DATE ? - 3S- ?2>

TO: I j OMS-2-2 \ ,

FROM: OS-2-2

Plan of Exploration J^ lB^^m\J^H^<^ i^x^H and Environmental Report,

Lie OCS-G C77 f ,7- Control No. fi- / 3 .

IP'

EXPLORATION PLAN

SOHIO PETROLEUM COMPANY

OCS-G-5782

VIOSCA KNOLL BLOCK 861

OFFSHORE PLAQUEMINES PARISH, LOUISIANA

Office of

mi

Records Maiwgr-meni

July 13, 1983

I

LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

A. Description of D r i l l i ng R1g •

B. Letter from SoMo Regional Geophysicist

C. Vic in i ty & Well Locatlori Plats

D. Geologic Cross Sections 4 Structure Maps

E. D r i l l i ng Mud Components

F. Environmental Report and Coastal Zone Management Consistency Cer t i f ica t ion

- i -

EXPLORATION PLAN

SOHIO PETROLEUM COMPANY

r OCS-G-5782

| * VIOSCA KNOLL BLOCK 861

OFFSHORE PLAQUEMINES PARISH, ,LOUiSIANA

Pursuant to the requirements of 30 CFR 250.23-1, Sohlo Petroleum

Company submits the following Plan of Exploration fo r Viosca Knoll Block 861.

( j j EXPLORATION ACTIVITY

The proposed exploration ac t i v i t y for the subject t rac t consists of

d r i l l i n g f i ve (5) exploratory wel ls from f ive (5) separate surface locations.

The wel ls w i l l be d r i l l e d in sequence beginning about August 15,

1983. The estimated time to d r i l l the wells i s about six (6) months. The

f i r s t well w i l l be d r i l l ed commencing about August 15, 1983.

( i i ) PROPOSED DRILLING RIG

Sohio presently has under contract the Diamond "M" Semi-Submersible

"New Era". The "New Era" or a similar type r i g w i l l be used for this

project. This r i g Is capable of d r i l l i n g to 30,000' in water depths of

1,200*. Attachment A-l re f lec ts the vessel's speci f icat ions. Attachments A-2

and A-3 are drawings of the r i g ' s d iverter and BOP systems.

' (111) GEOPHYSICAL WORK

AU of the geophysical work preparatory to i n i t i a t i o n of exploratory

operations has been completed. A velocity survey w i l l be run on the wells

when t o t l l j depth has bedn reached. No other geophysical work 1s planned

unless data obtained from d r i l l i n g operations necessitates addit ional d e f i n i -

t i on detail from conventional re f lec t ion seismic methods.

A shallow hazard report en t i t led "Hazard Study Blocks 860, 861, 862

and 90b Viosca Knoll Area", was prepared by John Chance A Assoc., Inc. and

two (2) copies are submitted with th is Plsn. Plans of Exploration for Blocks

860, 862, and 905 w i l l be submitted at a later date.

The Viosca Knoll Haza*d Study has been reviewed by Mr. Phil Hosemann,

Sohio's Regional Geophysicist. Attachment B 1s a l e t t e r from Mr. Hosemann In

which he agrees wi th John Chance's conclusions and addresses shallow hazards

at proposed well s i t es .

( i v ) VICINITY AND LOCATION MAPS

Attachment C-l i s a v i c i n i t y map depicting the subject t r ac t ' s posi­

t i on relat ive to the Louisiana shoreline. No new onshore f a c i l i t i e s w i l l be

required for d r i l l i n g these proposed exploratory wel ls . Existing service

companv f a c i l i t i e s 1n the Venice Area have su f f i c ien t capacity to accomodate

t h i s project without any modif ication or expansion.

- 2 -

Attachment C-2 depicts the proposed surface locations for each well

,A11 f ive (5) wel ls are straight holes d r i l l ed from separate surface loca

r t1ons. The surface location and depth of each well 1s as fo l lows:

| Wei r HA" TVD 7,075'

Surface Location: ,4350' FWL & 7775' FWL of Block 861

Water Depth: 910'

Well "B" TVD 7,075'

Surface Location: 800' FWL & *900' r 3L of Block 861

Water Depth: 960'

Well "C" TVD 8,075'

Surface Location: 3200' FWL & 800' FSL of Block 861

Water Depth: 1050'

Well "D" TYD 7,575'

Surface Location: 7600' FWL * 1800' FSL of Block 861

Water Depth: 1060'

Well "E" TVD 7,575'

Surface Location: 5200' FWL & 2575' FSL of Bit k 861

Water Depth: 820'

-3-

(v)' STRUCTURE MAPS AND CROSS SECTIONS

j Structure maps and cross sections for the proposed exploratory wells

are o,f a conf ident ia l nature and as such, are exempt from disclosure under the

Freedlmj of Information Act. This data should not be made available to the

pub l ic , nor provide^ to any affected state or local government personage.

Structure maps and cross-sections are included in f ive (5) confidential copies

of th is plan as Attachments D-l through D-3.

(v i ) OTHER RELEVANT DATA

(A) Oil Sp i l l Contingency Plan

Sohio Petroleum Company is a member of Clean Gulf Asso­

c ia tes (CGA) and would u t i l i z e thet organization's equipment to

clean up an o i l s p i l l . The closest CGA bases are at Venice,

Grand Isle and Morgan Ci ty , Louisiana, respectively. Response

times for CGA Fast Response Units from those three locations

would be 10, 14 and 26 hours, respectively. Manpower to operate

the CGA's equipment would be provided by Peterson Maritime

Services, Inc. whose personnel are trained for o i l s p i l l clean

up operations. Sohio's supervisory personnel w i l l d i rec t the

clean up operations and w i l l maintain overall responsib i l i ty

u n t i l the operation is successfully completed. Additional

de ta i l s can be found ir- Sohio's Oil Sp i l l Contingency Plan for

the Gulf of Mexico. This Plan has been previously approved by

the Minerals Management Service.

-4-

(B) L1 st ' of Mud Components

Attachment E-l Is a detailed l i s t of the proposed d r i l l i n g

mud components and addi t ives, including the common and chemical

trade Viame of each component.

(C) Gasepus Emissions ,

Exploratory d r i l l i n g operations w i l l be conducted from the

surface si te described in Section ( i v ) using a mobile d r i l l i n g

un i t s imi lar to the un i t described in Section ( i i ) . This opera­

t i on w i l l be of a temporary nature with a maximum duration of

six (6) months. At the f a c i l i t y s i t e , gaseous emissions w i l l be

generated by the r i g engines and fuel tanks, the attendant work

boat, stand-by boat, crew boat, and hel icopter, and the produc­

t i on test ing of prospective reservoirs. Gaseous emissions at

the dock si te in Venice, Louisiana w i l l be generated by the work

boat, crow boat and helicopter. On-shore staging for th is

operation w i l l be from exist ing f a c i l i t i e s , so there w i l l be no

s ign i f i can t increase in emissions for th is ac t i v i t y . Projected

emissions from th i s ac t i v i t y have been calculated and are

presented in the Environmental Report, Attachment F.

(D) Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Consistency Cer t i f icat ion

The proposed a c t i v i t i e s described in detai l in th is Plan

comply with Louisiana's and Mississippi 's approved CZM programs

and w i l l be conducted in * manner consistent with those

programs. Attachment F, Environmental Report and Consistency

Cer t i f i ca t i on are included in th is report as required for a CZM

Program Consistency Review.

