Seismic Oil Exploration

Impacts
Colin Bursey and Christa Lee Spurrell
Seismic Oil Exploration
Seismic reflection = a process used to determine
shape, thickness, composition, and other
characteristics of the sediment layers underlying the
ocean floor (the subbottom).
uses strong pulses produced by an airgun (positioned
under a ship) to penetrate the sea floor. When reflected
back to a surface sensor called a hydrophone,
information can be gathered about the subbottom.
Seismic Oil Exploration
Seismic Oil Exploration
seismic reflection profile = an
image produced from the
reflection displaying the
subbottom geologic structure. This
allows oil companies to survey the
open ocean subbottom to help
predict where oil fields may be
located.
uses low frequency sounds (10-
300Hz) at approximately 200-
230db.
A seismic survey can usually last
up to 2-3 weeks and covers a range
of 300 to 600 miles.
Potential Impacts
Seismic oil exploration has been hypothesized to have potential detrimental
effects on marine life.
Many marine animals, especially cetaceans (including whales and dolphins)
have very sensitive hearing and the loud noises produced can cause ear
damage, as well as other behavioural, physiological and physical harm
Different marine species are affected in different ways by this exploration
technique
There is much debate over the magnitude of the impacts; as you would
expect, environmentalists may exaggerate the impacts while oil companies
may downplay them.
Much research has already been done, however it is difficult to asses the
true impacts as so many organisms and parameters must be measured.
Much research is still required.
Impacts on Marine Mammals
Physical (including physiological)
Damage to body tissue
Gross damage to ears causing permanent and/or temporary
threshold shift
 PTS (Permanent Threshold Shift): Reduction in auditory sensitivity
 After exposing belugas and whales to one second tones at 0.4, 3, 10,

20, and 75 Hz, it was found that levels between 192 and 201 dB
caused a 6 dB reduction in sensitivity, but tones at 400 Hz had no
effect on sensitivity.
 TTS (Temporary Threshold Shift): Reduction in auditory sensitivity

with eventual recovery

Chronic stress effects that reduce viability
Impacts on Marine Mammals
Perceptual
Masking of biologically significant sounds
 communication signals, echolocation, sounds associated with orientation,

finding prey, or avoiding natural or manmade threats

Behavioural
Disruption of foraging
Avoidance of particular areas
 May play a major role in whales swimming aground
Altered dive and respiratory problems
Disruption of mating systems
Indirect
Reduced prey availability which results in reduced feeding rates
Impacts on Fish
No documented cases of mortality
 Lab studies show low proportions of lethal effects from low
frequency sounds
There are possible effects on hearing when exposed at
close range
There is a high likelihood that distribution/swimming
patterns are affected
Possible dispersion of spawning aggregations or
deflection from migration paths
Impacts on Inverts
No documented cases of mortality
However there have been beachings of giant squid
Possible effects on growth and reproduction rates
Possible stress in gastropods
Possible change in swimming patterns
Seismic impacts on zooplankton, eggs, and fish larvae
May arrest development of eggs
And developmental anomalies are known to occur in small
proportions
Also seismic activity has been known to damage reproductive
processes, auditory functions, and have other effects on
benthic invertebrates such as crab and lobster.
Impacts on Turtles
The impact of seismic activity on sea turtles has been
observed to cause an increase in swimming speed and
in avoidance activity resulting in changes in migratory
direction
Also a loss in hearing sensitivity has also been
observed.
References
DFO (2004). Review of Scientific information on impacts of
seismic sound on fish, invertebrates, marine turtles and
marine mammals. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Habitat Status
Report. 2004/002.

 Gordon et al. (2003). A Review of the Effects of Seismic

Surveys on Marine Mammals. Marine Technology Society
Journal. 37-4.

Pinet, P. R. (2009). Invitation to Oceanography (5th ed).

Jones and Bartlett Publishers; Sudbury, MA.