Io Randy *Umr Tot fO-2-1 OATA INP On July 12, Conoco I n c . attention. »f». ii. L . Byera Poet Offioo Box 51266 Lafayette, Louieiaea 70509 Gentleewjoc Reference l a aode to yoar Initial Plan of Bxploration, received June 30, 1960, for ^ajaCOj^JOjn. Block 31*5, Oalvoaton Araa. Thla plan includes tne aotivir! Well Ho. |« In acooreanoe with 30 CFI 250-33, tola alao la he roby doomed subait tod and la nov bains aonalderod for approval. Tour plan cation ana end should Do referenced in your ccununl- ti& this plan. Mncerely youra, D. J . Bourgeois Regional Supervisor Pie 14 Operations bcc: Lease OCS-G 90*3 (OPS-3-2) (FILE ROOM) (QPS-3-* w/ Public Info. Copy of tbe plan (PUBLIC RECORDS) Willlaavson: cok: 07/06/88: poeooai wtf Office of Program Service* JUL 12 1988 infomtatiof, Services ioctton
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Io Randy *Umr Tot fO-2-1
OATA INP
On
July 12,
Conoco Inc. attention. »f». i i . L . Byera Poet Offioo Box 51266 Lafayette, Louieiaea 70509
Gentleewjoc
Reference la aode to yoar I n i t i a l Plan of Bxploration, received June 30, 1960, for ^ a j a C O j ^ J O j n . Block 31*5, Oalvoaton Araa. Thla plan includes tne aotivir! Well Ho. |«
In acooreanoe with 30 CFI 250-33, tola alao la he roby doomed subait tod and la nov bains aonalderod for approval.
Tour plan cation ana
end should Do referenced in your ccununl-ti& this plan.
Mncerely youra,
D. J . Bourgeois Regional Supervisor Pie 14 Operations
bcc: Lease OCS-G 90*3 (OPS-3-2) (FILE ROOM) (QPS-3-* w/ Public Info . Copy of tbe plan (PUBLIC RECORDS)
Willlaavson: cok: 07/06/88: poeooai
wtf
Office of Program Service*
JUL 12 1988 infomtatiof, Services
ioctton
Cconoco)
Production Oepertment Lafayette Division
Conoco Inc. PO Box 51266 Lafayette. LA 70505 ' 18)236-5000
June 29, 1988
Minerals Management Service 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard Nev Orleans, LA. 70123-2394
Attention: Regional Supervisor, Office for Rules and Production
Gentlemen:
I n i t i a l Plan of Exploration, Galveston Block 315 (OCS-G9043)
Enclosed are the required copies of our I n i t i a l Plan of Exploration for Galveston 315 (0CS-G9043). Five copies contain proprietsry information and are so marked. I f any additional information i s needed you can c a l l me at (318) 236-5078 or John Tarasievicz at (318) 236-5081.
Tours very truly,
D. L . Byers Coordinator Environmenta) Affairs
JJT/jgf
Attachments
JJT2/056
PUBUC INFORMATTOH
INITIAL PLAM OF EXPLORATION GALVESTON BLOCK 313. OCS-09043
This i n i t i a l plan of exploration provides for tha dr i l l ing of ona (1) well, No. 1 on OCS-G9043, r»1 • nii^US^Hjl M j _ Individual ve i l Information is as follows:
Surf act I f JUN 3 0 19OU g p t i c i p M d
Location % * rifLD j t Af Spud Data Days to Drill
1 8100* FEL 4 7300' FSL
August I, 1988 90
Tha fabrication and inatallation of platforma, producing facilities and pipelines ia contingent upon tha succaaa or failure of thla wall.
This exploratory well will ba drilled by a mobile, self elevating drilling platform similar to the Glomar Main Paaa IV. Drip pane are installed under all equipment which could be a aource of pollution. All waste produc ta which contain oil will be properly treneported to land and disposed of at approved dlapoael facllitiee. Domestic wastes will be treated by onboard sanitation treatment facilities and will be disposed of into Gulf of Mexico waters. These waters plus formation and water base d r i l l waters will be dlschsrged overboard at the alte following NPDES regulations. All other' solid end liquid vesta which cannot be disposed of at the site will be transported to lend in epproved containers and then disposed of in sccordance with Louisiana regulations.
