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

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