sales 110 and 112, Gulf of Hexicc OCS Region, OCS EIS, HHS 8t> 0C87,
11. Finol.Environmental Impact Statement, Proposed Oil and uas Lease Sales 110 and 112, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, OCS EIS, M I 86-0087, visua.Vs.
12. Final.Environmental Impact Statement, Proposed Oil and Gas Lease Sales 113, 115 and 116, Gulf of Hexico OCS Region, OCS EIS, MHS-87-0077.
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COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT
CONSISTENCY CERTIFICATION I.
PLAN_OF_EXPLQK.' TION
HAIN_PASS__AREA, _BL0CK_68
OCS-G 5693
Th*» propoBed a c t i v i t i e e described i n de ta i l in th is Plan, ccmply with ... luisiana' s approved Coastal Managenent Program and v i l l be conducted In a manner consistent v i t h such Program
Arrangements have been made with the State-Ti r.es ln Baton Rouge, Louisiana to publish a public notice of the proposed ac t i v i t i e s no later than December 23, 1987.
December_18, _1987 Date
CO:.'. -.!. .'.JNE HAN/il5F.MENT
CONSISTENCY CEFcl IFICATION
PLAN_07_EXP.ORATION
\JIN_PA5S__AREA, BL0CK_6B
OCS-6 3693
The proposed a c t i v i t i e s described in de t a i l i n this Plan comply v i t h Mississippi's approved Ccastal Management Program and v i l l be conducted l n a manner consistent v i t h such Program.
Dt.cember_18, _1987 Date