Projected amounts snd rates of drilling fluid and cuttlnga dischargee are besed on a typical directional drilled hole end ere computed et 23Z over a gsuge hole.
Discharge Amount of Discharge per dey
Hole Casing Setting Amount of Drilling Days to per dey Drilling Slao SUe Depth Cuttlnga Fluid Drill Cuttings Fluid
* Asturn oo 1.5 bbls of said loat /bbl of cuttlnga • ** A-sum eo KOP - 4700' and building to 25 • 5650' TVD.
Galveston Block 315 lo locsted approximately 17 miles from ito cloeeat point onehore (Southweet of Brasoria County, Texaa). Operetione will be served by Conoco'o shore beses wnich nre located in Csnorca nnd Morgan City, Loulalana. Theee shore beeea will aerve tho folloving purposes! I.) loading point for toe la, equipmeut nod machinery to be delivered to our offshore locationa; 2.) crow change and trans aortation bono; and 3.) temporary storage for materiala and equipment.
JJT/155
basts v i l l ba equipped with tha necessary loading docks and cranee for convenient and aef a operationa. Full tine dispatchers are employed at Cameron ln order to maintain 24 hour contact with offshore personnel.
Ssfsty ln drilling operationa will be accomplished through: 1.) adequately deelgned caalng programs; 2.) the uae of blowout preventora and associated well equipment of adequate preaaure rating to contain anticipated pressures; 3.) the use of sufficient mud volumes to insure control of the well; 4.) the uae of mud monitoring equipment; and 5.) the use of supervisory peraonnel properly trained ln preaaure control. Fire drills, abandon ship drills, the inatallation and uee of required navigational aids snd lifesaving equipment and ell other ehlpboerd safety requirements will be conducted pursuant to Coaet Guard regulations.
Conoco Inc. la a member of Clesn Gulf Assoclstss (CGA). CGA is s cooperative designed to own and maintain a large Inventory of apill clean-up- equipment. Thia equipment and the necessary marine supervisors for use ln an advisory capacity are available to member companies during spill events. Major equipment items available through CGA are fast response open sss and bay skimmers, high volume open sea skimmer systems, shallow water skimmer systarns, snd an inventory of known reaourcea available for emergency oil spill clean-up and control. Our updated Accident Diacharge Contingency Plan was approved by the MMS on April 6, 1987.
As per the Air Quality Regulations 30 CFR 250.57 (Federal Register March 7, 1980), Attachment I la a liat of projected emissions during thc proposed operetlons. Emissions from each facility were estimated froa EPA AP-42 and all calculations were baaed ou worst poeelble case. Actusl eaissions sre expected to be considerably below those estimated. Attachment I I is a schematic of the drilling operations snd Indicatee the height of eaissions shove sea level.
Ths period of time the facility will be polluting is baaed on the time schedule aa shown above. Drilling operationa are expected to leat 90 days. During this tine emissions are baaed on the following factora:
Rig: 6000 HP(5 Cat D-399TA diesels st 1200 HP each.) 24 hra/day and 7 daya/week.
Standby Boat: 24 hra/day and 7 days/week. Work Boat: 24 hra/day and 4 days/week. Tug Boat: 2-4500 RP diesels 24 hrs/da;- for 4 daya to tow
rig in and out. Voiding: 1-50 HP dieael running 4 hrs/day to power welding
unit. Cementing: 2-200 HP dlesels to ? ear unit running 28
hrs/well. Crane: 2-110 HP dlesels to power crane running 4
hrs/Uny. Helicopters: 3 flights/day
JJT/155
Using the above estimates, too table ln Attachment I vaa compiled. Also Included ln thia table are the marl mum allowable emlaalona. These values vers bssed on exemption formulas in the Federel Register snd the drilling operationa being 17 miles from the nearest shore ss shown lu Attachment I I . Considering this information, ve do not plen to install air quality pollution controla.
A structure map, croaa section, a location plat, shallow hazards survey s l i s t of drilling/completion fluids, culturel resource evaluation and Environmental Report are ettached.
turtle (Leoldochelvs kemolil. green turtle (Chelonia iyjf]|i)? hawksbill turtle
(Eretmochelys imbricata). leatherback turtle (Dermochelys cor 1KM) and
loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) (USDOI, Region IV Endangered Species
Notebook).