-5-

Diamond iv- New Era

Semi-Submersible Drilling Unit

Water Dep'.h Capacity 1.200 II

, Drilling Oepth Capacity 30.000 tt

DraH_ 15 5 It 20 It 23 ft 50 It

Condition Lightship

Ocean Tow Field Move

Doling

Displacement 7.493 LT

10.110 LT 11.642 LT 16.404 LT

Top Deck Load

1300 ST 2688 ST 2688 ST

Vessel

Classification ABS * Al (El (M) Length ?90 ll Beam 200 ll Hulls (2)

Beam 35 ft Depth 25 ft

Main Deck 95 It Pipe (lack 108 It Drill Floor 128 25 It Natural Period

Heave 20 7 sec Roll 40 6 se. Pitch 31 5 sec

Propulsion 5100 hp

Cranes Two Link Bell ABS 230. 50-lon

Heliport For S-61N helicopter

Storage

Quarlers 70-man f 6-man hospital (exiansion space available)

Bulk l.nks 9120 ft ' Sack Slorage 3500 sx Fuel 5100 bbl Potable Water 700 bbl Drilling Water 15.642 bbl Mud Tanks 1575 bbl

Safety

Fire Extinguishers One lol portable. CO, Hood system. One 500-lb dry chemical.

Uie Jackets Per USGS Regulations

Lite Ralls Four 8-man

Lile Boats Two

Anchoring Eight 2*« HI x 4800 II anchor chains, each with 30.000-lb anchor Eight tension recorder*

Motion Compensator Vetco MC 400-200

Drilling Equipment

Derrick & Substructure

Drawworks

Mud Pumps

Mixing Pumps

Prime Movers

Rotary

Travel Block

took Swivel Shale Shaker

Drill P-ps

Drill Collars

Blowout Preventers (All H,S Trimmed)

160 ft Pyramid. 1 .GOO.000 lb with Continental Emsco crown block 50 It x 50 ft x 33.25 l! welded superstructure

Oilwell E-3000. two EMD D 79 CC motors. Baylor 7838 electric brake. 1 '/2-in wire line

Two Oilwell 1700 PT Triplex Two EMO D-79 DC motors each pump Three Mission 5x6 centrifugals with 75 hp electric motors Two GM EMD MD 16E-8 diesel. 3070 hp. each driving EMD A 20-6 2000-kw AC generators One GM EMO MD 16 E-8 diesel. 2200 hp. driving FMD A 20-6 1500-kw AC generators

Oilwell 37VHn. with Oilwell RT 2010 transmission EMD D-79 DC motor

0ilwjiJ_650jon_withjlignment guide

BJ 5500 dynaplex

Oilwell PC 650

Hutchinson-Hayes Rtvimba 102

Accumulator

Diverter

Desander

DesiltP'

Degasser

AC-DC System

Emergency Generator

Riser

Riser Tensioners

Guldii Une Tensioners

Choke Manifold

instruments

5- hr Grades E and S-135 6- in. and^7V4-in,

Two Shaeffer 18¥«-in.. 5000 psi annular Two Cameron Type "U double units. I M H O . 10.000 psi

One Collet connector, hydraulic. 18%-tn.. IO.OOO psi

660-gal. 3000 psi Payne

Regan KFDH 3

Demco. six 8-in. cones with 50-hp 5 x 6 Mission pump

Demco._416-H Siltmaster with SO-hp 5 K 6 Mission pump

Wellco 5200

GEJ^-una SCR. each 750 v. JOOOa.

CAT 0343 with 250-kw AC_generator

1200-ft. 21-in Cameron x-52 integral choke and kill line One Collet connector, hydraulic. 18% in.. 10.000 psi Three 21-in. Riser pur loints. 40 ft 20 It and 10 It. RCK connector ends One Telescoping jGint One ball joint 18%-in . 5000 psi

One beH nipple.

Six Western Gear 80.000-lb. 50-11[stroke

Four Wesiern Gear 16.000-lb. 40-ft stroke

10,000 psi WP Martin Decker lour-channel recorder Watco Flo Sho Martin Oecker pit volume totalizer with pump stroke counters Honeywell RS-5 aroustic position indicator Weather inst-uments. SSB & FM radio

ATTACHMENT A-l

CB HYDRAULIC CONTROL HOSES

HOSE CLAMP ~

DAU. JOINT

\ \

r AIR OPERATEO «r OATE VALVE T

_ OIVEHTEH OVER SIDE

DIVERTER SYSTEM

FLOWUNE (DIVERTER).

T DIVERTER OVER SIOE

^ j - ' TELESCOPING JOINT

AIR OPERATED HT GATE VALVE r - * i n

h i n !

21~ INTEGRAL RISER JOINT

fe WEU. ME*0 CONNECTOR

U l f J RECEIVER TANK

DIVERTER SYSTEM

CAMEHON r r x v r WAUL MARINE RISER AS REQUIRED. WIT 4 ~9CK~ ENO CONNECTORS ANO INTE%RAL J V T CHOKE ANO KILL UNE.

CAMERON I M M * BALL JOINT WITH 10* DEFLECTION. PRESSURE BALANCED. WITH "RCK" CONNECTOR TOP.

SHAEFFER I W SOOOf WP BOP

CAMERON I M M * HYDRAULIC COLLET CONNECTOR. lOXDOf W.P.

5* PIPE RAMS

CAMERON TYPT ~V I W « " 1O0D0 W.P. DOUBLE JNIT OOP WITH t , yvtr vuxxm CLAMP HUB OUTLETS. ASSEMBLED WITH WEDGE LOCKS.

§77 CLAMP HUB BX-164 RING GROOVE.

CAMERON lS-a/4" 10.0C « COLLET WELLHEAD CONNECTOR.

BLOWOUT PREVENTER ARRANGEMENT ANU SPECIFICATIONS

DIAMOND M -NEW ERA" Attachment A-3

SOHIO PETROLEUM i COMPANY

Office Correspondence July 13, 1983

From:

R, J.- fcroussard

P. Hosemann

Subject: Viosca Knoll 860/861/905 Shallow Hazard Survey

Gulf Coast Division geophysicists have revieweM che above hazard survey in relation to the exploration plan to be submitted to the Minerals Management Service. This hazard survey was conducted by J. Chance in June of 1983. Geophysicists have also reviewed the basic dita used in compiling t h i s hazard survey report.

We conclude that no shallow d r i l l i n g hazards exist beneath or adjacent to any of the proposed well locations in this ploration plan.

P. Hosemann

ATTACHMENT B

15,840 00*

SOHIO PETPOLEurV CO

O.C S -G - 5 7 8 2

E O

8 6 0

o i o |

3 3 5- ' - -M-'^s

0 SHORf

S05

MASTER S H E E T toco ?T

=3

3 L K . 8 6 I

PROPOSED LOCATION

o o o <r 862 CO

in

Lot 29< Lonq 8 8 '

0 7 27

37 I 2

4 9 7 2K-,

5,840 00

ATTACHMENT C-l

PROPOSED MINERAL DEVELOPMENT VIOSCA KNOLL AREA

G U L F OF M E X I C O

APPLICATION BY

JULY 13 , 1 9 8 3 SOH I O PETROLEUM CO

LAFAYETTE , LOUISIANA

I 5200"

1 L4

SOHIO PETROLEUM CO,

0 C S - G - 5 7 8 2

4350

BLK. 861 CNJ

CO

Prepared By

John E. Chonce A A*«ociofe» , Inc.

