CHAPTER 15 3-D GEOPHYSICAL PERMITTING IN WESTERN UNITED STATES

• Jurisdiction: United States

Land and Permitting II
(Jan 1996)
CHAPTER 15
3-D GEOPHYSICAL PERMITTING IN WESTERN UNITED STATES
DeWitt Morris
Russ Gentry and John E. Morley
Western Geophysical
Englewood, Colorado

15.1 Contractor/Client Communications

I. Survey Area

A. Prospect name

B. Location (township, range & sections)

C. Type of energy source (vibroseis, dynamite, etc.)

II. Survey Design

A. Geological objectives

B. Dip (amount+direction)

C. Fold

D. Cell size

E. Mute information

15.2 Contractor/Permit Agent Communications

I. Preplot Discussion

A. Energy type

B. Sources and receivers per square mile

C. Baseline payment per acre; crop damage

D. Archeological costs; linear or block

II. Permitting the Prospect

A. Courthouse research

B. Federal lands

1. Notice of intent (NOI)

2. Action plan (recreational, biological, cultural, visual and reclamation)

3. Prework meeting (client, contractor, agency)

4. Policy handbook & manual — 3150 Onshore Oil & Gas Geophysical Exploration Surface Management Requirements — Release 3-288 & 3-289

C. State lands

1. Variability between states

a. Wyoming; no written permission

b. Montana; likely environmental assessment (E.A.)

c. California; area dependent

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D. Private Lands

1. Initial contact

a. Source type discussion

b. Crop concerns

c. Livestock concerns

d. Payment, seismic option/lease agreement/per acre or per mile

E. Minerals

1. Western Geophysical acquires mineral permission according to client instructions

a. Some require 100%

b. Most maintain right to explore over any percentage even in severed mineral estate

c. Not necessary on federal lands except as a courtesy on leases which are held by production (HBP)

2. 3-D Geophysical data as condition of permit

a. 3-D data cash value

b. Internal Revenue Service considerations

3. Mineral trespass

15.3 Project Coordination

I. Source relocation guidelines

II. Geophysicist/surveyor coordination

III. Geophysicist/recorder coordination

15.4 Permit Closure

I. Federal — Notice of completion/post plot map

II. State — Post plot map/hole plugging report

III. Private — Gates, trash and tracks

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15.5 Permit Procedures in Southwestern Wyoming

I. Federal Lands

A. Approximately 75% of lands are BLM managed

B. BLM concerns pertaining to seismic operations

1. Cultural (Class III Inventory)

2. Wildlife

3. Surface damage

II. State Lands

A. Wyoming requires...