Endangered and threatened species expected to occur in the vicinity of
the Caaeron, Louisiana onshore base are Arctic peregrine falcon (Falco
peregrinus tundrius). brown pelican (Pelecanus KCldtntllll). and American
alligator (Allioator mississippiensis) (USDI, Region IV Endangered Species
Notebook). Endangered or threatened species expected to occur in the vicinity
of the Morgan City, Louisiana onshore base ara bald eagle
(Haliaeetus IfUCOCWhllUl) and American alllgatcr (Alligator
•1ss1ss1pp1ens1s) (USDI, Region IV Endangered Species Notebook). The brown
pelican was a common resident of Louisiana but this species became virtually
extinct 1n tha late 1950's (FHtts et al., 1963). By 1960, the estimated
population of brown pelicans was four birds (NFWL, 1980). Re-establishment
of a breeding population in Louisiana has aat with varying success (Fritts
et al., 1983). No brown pelicans have been sighted In the Caaeron area
since 1956 (Lowery, 1974 and Walther, 1984). Arctic peregrine falcons are
Migrants through the area and are not considered a coaponent of the resident
bird population. Bald eagle nesting areas occur between Morgan City and
Houma (Beccasio et al., 198?). The Aaerican alligator Is classified as
threatened in Louisiana due to similarity of appearance. This species is
neither endangered nor threatened biologically In Louisiana and a regulated
harvest is penaltted under State Law (USDI, Region IV Endangered Species
Notebook). No Inpacts on American alligators are expected. The presence of
marine mammals in coastal Louisiana is considered sporadic and probably no
resident populations exist. It Is unlikely that onshore or exploration
activities related to Galveston Area Block 315 will have any effect on the
previously named species.
B. Socio-Economic Impacts
In accordance with DOI/MMS guidelines (OS-7-01), dated November 20,
1980, the Initial OCS Oata Base Report will be developed for submission on
17
<
or btfort tht prescribed due date. Subsequent Envlronaental Reports
provldtd by Conoco Inc. will address this data and related activity Inpacts
as required.
IV. UNAVOIDABLE ADVERSE INPACTS
The greatest threat to the natural environment Is caused by Inadequate
operational safeguards that aay cause or contribute to an oil spill or well
blowout. These accidents can be greatly reduced In nuaber by utilizing
trained operational personnel and employing all available safety and
pollution control systems. These measures are standard operating procedure
for Conoco Inc. Conoco Inc. has an approved Oil Spill Contingency Plan.
It should be noted that most large crude oil and refined products
spills have occurred during transportation and not during drilling or
production operations. Furthermore, the probability of an oil spill
occurring during exploratory drilling operations Is low (Danenberger, 1976).
Transportation and river runoff contribute an estimated 34.9 percent and
26.2 percent, respectively, to the hydrocarbon contamination of the world's
oceans while offshore production activities account for only 1.3 percent
(National Academy of Sciences, 197S). Natural seeps of petroleum and
natural gas, which occur throughout the northern Gulf of Nexico (Zo Bell,
1954; Geyer, 1979), contribute an estimated 9.8 percent to the contamination
of the world's oceans (National Academy of Sciences, 1975). Additionally,
It was noted in the executive summary of a recent study of petroleum
production platforms In the central Gulf of Nexico (Bedinger, 1981), that
natural disturbances (I.e. river flooding and storms) can more greatly
affect normal biological communities than the currant Industrial development
of the Louisiana OCS. The preceding discussion 1s not Intended to minimize
the significance of major oil spills resulting from petroleum exploration
and production activities but 1s provided to establish a perspective
relative to their probable occurrence.
Thirteen of the forty-six blow-outs on the OCS between 1971 and 1978
were associated with exploratory drilling activities, none of which released
any oil to the aarlne environment (Danenberger, 1980). The IXTOC I spill of
1979, however, demonstrates that advanced drilling technology and available
safety and pollution control systems are not Infallible. Nost spills are
subjected to Immediate containment and cleanup efforts. The ultimate fate
of oil spilled in the marine environment Is generally considered to be one
or a combination of the following: evaporation and decomposition in the
atmosphere, dispersal in the water column, Incorporation Into sediments, and
oxidation by chemical or biological means (National Academy of Sciences,
1975).
