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Exploration team breaks the ice in Greenland
ExxonMobil is analysing the results of a seismic survey on two blocks in the west....
ExxonMobil is analysing the results of a seismic survey on two blocks in the west of Greenland.The blocks cover 27,000 square kilometres, and more than 6,400 kilometres of data has been collected from them.Gary Robertson, ExxonMobil’s UK-based geoscience project manager for West Europe, explained: “The oldest rocks are nearly four billion years old and the area ExxonMobil is interested in is covered by thick basalts, which make it difficult to penetrate acoustically. We needed to apply all of ExxonMobil’s technical and Arctic operations expertise"And it’s an extremely sensitive environment," added Gary. “It’s a dramatic, beautiful and pristine place. We need to understand our potential impact on the environment and the communities living there before we do any work.ExxonMobil is operating in Greenland waters with a great deal of environmental care. The CGGV Princess seismic vessel, working with two support vessels, employed a local fishing representative, an ice observer and two marine mammal observers during last summer’s operations.To avoid disturbing the whales that are common in these waters, ExxonMobil used a “soft start” method, where the strength of the seismic source was gradually increased from a low level, allowing whales to move away. The team also operated with a 500-metre exclusion zone; the seismic pulses were not started until this zone was clear of whales.