905

ATTACHMENT C-2

SOHIO PETROLEUM CO

PLAN OF EXPLORATION PROPOSED UXATIONS

VIOSCA KNOLL AREA

SCALE I t 2 0 0 0 7 / I 2 / 8 3

DRILLING MUD COMPONENTS

SOHIO PETROLEUM COMPANY

, r OCS-G-5782

! | * * VIOSCA KNOLL BLOCK 861

Products of IMCO Services are l i s t ed i n th i s program fo r i l l u s t r a t i on purposes. Equivalent or comparable products are available from other service companies, such as NL Baroid, Magcobar and Milchem.

TRADE NAME

IMCO GEL

IMCO SURLIFT

IMCO GELEX

IMCO FLOX

IMCO POLY RX

IMCO RD-III

IMCO C-CORR

IMCO X02

IMCO BAR

CAUSTIC SODA

IMCO LIG

SODA ASH

COMPOSITION

Western Bentonite; A natural occurring element containing plates of S i l ica A alumina ( Iner t )

Pre-shaped, wet processed, high density chrysot i le asbestos (a native calcium magnesium s i l i c a t e )

Co-polymer of polyvinyl ace­tate & maleic anhydride

Polyacrylamide

Proprietary blend containing modified ;ignosulfonates & modified l i g n i t e

Proprietary blend containing modified 11gnosulfonates & modified 1 Igni te & chromate

An organic f i lming amine

An Inorganic compound of the b i s u l f i t e family

Mined barite (Ground barium sul fa te)

Sodium Hydroxide

L ign i te , ground A refined

Sodium ca-bonate

PURPOSE

Primary wall bu i ld ing, f i l ­t ra te con t r i r , & suspending agent for water base d r i l l i n g f l u i d .

Yisco->ifier lor upper-hole f lu ids

Bentonite extender

Selective f locculant to remove d r i l l ed solids from mud

S tab i l i t y & f i l t r a t e control of high temperature d r i l l i n g f l u ids

Thinner & f i l t r a t e control for water base d r i l l i n g f lu ids

corrosion inh ib i to r & oxygen scavenger

Oxygen scavenger

Weighting agent

A lka l in i t y control

Thinner & water loss control

Removing hardness (calcium)

ATTACHMENT E

I I ENVIROMENTAL REPORT

AND

AIR QUALITY REVIEW REPORT !

FOR COASTAL MANAGEMENT CONSISTENCY DETERMINATION

GULF OF MEXICO

VIOSCA KNOLL AREA PLOCK #861 (OCS-G-5782)

JULY 13, 1983

SUBMITTED TO:

JIM PARKER

SOHIO PETROLEUM COMPANY

3635 AMBASSADOR CAFFERY

LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA 70506

(318-981-9483)

Prepared by:

JOHN E. CHANCE & ASSOCIATES, INC.

Regulatory and Environmental Division

Project #83-8079

I . i Table of Contents

ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT J

r •

| | \ \ " p a9 e

T. Title PageK." I i

Table of Contents i i

List of Figures iv

List of Tables v

I I . Description of the Proposed Action 1

A. Travel Modes, Routes, and Frequencies 3

B. Support Base and New Personnel 4

C. New Support Fac i l i t ies 5

D. New or Unusual Technology 5

E. Location of the Proposed Ac t i v i t i es 5

I I I . Description of the Affected Environment and

Impacts 6

A. Physical and Environmental 6

1. Commercial Fishing 6

2. Shipping 15

3. Recreation 15

4. Cultural Resources 16

5. Ecological ly Sensitive Features 16

i i

i

Table of Contents (Contd.)

Page

il 6. Exist ing Pipelines and Cables , 17

7. Other Mineral Uses 17

8. Ocean Dumping 18

9. Endangered or Threatened Species 18

B. Sodo-Economic Impacts 19

IV. Unavoidable Adverse Impacts 22

V. References 25

Appendix 1—Coastal Zone Management

Consistency Determination 27

AIR QUALITY REVIEW

1. T i t l e Page 29

I . General Information 30

I I . Findings of A1r Quality Review 30

I I I . Total Emissions at Rlg/Pl- t form 30

IV. Total Supply & Crew Boat Emissions 30

V. Total Helicopter Emissions 31

VI. Transportation Services Data 31

v i i . Factors Used 1n Calculations 32

VIII. Methodology 32

IX. References 32

i i i

LIST OF FIGURES r 1

I | FIGURE I PAGE

1 — V1c.1n1ty Map of Viosca Knoll Area Block #861. . . ! 2 2 — Fishing A c t i v i t y and the Growth of the 011 and

Gas Industry 1n the Gulf of Mexico 14

i v

I

I

LIST OF TABLES

I T A B L E ' PAGE

1— -Commercially Important Fish and Shel l f ish

In the General Lease Area 9

2 — Check L is t of Commercial * Sport Fishes

of The Northern Gulf of Mexico 11

3 — Federally L is ted Endangered or Threatened

Species 1n Louisiana and Mississippi 20

V

I I . Description of the Proposed Action

This report addresses the activity proposed by Sohio Petroleum Company

for Viosca Knoll Area Block #861 (OCS-G-5782). The approximate location of

the activity is presented in Figure I , a general vicinity map of the Outer

Continental Shelf (OCS) lease areas off the coast of Louisiana.

It is anticipated that a semi-submersible rig, the NEW ERA, will be

moved on location and five (5) exploratory wells will be drilled. The

wells will be referred to as A, B, C, D, and E and their proposed surface

locations are listed below. Additional information regarding the specific

activites proposed by Sohio for this block are included in the attached

Plan of Exploration.

WELL NUMBERS SURFACE LOCATIONS

VIOSCA KNOLL A 4350'FWL 7775'FNL 7075'TVD

P 800*FWL 4900'FSL 7075'TVD

C 3200'FWL 800'FSL 8075'TVD

D 7600'FWL 1800'FSL 7575'TVD

E 5200'FWL 2575'FNL 7575'TVD

1

ro

VIOSCA KNOLL

JOHN E. CHANCE 8 ASSOC., INC

VICINITY M A P

4 0 m i

3

. J

The proposed activities will be carried out by Sohio Petroleum

Company with a guarantee of che following:

1. the1best available and safest technologies will be utilized

throughout the project. This includes meeting all applicable v..

requirements for equipment types, general project layout, safety

systems, equipment and monitoring systems.

2. All operations will be covered by M.M.S. approvea Oil Spill

Contingency Plan.

3. All applicable Federal, State, and local requirements regarding

air emissions, water quality, and discharge for the proposed

activities, as well as any other permit conditions, will be

complied with.

A. Travel Modes, Routes, and Frequencies

Sohio Petroleum Company will operate out of the'r service base

facilities established in Venice, Louisiana. Sohio Petroleum Company

anticipates using one (I) helicopter, one (1) workboat, and one (1)

crew boat to support the Viosca Knoll #861 activity.

The helicopter will travel to the location ten (10) times per

week, the crew boat will travel to the locatior seven time? per week

and the work boat will travel to the location four time' per week.

