Royal Dutch Shell's bioacoustics program: a whale of a study: documenting effects on marine animals from offshore operations in Beaufort and Chukchi seas.

AuthorOrr, Vanessa
PositionSPECIAL SECTION: Oil & Gas

According to a 2008 study by the U.S. Geological Survey, approximately 90 billion barrels of recoverable oil and one-third of the world's natural gas may be found in the Arctic. With estimates like this, it is no wonder that the oil and gas industry has been increasing its activities and investment in this remote region at a very rapid pace.

However, as interest in the area grows, so does the concern for its fragile ecosystem. In addition to the need to protect a diverse number of marine mammals ranging from bowhead whales to harbor porpoises to Pacific walruses and spotted seals, it is also imperative that exploration and drilling activities not adversely affect the Inupiat and Siberian Yupik Eskimos who depend on these species to support their subsistence lifestyles.

To this end, Royal Dutch Shell has implemented one of the most comprehensive marine mammal monitoring and mitigation programs ever attempted, unmatched in its scope and its mix of different technologies. The program, which is taking place in both the Beaufort and Chukchi seas, is designed to collect baseline information on the distribution of marine mammals and to help the industry understand the cumulative impacts of operations conducted in the region by multiple operators. Data collected also allows the industry to mitigate impacts in real time.

"Through this program, we are gaining a lot of very useful insights into the details of sounds generated by industry activities," explains Michael Macrander, Shell Alaska environmental lead. "A pleasant surprise that we found this year is that active drilling itself is pretty quiet relative to other things; however, some things that we had not thought of as loud were a bit louder than originally thought."

According to Macrander, this information is used to promote dialog within the industry and with local communities so that oil and gas companies can better target their activities. "It shows the industry what to focus on in terms of mitigation measures; for example, it doesn't make sense to invest in quieting technologies for drilling if that doesn't provide the biggest payoff," he explains.

"It also allows the industry to fine-tune mitigation measures with respect to those who live the subsistence culture," Macrander continues. "We can address their concerns about noise and what they believe needs to be quieter. These informed discussions can help us better focus our efforts."

Beneficial Stewardship

According to Christopher W...

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