Location and timing

The Sauropod 3D MSS will be located on the Northwest Shelf, approximately 230 km west of Broome. The permit area (WA-527-P) is in Commonwealth waters. The water depths in the Operational Area range between 65 and 170 m. The Operational Area includes the area where the seismic data acquisition will occur as well as additional space where vessel activities associated with the survey will take place such as turning, run-outs, source testing and soft starts during run-ins. This means that the seismic source will be discharged at or below full capacity (power) only within the Operational Area.

Location details are on the figure below, including key features in the area. The distance of the Operational Area to Australian Marine Parks (AMP) and other key features in the area are indicated below. Coordinates of the proposed survey are also provided below.

The Sauropod 3D MSS will take a maximum of 60 days to acquire and will be undertaken within the acquisition window of January to May in 2026 or 2027. The precise timing of the survey is subject to vessel availability, weather conditions and other operational considerations. The final timing of the survey will be communicated to stakeholders in advance of the survey commencing.

  • -18° 1’ 49.19” 119° 59’ 24.25”

    -18° 44’ 52.37” 120° 0’ 8.93”

    -18° 45’ 14.87” 119° 35’ 4.56”

    -18° 2’ 10.75” 119° 34’ 26.08”

    (GDA ‘94)

  • Argo-Rowley Terrace AMP - 20 km

    Rowley Shoals - 48 km

    Mermaid Reef AMP - 69 km

    Eighty Mile Beach AMP - 72 km

    Bedout Island - 86 km

    Roebuck Bay - 230 km

  • -17° 55’ 47.93” 120° 3’ 24.12”

    -18° 50’ 45.74” 120° 4’ 22.48”

    -18° 51’ 15.77” 119° 31’ 2.71”

    -17° 56’ 16.4” 119° 30’ 14.87”

    (GDA ‘94)

Potential risks and management

A summary of potential risks to relevant persons who may have functions, activities or interests within the Planning Area is provided below. For each risk the associated management measures are summarised in Table 3. Risks that are associated with events that are not expected to occur during normal activities are outlined in Table 4. A full risk assessment undertaken for the previously accepted EP can be found here.

If you need further information, please contact us.

Table 3 Potential impacts and mitigation/management measures

    • Operation of the seismic source within the Operational Area for the Sauropod 3D MSS will be compliant with EPBC Act Policy Statement 2.1 in regards to precaution zones implemented around the seismic source to reduce impacts on whales, whale sharks and marine turtles.

    • The seismic source will not be discharged outside the Operational Area

    • Engagement with other titleholders with potentially overlapping seismic surveys to develop concurrent operations plans

    • Survey acquisition timed to avoid the migration periods for Humpback whales

    • Compensation for short term loss of commercial fishing catch due to seismic sound

    • Development of a concurrent operations plan for any concurrent surveys identified within 40 km of the Acquisition Area

    • Minimum separation distance of 40 km shall be maintained between the Sauropod 3D MSS seismic sources and other operating seismic sources (none identified at this point)

    • Vessels and helicopters comply with relevant parts of Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Regulation (2000) Part 8

    • Vessel and machinery are maintained in accordance with Flag State certification requirements.

    • All engines, compressors and machinery are maintained via a maintenance management system

    • Stakeholder consultation and notifications prior to commencement of the survey, during the survey and upon completion of the survey.

    • Notice to Mariners issued prior to the survey

    • Maintaining a 24-hour visual, radio and radar watch

    • Tail buoys of the towed hydrophone streamers fitted with lights and radar reflectors and AIS

    • Vessels will maintain appropriate lighting and communication at all times, in compliance with Navigation Act 2012 and associated Marine Orders

    • Making regular vessel operations ‘look-ahead’ reports available to stakeholders throughout the survey to advise the location of the operating survey vessel and where it is planned to go next

    • Use of a support vessel when safe to do so

    • Emissions and discharges of liquid waste to sea are in accordance with legislative requirements, the impact and risk assessment process indicates that discharges will not result in significant effects to marine fauna

    • Waste Management Plan

    • Potential impacts from lighting are assessed as occurring within 20 km of a vessel or facility based on the National Light Pollution Guidelines for Wildlife (Commonwealth of Australia 2019)

    • Facility and vessel navigation lights are compliant with the Navigation Act 2012.

    • Survey crews will minimize unnecessary external lighting

    • IAPP certificate measures are in place to manage air emissions

    • Vessels to use low sulphur content fuel

    • Vessel engines and incinerators maintained according to manufacturers’ specifications

Table 4 Potential risks and mitigation/management measures associated only with unplanned events

    • IMS Management will meet legal requirements and reduce risks to As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP) and Acceptable levels.

    • Vessels will be required to adhere to ballast water management, quarantine and biofouling requirements as required according to vessel class

    • Vessels will not exceed a speed of six knots within the caution zone of a cetacean, in accordance with EPBC Regulations 2000 – Part 8 Division 8.

    • Tail buoys on towed hydrophone streamers will be fitted with turtle guards.

    • Survey acquisition timed to avoid humpback whale migration period

    • No release of non-hazardous / hazardous solid wastes or non-hydrocarbon hazardous liquids to the marine environment

    • Integrity and maintenance requirements maintained

    • Dropped object prevention

    • Waste management plan implemented, and details included in induction materials

    • Competent and trained personnel are inducted and have appropriate qualifications

    • Spill kits available and incident response plans in place

    • Appropriate survey equipment used that reduces the risk of lost equipment such as solid streamers, streamer recovery devices and tail buoys

    • Equipment is routinely maintained

    • Operate under approved procedures at all times

    • Relevant stakeholders notified in the event of a loss of equipment

    • Oil spill contingency planning will be managed in accordance with AMSA requirements under the National Plan for Maritime Environmental Emergencies.

    • NOPSEMA accepted Oil Pollution Emergency Plan (OPEP)

    • All vessels will have Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plans

    • Maintenance and integrity checks and inspections

    • Appropriate vessel spill response plans, equipment and materials will be in place and maintained

    • Appropriate refueling procedures and equipment will be used to prevent spills to the marine environment