I t 1s anticipated that the transportation vessels will utilize the

3

I i

most direct route from the Venice, Louisiana service base. Because a

vessel, supporting the Block #861 exploration activity, as outlined In

the Plan of Exploration for Viosca Knoll #861, may be scheduled for

othe|- jstops 1n the" area, the exact routr* for each vessel'on each

particular trip cannot be predetermined. K .

i

B. Support Base and New Personnel

Sohio Petroleum Company w i l l u t i l i z e support base f a c i l i t i e s

established in Venice, Lou1s1an* The Venice, Louisiana base 1s

approximately fo r ty -e igh t (48) miles from the exploration ac t i v i t y s i t e .

Because hel icopter ?nd marine f a c i l i t i e s are currently available at

the service base and are presently and continuously manned, no additional

onshore employment 1s expected to be generated as a result of these

a c t i v i t i e s .

The I n i t i a l OCS Soc1o-Econom1c Data Base Report for the service base

f a c i l i t i e s u t i l i z e d by Sohio Petroleum Company w i l l be prepared for

submission pursuant to the specif ic parameters to be established by the

DOI/MMS and scheduled to be issued at a la ter date.

C. New Support Fac i l I t t es

The proposed exploration ac t i v i t i es for Viosca Knoll #86i w i l l not

u t i l i z i n g any new or unusual technology that may af fect coastal waters.

E. Location of the Proposed Ac t i v i t i es

Viosca Knoll Area #861 1s located approximately for ty-e ight (48) miles

southeast of Venice, Louisiana. Figure 1 presents v isual ly the location of

the block in re lat ion to the Louisiana coast, as well as the geographic

re lat ionship between the Viosca Knoll Area and the other OCS lease are s.

support f a c i l i t i e s .

D. New or Unusual Technology

The exploration ac t i v i t ies for Viosca Knoll #861 w i l l not warrant

• . J . ' < ..

I ! I . DESCRIPTION OF THE AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND IMPACTS

A. [Physical and Environmental i

I I 1 1 . Commercial Fishing

t

Commercial f i sh ing has t rad i t i ona l l y provided an important economic

base for a majority of the Gulf 's coastal communities. In 1982 the Gulf

coastal states landed 2.3 b i l l i o n pounds of f ish products representing a

t h i r d of the nation's t o t a l , valued at over $600 m i l l i o n . The f ive

commercial f isheries of the greatest economic importance are the shrimp,

menhaden, oyster, indust r ia l bottom f i s h , and crab f i sher ies .

In 1982, Gulf fishermen landed over 209.9 mi l l ion pounds of shrimp

representing 75% of the nation's total and valued at over $425 m i l l i on .

The northern Gulf shrimp fishery 1s comprised mainly of three species; the

brown shrimp (Penaeus aztecus) , the white shrimp (P. set i ferus) and the

pink shrimp (P, duorarum). The smaller brown shrimp represent

approximately 60% of the shrimp taken, the pink 10%, and the white shrimp

account for B majority of the remainder. Three other species, the rock

shr imp, royal reds, and the seabobs, are also taken commercially in the

northern Gulf but together comprise less then 4% of the tota l shrimp

land ings. Most shrimp are taken by tra 1 and are estuarine dependent 1n

t h a t they require estuaries during some stage of thei r l i f e cycles. Mature

shrimp leave the estuary for the open Gulf where they spawn (release eggs).

The eggs and subsequent larval stages c i rcu la te freely in the currents of

6

the OCS and can be found 1n v i r t u a l l y a l l OCS waters. Young juveni les then

enter the estuary to feed, mature and repeat the cycle.

r i

The .proposed petroleum ac t i v i t i es 1n Viosca Knoll Area.Block #861 are I

expected|to have no Impact on the harvest of brown or white shrimp since

Viosca Knoll Area Block* #861 Is beyond the outer l im i t s of the harvest area

for these species as depicted by USDI REIS 1981 visual #4.

The Gulf oyster f ishery provided over 40% of the oysters landed

nationally 1n 1982 tota l ing 24.2 mi l l ion pounds of meat worth over 33

mil l ion do l la rs . Most Gulf oysters are taken by oyster trawls 1n estuarine

and coastal waters within 5 miles : f shore; therefore, the proposed

act iv i t ies In Viosca Knoll Area Block #861 w*l l have l i t t l e or no Impact

upon this marine species.

In 1981 the Gulf States also landed 37.4 m i l l i on pounds of blue crabs

(Callanectes sapiens) valued at over $8 m i l l i on . Most were captured 1n

"pots" (baited traps) 1n shallow estuarine or near shore waters. B l je

crabs are also caught using * t ro t l 1 res M (shallow, mult ibalted l ines) and

bottom trawls. These crabs are estuarine dependent with planktonic eggs

and larval stages.

The f isher ies for oysters and blue crabs are unl ikely to be

s igni f icant ly affected by exploration ac t i v i t i es 1n th is block as 1t 1s

offshore of the coastal and estuarine waters 1n which these f isher ies

operate.

7

•Table 1 presents a 11st of commercially Important shel l f ish found 1n

t h i s area of tho Gul f .

r

j iThe menhaden*.or "Pogy" fishery is the nation's second most valuable

f i shery accounting fo r 1.2 b i l l i o n pounds, valued at $47 mi l l ion or roughly

half* of the total 1981 f ish poundage landed in the U. S. Spurred by a 55%

Increase 1n menhaden landings from the Gulf coast states the U. S. had a

record setting menhaden catch 1n 1982. Gulf landings were 1.9 b i l l i o n

pounds worth over $72 m i l l i on . Four species are said to comprise the

menhaden fishery but the Gulf menhaden (Brevoortia patronus)accounts for

most of the catch. Menhaden are p-ocessed Into f i sh meal, f i sh o i l , and

f i s h solubles for Industr ia l use. Menhaden are estuarine dependent with

planktonic eggs.

The ac t iv i t ies as proposed are unl ikely to have any adverse af fect on

the moihaden f ish ing as Viosca Knoll Area Block #861 Hes outside the

"Pr incipal Menhaden Harvest Area" (USDI REiS 1981, visual #4).

Industrial bottomflshes make up a large f ishery 1n the Gulf. Within

t h i s group are fishes taken on or very near the bottom by con»nerc1al

t rawlers . Some of thr species taken include cat f ishes, Hounders,

wh i t ings , weakfishes, croakers, grunts, and drums (see species checkl ist

Table 2).

This block 1s not within the "Pr inc ip le Industr ial Bottomflsh Harvest

Area," therefore the only adverse af fects associated with th is proposal

8

TABLE 1 COMMERCIALLY IMPORTANT SHELLFISH

OF THE GULF OF MEXICO

(JOMMON NAME ~_ ,

4HRIMP:

Brown Shrimp

White Shrimp

P1nk Shrimp

Seabob Shrimp

Royal Red Shrimp

SCIENTIFIC NAME

Penaeus set i ferus

P. aztecus

P. duorarum

Xiphopeneus kroyeri

Hymerropenaeus tropical is

HARVEST METHOD

BT

BT

BT

BT

BT

Hard Blue Crab Callanectes sapiens CT.BT.TL

Oysters Crassostria sp OT.TG

BT Bottom Trawl

CT Baited Crab Trap

OT Oyster Trawl

TG Oyster Tongs

Tl "Trot ! ine"

9

! I

would be these on any pl'anktonlc eggs or larval forms of some of the

species wi th in th is f ishery by the release of d r i l l i n g mud and f l u i d Into

the water column. i

'I Industr ial Bottomflsh are usually sold as Industr ial fishmeal and f i sh

solubles but th is group also produces some foodf lsh, net food, and FPC

(f ish protein concentrate).

Other species for which s ign i f icant commercial f isheries exist include

striped mullet groupers, snappers, and flounders. Mullet are taken near

shore and in estuarine wate , -n seine nets, g i l l nets, and cast nets.

Snappers and groupers are taken by hook and l ine throughout the OCS

wherever natural ly occurring or manmade benthic features provide su f f i c ien t

habitat. Flounders are also caught cor-merclally by hook and Une and are

taken seasonally 1n very shallow estuarine water by gig (barb!ess spear).

Weakfishes, croakers, catf ishes, ard drums are also taken commercially by

hook and Une as foodfishes (refer to Table 2 ) .

Overall , fishermen have benefited from the growth of the petroleum

Industry In the OCS water of the Gulf of Mexico. While technological

Improvements have enabled commercial fishermen to increase the volume of

landings, by-products of the deve1opment of the petroleum Industry have

also had a posi t ive Impact on f i sh ing . Because OCS petroleum development

1s dependent on extensive marine vessel u t i l i z a t i o n , harbors and ports have

been improved, por*; access waterways have been expanded and Improved, and

the ava i lab i l i t y and qual i ty of marine vessel maintenance and repair

10

TABLE 2

A CHECK LIST OF COMMERCIAL 4 SPORT FISHES r

OF THE NORTHERN GULF OF MEXICO

i COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME HARVEST METHOD

SNAPPERS: Red Snapper Lutjanus campechanus HL VermlHon Snapper Rnompop11 tes aurorupens HL GROUPERS:

Warsaw Garrupa n ig r l ta HL Spotted Jewfish pr omi c r op s 11 a I a r a HL Gag Mycter^perca microlepis HI. Scamp Mycteroperca faicata HL Rock Seabass centropristTs pni iicfelphfca HL.BT St r iped Mullet Mugil cepnaius GN,CN Southern Flounder paraiicnthys lethostoma G,HL,BT Redflsh sciaenopsnpcenata HL Black Drum pogonias cromis HL.BT A t l a n t i c Croaker Micropogon undulatus HL.BT

WHITINGS:

Gu l f Whiting Mentldrrhus l i t t o r a l 1s HL.BT Southern K1ngf1sh nentici r r * 7 7 ^ amencanus HL.BT

WEAKFISHES:

Spotted Sea Trout Cynoscion nebulosus HL ,BT S i l v e r Trout UyhbsciM nothus HL.BT Sand Trout cynoscion arenarius ML.BT Long spine Scorplonflsh pontmus TongispmTs BT

HAKE:

Spotted Hake Urcphycis regius BT Gu l f Hake WbpSycTs c"Trratus BT Sou tne rn Hake uropnycis H o n Planus BT

CATFISHES:

Gaf f topsail Bagre mar'na HL Hardhead tnrfeTclthTs" fe l 1s HL.8T Ocel lated Morray Eel Gymnothorax ocellatus HL.BT B lack f i n Searobin Prlonotus rubTo BT Ladyf lsh pops sau'rJs HL T i l e f i s h Lepholatl 1 us chamaeleontjeeps HL Sheepshead Arch ^rgus~p"rob"atocephalus HL

11

, J

• I • Table 2 (contd.)

MENHADEN:

Gulf 1 Brevoortia patronus . PS Fipescale T Brevoortia gunteri 'PS Ti&effish Lepholatilus chamaeleonticeps HL RcunJd Herring Etrumeus teres MT Round Shad w . Trachurus lathaml i MT Tarpon Tarpon at lant icus HL Ling Racnycentron canadus HL Wahoo Acanthocyoium soianorf HL

TUNAS:

Blackfln Tuna Tunnnus at lant icus PS Yellowfin Tuna Eutnynnus albacares PS L i t t l e Tuna Euthynnus a i ie t teratus PS At lant ic Bumper ChioroscromDrus cnrysurus BT Ponpano Tracninotus carol mus HL King Mackerel Scomberomorus cavalla HL Spanish Mackerel scomoeromorus regal is HL Dolphin(flsh) corypnaena nippurus HL At lant ic Sa i l f i sh istiopnorus americanus HLT Blue Marlin Makaira nigricans ampia HLT White Marlin Tetrapturus albidus HLT Broadbill Swordfish xiphias gladius HLT

SKATES & RAYS:

At lant ic Stingray Dasyatls sabina HL,BT At lant ic Cul tar f lsh Rnmooatos lentlglnosus BT Roundel Skate Raja texana HL,BT

SHARKS:

Bul l Shark Carcharhinus leucas HL •LL Blacktlp carcharninus Mmbatus HL ,LL Hammerhead spnyrna dipiana HL.LL Mako isurus oxyrincnus HL.LL Great White Carcharodon carcharias HL.LL

BT Botton Trawl HL Hook & Line CN Cast Net HLT Hook & Line Troll 1ntj G Gig LL Long Line GN Gill Net PS Purse Seine MT Midwater Trawl

12

1 ' i , J

• •

fac i l i t ies - have Increased* s ign i f i can t l y . These Improvements have

def in i te ly had a posit ive e f fec t on fishermen (Lassl ter , 1980).

i

Sci|enjtif1c studies- examining the ef fect of the petroleum Industry

development on the commercial f ish ing industry have concluded that the Ka ]

presence of offshore d r i l l i n g and production structures has had very

l i t t l e , i f any, negative impact on commercial f ishing in the Gulf. In the

approximately twenty-five (25) years of petroleum industry development 1n

the Gulf, the menhaden harvest o f f the coast of Louisiana has grown from

213,000 metric tons 1n 1955 to a peak of 820,000 metric tons In 1978

(Lasslter, 1980). While f ish ing industry technological Improvements are

primarily responsible for the increase in harvests, th is fact is

par t icu lar ly Important because mehaden depend upon a clean estuarine system

for survival . I t 1s apparent that there has been no s ign i f icant

degradation of the quali ty of Gulf waters since the inception of petroleum

industry a c t i v i t y . This conclusion is v isual ly depicted on Figure 2 , a

comparison of the commercial f ish ing industry ac t i v i t y and the growth of

the petroleum Industry in the Gulf of Mexico in the past approximately

for ty (40) years.

Because the lease area is more than three (3) miles from the coast and

is considered an Outer Continental Area, state f ish ing seasons are not

applicable for the block.

13

2500

'940 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 1979

2. Shipping

I |A designated shipping fairway is located approximately twenty

(20) miles from Viosca j ^ o l l Area Block ^861. I t is unl ikely that the

marine vessels supporting the Block #861 ac t i v i t y w i l l u t i l i z e this

shipping fairway to gain access to the support base, therefore, i t is

un l i ke l y that the marine vessels w i l l have s igni f icant e f fect on fairway

t r a f f i c . The d r i l l i n g r ig and each of the marine vessels w i l l be equipped

w i t h a l l U. S. Coast Guard required navigational safety aids.

3. Recreation

Petroleum platforms in the northern Gulf of Mexico provide

recreat ion for fisherman and scuba divers as well as revenues for the

rap id l y growing coastal recreational f ishing industry. Studies indicate

t h a t the growth of the sport f ishing industry in the central Gulf is the

d i r e c t result of the presence of offshore petroleum platforms. The fact

t h a t these platforms act as a r t i f i c i a l reefs at t ract ing and establishing

aquatic communities including food f i sh sought by recreational and

commercial fisherman is well documented. Ditton and Graofe found that 87%

o f the boats engaging in recreational f ishing in the Houston-Galvestor. area

d id so at oi l and gas platforms. I t is l i ke l y that the years of ben i f i c ia l

use provided by the establishment of an offshore platform and

associated reef community would easi ly of fset the negative effects

15

encountered by recreatio/iai .fishermen during the few months 1n which

exploration and drilling activities are being conducted. .1

Frequently, offshore>1gs and platforms serve as navigation oolnts

for small commercial and recreational marine c r a f t . Manned d r i l l i n g r igs

and platforms can also provide a haven for small c ra f t operators forced to

abandon the i r vessels during storms or following boat accidents. The

ins ta l la t ion and use of navigational aids, l i fesaving equipment, and other

safety requirements pursuant to Coast Gucrd regulations are standard

procedure for d r i l l i n g r igs and marine vessels u t i l i zed by Sohio Petroleum

Company.

4. Cultural Resources

Visual No. 11 from the EIS fo r Lease Sales 72, 74, & 79 Indicates that

Viosca Knoll Area Block #861 1s not located 1n the Prehistoric or

Historical Archeological Zone.

5 Ecological ly Sensitive Features

Viosca Knoll #861 is located approximately fo r ty (40) miles east of

Pass a Loutre Wi ld l i f e Management Area and for ty- three miles from the Delta

National W i l d l i f e Refuge. There are no other ecological ly sensit ive areas

near Viosca Knoll Area Block #861.

The Venice, Louisiana support base, which w i l l be u t i l i zed as

16

operations base ifor the Block #861 exploration activity, 1s located across

the Mississippi River from the Delta National Wildlife Refuge and

approximately five (5) miles northwest of the Pass.A Loutre Wildlife

Management Area- (1). S. Department of the Interior, DEIS Lease Sale 62 and

62A, Visual No. 3). In general, I f a l l activit ies are executed as planned,

encountering no unusual circumstances, the environmentaliv sensitive areas

w i l l not be affected.

6. Existing Pipelines and Cables

The shallow hazards survey performed for Sohio Petroleum Company by

John E . Chance and Associates, Inc . , Included as an attachment to the plan,

Indicates near surface gases with no potentially high-,-essure accumulation

In Block #861; however, evidence of biogenic gas accumulation was observed

1n Block #861. Surface faults were Identified, of which Sohio is aware and

has taken necessary precautionary measures. There are no known pipelines

or cables present 1n Viosca Knoll Block #861.

7. Other Mineral Uses

There are no other known mineral resources located 1n or near Viosca

Knoll Area Block #861.

17

8. Ocean.Dumping

The major sources of ocean dumping re la ted ' to OCS petroleum exploration

act iv i ty are d r i l l i n g f l u i d s , or "muds," and d r i l l cut t ings. Af ter the

exploratory d r i l l i n g 1n Block #861 is completed, Sohio Petroleum Company

does ant ic ipate dumping the i r excess water-based d r i l l i n g f l u i d s ,

approximately 1400 bbls. I f any oil-based mud is used in the Block #861

d r i l l i ng opert lons, 1t w i l l be returned to the vendor.

Dr i l l cut t ings are brought up by the d r i l l i n g mud and range in size

frcm grains of sand to pebbles. These cuttings are separated and s i f t e d ,

and then disposed of overboard. Treated domestic wastes, formation waters,

and d r i l l waters w i l l also be disposed of at the proposed d r i l l i n g s i t e .

There wi l l be no intentional discharge of any o i l y or hazardous materials

1n violation of D. 0. I . or E. P. A. regulations.

9. Endangered or Threatened Species

Five species of marine tu r t l es occur in the Gulf of Mexico: loggerhead,

green, At lant ic Ridley, hawksbi l l , and leatherback. A l l of these species

are designated as "Endangered" or "Threatened" by the Convention on

International Trade 1n Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (U. S.

Department of the I n te r i o r , EIS Lease Sale 58), as well as by the United

States Government (U. S. Department of the In te r i o r , Region IV Endangered

Species Notebook).

18

The se l . f l r r , blue, humpback, and sperm whales were c lassi f ied as

"Endangered" on December 2, 1970 (Federal Register, December 2, 1970).

Tihese species occur 1n the central and western Gulf of Mexico, but the

5|jpulat1on status an'! migration patterns of these species are not known,

he lease area 1s located approximately fo r t y - f i ve miles southeast of the

Grown Pelican feeding and nesting habitat (U. S. Department of I n t e r i o r ,

DEIS Lease Sale 72, 74, A 79, Visual No. 11), however 1t 1s unl ikely that

the offshore or onshore ac t i v i t i es related to the Viosca Knoll Area Block

#861 exploratory d r i l l i n g w1"l have any effect on the previously named

species.

Table 3 presents the federal ly l i s t ed species tnat are endangered or

threatened 1n and offshore Louisiana and Mississippi and their general

geographic d i s t r i bu t i on .

B. Sodo-Economlc Impacts

In accordance with DOI/MMS guidelines (OS-7-01), dated November 20,

1980, th* i n i t i a l OCS Data Base Report w i l l be developed for submission on

or before the prescribed due date. Subsequent Environmental Reports

provided by Sohio Petroleum Company w i i l address th is data and related

ac t iv i ty impacts.

19

TABLE 3

ttate(s)

Louisiana a Mississippi

Louisiana A Mississippi Louisiana A Mississippi

Louisiana A Mississippi

Louisiana A Mississippi

Louisiana A Mississippi

Louisiana

FEDERALLY LISTED ENDANGERED OR THREATENED SPECIES IN LOUISIANA AND MISSISSIPPI

(E = Endangered; T • Threatened)

Mammals General

Designation Distribution

Panther, Florida (Fells concolor coryi) E

Whaie, blue (Balaenoptera musculus) E

Whaie, finback (Balaenoptera physalus) E

Whaie, numpback (Megaptera novaeangliae) E

Whaie, sei (Balaenoptera boreal 1s) E

Whaie, sperm (Physeter catodon) E

Wolf, red (Canis rufus) E

Fntlre state

Coastal waters

Coastal waters

Coastal waters

Coastal waters C >astal waters

Cameron and Calcasieu Parishes

Fish

Mississippi Darter, Bayou (Etheostama T Southwest—Bayou (Nothonotus) ru""runO Pierre drainage

Birds

Mississippi

Louisiana

Louisiana & Mississippi

Louisiana A Mississippi

Louisiana A Mississippi

Louisiana A Mississippi

Louisiana A Mississippi

Crane, Mississippi sandhi l l (Grus canadensis pull a)

Curlew, ESKimdHTTOmenlus boreal ls)

Eagie, oaid (Hallaeetus leucocephalusl

Falcon, Arctic peregrjne (Falco peregrinus tundrlus

Pencan, brown occidental 1s)

pelecanus

Waroier, Banman's (Vermivora bacnman11)

Woodpecker, I vory -b i l led (Campephilus p r inc ipa l i s )

J?ckson County

Entire state

Entire state

South

Coast

Entire state

Entire state

20

•' , J

Federally Listed Endangered or Threatened Species 1n Louisiana and Mississippi (cont'd)

i : State(s)

Louisiana A Mississippi

Birds (cont 'd)

Woodpecker, red-cockaded (Plcoldes («r>endrocopos)

. borealls)

General Designation Distribution

1 — a —

t Entire state except Mississippi River Delta

Reptiles

Louisiana A Mississippi

L ^ulsiana A Ki«s1ss1pp1

Mississippi

Louisiana A Mississippi

Louisiana I Mississippi

Louisiana A Mississippi

Louisiana A Mississippi

Louisiana A Mississippi

A l l i ga to r , American (Al l igator mlssissippiensis) T

A l l i ga to r , American (Al l igator mlssissippiensis) T*

Snake,Eastern indigo (Drymarchon corals couperi) T

I u r t i e , Kemp's ( A t l a n r i T T -

r id ley (Lepidochelys E kempii)

Turtle, green (Chelonia mydas) E

Turtle, hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) E

Turtle, leatherback (Denmochelys coriacea) E

Turtle, loggerhead (Caretta caretta) E

Inland

Coastal areas

South

Coastal waters

Coastal waters

Coastal waters

Coastal waters

Coastal waters

•Al l igator populations 1n Calcasieu, Cameron, Iber ia , Jefferson, Lafourche, Plaquemines, St . Bernard, St. Charles, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Terrebonne, and Vermilion Parishes are l i s t e d a« Threatened due to Simi lar i ty of Appearance. Regulated harvest in these parishes 1s permitted under State laws, since these populations are b io logical ly neither Endangered nor Threatened.

SOURCE: United State- Dept. I n te r io r Fish and w i l d l i f e Service Region 4 Endangered Species Notebook

21

IV. UNAVOIDABLE ADVERSE IMPACTS • I •

• The greatest threat to the natural environment 1s caused by Inadequate

operational safeguards that may cause or contribute to an o i l s p i l l or well

piowout. These accidents can be greatly reduced 1n number by u t i l i z i n g

trained operational personnel and employing lall available safety and «

pol lut ion control systems. These measures are standard operating procedure

fo r Sohio Petroleum Company. Sohio Petroleum Company has an approved Oil

Sp i l l Contingency Plan.

The unavoidable adverse Impacts that w i l l occur as a resul t of the

exploratory d r i l l i n g and discharging w i l l be few 1n number and temporary 1n

nature. The primary adverse Impacts Include a local ized degradation of

water and a i r qual i ty in the v i c i n i t y of the d r i l l i n g s i t e , the potential

obstruction to commercial and recreational f ishing vessels, and the

disruption and/or k l l l i r , ^ of benthic and/or pelagic organisms during

locat ion of the d r i l l i n g r i g and during disposal of muds, cut t ings, and

domestic wastes and sewage.

Discharging from the d r i l l s i te 1s inevitable during OCS operations,

par t i cu la r ly during exploration. Any materials that may contain o i l or

other hazardous mater ia ls, and therefore would have a much greater adverse

Impact on the environment, w i l l not be discharged In tent iona l ly . Any

discharging w i l l be done pursuant to a l l D.O.I, and E.P.A. regulat ions.

The discharges to be disposed of overboard as a resul t of the exploration

a c t i v i t y wi l l Include domestic waste and sewage that Is treated on the r i g

22

before discharging!, formation waters, d r i l l cut t ings, and excess

water-based mud. The discharging w i l l result in an Increase in water

tu rb l jd i ty , burial of benthic organisms, and possible ,tox1c effects on

reduction in photosynthetic ac t i v i t y and plankton populations can also be

expected as a resu l t of discharging. I t is expected, however, that the

pelagic and benthic organisms w i l l regenerate almost Immediately af ter

discharging i f the ef fects are minimal and Intermittent as expected.

Offshore a c t i v i t i e s generate a small but s ign i f icant amount of a i r

pol lu tants due to the emissions of diesel engines; therefore, the

deter iorat ion of a i r qual i ty is unavoidable in an OCS operation area. In

most Instances, these emissions e f fec t only the Immediate exploration

a c t i v i t y site and are rapidly dissipated by the atmosphere depending upon

c l ima t i c conditions. An A1r Quality Review Report has been perfomed for

v iosca Knoll #861 and 1s included as an attachment to th is Environmental

Report. Comnercial and recreational f ish ing would be affected by OCS

development, but pr imar i ly 1n terms of inconvenience and Interference.

Although the unavoidable adverse impacts could include some smothering of

s h e l l f i s h , snagging of trawl nets, reduction of area presently used for

unrestr icted f i sh i ng , and minima" f i n f i s h k i l l i n g , commercial f ishing

a c t i v i t i e s would not be s ign i f icant ly ef fected, except 1n the unl ikely

event of an oi l s p i l l . An o i l s p i l l would result in serious economic

losses due to the contamination of commercial f ish species over a large

a rea .

immediate v i c i n i t y of the d r i l l i n g r i g . A

2?

There 1s a remote poss ib i l i t y that offshore areas of h i s t o r i ca l ,

cu l tu ra l , or b io logical signif icance could be damaged or destroyed by OCS

exploration operations. Visual No. 4 from the U. S. Department of the

Inter|ldr EIS fo r Lease] Sales 72, 74, and 79 Indicates that no

archeological, c u l t u r a l , or h is tor ic areas are 1n the v i c i n i t y of Viosca K. j

Knoll #861. Add i t i ona l l y , Sohio Petroleum Company w i l l make every e f f o r t

to avoid disturbing any h i s t o r i c a l l y , cu l t u ra l l y , or b io log ica l ly

s igni f icant feature.

2 k

REFERENCES i

\

Acadiana P ro f i l e , "Scuba Divers Active in Atchafalaya Basin." May 1976, pp.4-5 J

Adk ins, I Gerald, "A Study of the Blue Crab Fishery in Louisiana, Louisiana Wi l d l i f e ai\g! Fisheries Commission; Oyster,, Water Bottoms and Seafood'Division; Technical Bu l le t in #3, Dec, 1972

Ahrenholz, Dean W., "Recruitment and Exploitat ion of Gulf Menhaden, Brevoorita patronus," National Marine Fisheries Service; Fisheries Bu l le t in : Vol. / 9 , Mo. 2, 1981

Dugas, R., Gu i l l o ry , V. , and Fischer, M., "Oil R1gs and Offshore Sport ~1sh1ng 1n Louisiana," Fisheries Magazine, Nov.-Dec. 1979, p.8

Geyer, Richard A . , "Impacts of Changes of Gulf Coast Estuaries," Transactions: North American Wi l d l i f e and Natural Resources Conference; p. 335-348; 1972

Hoese, H. D. and Moore, R. H., Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico; Texas, Louisiana, and adjacent Waters. College Stat ion, Texas; T^xas A & M University Press, 1977.

Lassi ter , Ronald C , "The Georges Bank: Fish and Fuel , " Ninth Annual Sea Grant Lecture, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, October 23, 1980.

Louisiana Wi ld l i f e and Fisheries Commission, Cooperative Gulf of Mexico Estuarine Inventory and Study: Louisiana, 1977

Macklin, J . G., and Hopkins, S. H. , "Studies on Oyster Mortal i ty in Relation to Natural Environments and Oi l f ie lds of Louisiana," Publications of the Ins t i tu te of Marine Science, Vo l . 7, 1962, p. 1-1*1

Marum, James P., "Significance of Dist r ibut ion Patterns of Planktonic Copopods in Louisiana Coastal Waters and Relationships to Oil D r i l l i n g and Production," Rice Univ. Studies; The Offshore Ecology Investigation

Vo l . 65, Nos. 4 * 5 , F a l l , 1979, p. 355

Murray, Currents and Circulat ion 1n the Coastal Waters of Louisiana, 1976

OECS Corporation, Environmental Report - OECS Project #264 Lafayette, Louisiana

Perry, Al l ison, "Fish of Timbalier Bay and Offshore Louisiana Environments Collected by Trawling," Rice Univ. Studies; The Offshore Invest igat ion; Vo l . 65, Nos. 4 & 5, F a l l , 1979, p. 537

Ragan, James G. et a l , "Bottomfishes of the Continental Shelf Off Louisiana," Professional Paper Series (Biology), Nichol ls State Universi ty, 1978

25

« /

St. Armant, Lyle S., "Impacts of Oil on the Gulf Coast," Transactions: North American Wildlife and Natural Resourses Conference; p. 206-215; 1971 ,

The farina Newsletter, "Oil Rigs Enhance Recreational Fishing in the GulfjOf Mexico." Nov.-Dec, Vol. 11, No. 6, p. 6, 1980 •

Transco, Map of South Louisiana and Continental Shelf Showing Natural Gas Pipelines, 1980y#

U. S. Department of Commerce, NOAA. Fisheries of the United States: Current Fisheries Statistic No. 8200; Fisheries of the United States, 1981. National Marine Fisheries Service, April, 1982

U. S. Department of Commerce, NOAA. Federal Register, Vol, 46, No. 97, Washington, D. C, May 20, 1981

U. S. Department of the Interior, NOAA. Environmental Guide for The Gulf Coast, Environmental Data Service, National Climatic Center, Ashville, N. C. , 1972

U. 5. Department ot the Interior, BLM. Final Environnv" tal Impact Statement; OCS Sale 36. 3 Vol. Washington, D. C, 197<*

U. S. Department of the Interior, BLM. Final Environmental Impact Statement; OCS Sales 62 and 62A. Washington, D. C. , 1976

U. S. Department of the Interior, PLM. Final Environmental Impact Statement; OCS Sale 58. ? Yols. Washington, D. C. , 1979

U. S. Department of the Interior, FWS. Environmental Planning for Offshore Oil and Gas Vol. 5: Regional Status Reports—Part 3 (The Gulf Coast). Washington, D. C. . 1977

U. S. Department of the Interior, FWS. Environmental Planning for Offshore Oil and Gas Vol, 3: Effects on Living Resources Sand Habitats, Washington, D. C. , 1977

U. S. Department of the Interior, FWS. Region IV Endangered Species Notebook. Atlanta, Georgia, 1976 (periodically updated)

U. S. Department of the Interior, FWS. Federal Register, Vol. 35, No. 233, Washington, D. C. , December 2, 1970

26

APPENDIX 1

COASTAL 70NE MANAGEMENT

CONSISTENCY CERTIFICATE

27

• I COASTAL 70NE MANAGEMENT

CONSISTENCY CERTIFICATION

< i

j I , Exploration

Type of Plan

Viosca Knoll Area Block #861

Area and Block

OCS-G-5782

Lease Number

The proposed ac t i v i t i es described 1n detai l 1n this Plan comply with Louisiana's and Mississippi 's approved Coastal Management Program and w i l l be conducted 1n a manner consistent with such Program.

Sohio Petroleum Company

Lessee or Operator

28

* * * * * * *

AIR QUALITY REVIEW For

Sohio Petroleum Company 3639 Ambassador Caffery

Lafayette, Louisiana 70506

Submitted To J1m Parker

July 12, 1983

Prepared by: ,10HN E. CHANCE & ASSOCIATES, INC.

regulatory and Environmental Division Lafayette, Louisiana Project No. 83-8079

29

PROJECTED AIR EMISSION SCHEDULE FOR EXPLORATION PROJECT

I . General Information

Location of F a c i l i t y - Viosca Knoll Area Block #861 Name of Rig/Platform - New Fra Owner/Operator - Sohio Petroleum Company Address - 3936 Ambassador Caffery Parkway

Lafayette, Louisiana Contact Person - Jim Parker

Project Start Date - August 15, 1983 Project End Date - Felruary 16, 1984 Total Well Footage to be Dr i l led - 37,000 Distance Offshore - 35 miles

I I . Findings of A i r Quality Review

As per DOI-MMS regulations th is f a c i l i t y 1s exempt from further a i r qual i ty review as 1t has been determined that I t s operation w i l l not have a s ign i f icant adverse environmental impact on a i r qua l i t y .

I I I . Total Emissions at Rig/Platform

Allowable Projected Emission Emitted Emissions Emissions Status Substance ( tons/yr) ( tons/yr) (OK/NG)

CO 36379.6 7.5 OK S02 1165.5 1.1 OK NOX 1165.5 41.2 OK VOC 1165.5 2.04 OK TSP 1165.5 .07 OK

IV. Total Supply A Crew Boat Emissions at Venice, Louisiana

Emitt * Projected Status Suhst ce (s) Emissions (OK/NG)

CO 3.6 OK S02 * * NOX 25. f OK VOC 1.4 OK TSP * *

30

V. Total Helicopter Emissions at Venice, Louisiana

Emitted Projected Status Substance (s) Emissions (OK/NG)

->• • ,-4

CO 1.5 OK S62 .05 1 OK NOX .1 OK VOC .1 OK TSP .07 OK

VI. Transportation Service? Data

Supply Boats (3000 hp*

Port - Venice, Louisiana Waiting Time - 4 hrs./day Trips Per Week - 4

Crew Boats (2500 hp)

Port - Venire, Louisiana Waiting Time - 1 nrs. Trips Per Week - 7

Helicopters

Base - Venice, Louisiana Trips Per Week - 10

Other (Explain) - N/A

+The EPA does not provide S02 and TSP emission fa:tors for boats nor does i t provide TSP f 5ct/>rs for drilling.

• I •

VII . Factors Used In Calculations

Emission Factors for Power Generation

Emitted Drilling Substance(s) (lb/hp-hr)

CO K> .0042 S02 .0019 NOX .028 YOC .00095 TSP *

Emlsson Factors for Helicopters and Boats

Emitted Helicopters Boats Substance(s) (lb/eng1ne-LT0) (lb/gal)

CO 5.7 .0598 S02 .18 * NOX .57 .4196 VOC .52 .0226 TSP .25 *

Other Factors Drilling Power Generation - 60 hp-hr/ft Fuel Consumption by Boats - .0959 gal/KW-hr

VIII . Methodology

R1g/Platform - horsepower-hour method Boats - horsepower-hour method Helicopters - landing/takeoff (LTO) cycle method

IX. References

Drilling -EPA-450/3-77-026 (June 1977) - "Atmospheric Emissions From Offshore 011 Development and Production", pp. 81-92.

Boats and Helicopters - EPA Report AP-42 - "Compilation of Air Pollutant Emission Factors", 3rd edition, (August 1977), pp. 116, 125, 127.

* The EPA does not provide S02 and TSP emission factors for boats nor ooes 1t provide TSP emission factors for dr i l l ing.