The unavoidable adverse Impacts that will occur as a result of the
exploratory drill1rq and discharging of drilling fluids, and treated sewage
will be few In number and temporary In nature. The primary adverse impacts
Include a localized degradation of water and air quality in the vicinity of
the drilling site, the potential obstruction to commercial and recreational
fishing vessels, and the disruption and/or killing of benthic and/or pelagic
organisms during location of the drilling rig and during disposal of muds,
cuttings, and domestic wastes and sewage.
Discharging from the drill site Is Inevitable during OCS operations,
particularly during exploration. Any materials that may contain oil or
20
other hazardous materials, and therefore would have a auch greater adverse
Inpact on the environment, will not be discharged Intentionally. Any
discharging will be done pursuant to all 001 and EPA regulations. The
discharges to be disposed overboard as a result of the exploration activity
will Include domestic waste and sewage that 1s treated on the rig before
discharging, drill cuttings, and excess water-based mud.
The envlronnental fate and effects of drilling muds and cuttings has
been extensively addressed In a recent symposium (See Ayers et al., 1980 for
detailed discussions). The discharging of drill cuttings and water-based
mud will result 1n an Increase in water turbidity, burial of benthic
organisms, and possible toxic effects on marine organisms in the immediate
vicinity of the drilling rig. A reduction 1n photosynthetic activity and
plankton populations can also be expected as a result of discharging. It 1s
expected, however, that pelagic and benthic organisms will repopulate the
araa rapidly after discharging if the effects are minimal and Intermittent
as expected.
Offshore activities generate a snail but significant amount of air
pollutants due to the emissions of diesel engines; therefore, the
deterioration of air quality Is unavoidable In an OCS operation area. In
most Instances, these emissions affect only the Immediate exploration
activity site and are rapidly dissipated by the atmosphere depending upon
climatic conditions. An Air Quality Review Report has been prepared for
waives ton Area Block 315 and Is Included as an attachment to the Plan of
Exploration.
21
/ —
Commercial and recreational fishing would ba affected by OCS
development, but primarily In terns of Inconvenience and Interference.
Although the unavoidable adverse Impacts could Include soae smothering of
shellfish, snagging of trawl nets, reduction of area presently used for
unrestricted fishing, and Minimal finfish killing, coaaarcial fishing
activities would not be significantly effected, except 1n the unlikely event
of an oil spill. An oil spill would result in serious economic losses due
to the contamination of commercial fish species over a large area.
There Is a remote possibility that offshore areas of historical,
cultural, or biological significance could be damaged or destroyed by OCS
exploration operations. Visual No. 3 from the Final Environmental Impact
Statement (USDOI, MMS, 1986) indicates that no archeological, cultural, or
historic areas are In the vicinity of Galveston Area Block 315. Conoco Inc.
will make every effort to avoid disturbing any historically, culturally, or
biologically significant feature.
22
r LITERATURE CITED
Ayers, R. C, N. L. Richards and J. R. Gould 1980 Proceedings o f a symposium. Research on environmental fate
and effects of drilling fluids and cuttings. Washington, D.C. 1,122 PP.
Beccasio, A. D., N. Fotherlnghaa, A. E. Redfield, et al. 1982 Gulf coast ecological Inventory: user's guide and Inforaation base.
Biological Services Prograa, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, D.C.: FWS/OBS-82/55. 191 pp.
Bedinger, C. A., Jr . 1981 Ecological Investigations of petroleum production platforas in
the central Gulf of Nexico. Voluae I I I : Executive Summary. Subaitted to the Bureau of Land Nanageaent, New Orleans, Louisiana. Contract No. AA551-CT8-17. 29 pp.
Benson, N. G., ed. 1982 Life history requirements of selected finfish and shellfish in
Mississippi Sound and edjacent areas. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Biological Services, Washirgton, D.C: FWS/OBS-81/51. 97 pp.
C-nenberger, E. P. 1976 011 spi l ls , 1971 - 1975, Gulf of Mexico OutT Continental Shelf.
Geological Survey Circular 741. 47 pp.
Danenberger, E. P. 1980 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Blowouts. U.S.G.S Open-File
Report. 80-101. 15pp.
Fritts, T. H., A. B. Irvine, R. D. Jennings, L. A. Collua, W. Hoffman, and M. A. NcGehee
1983 Turtles, birds, and mammals in the northern Culf of Mexico and nearby Atlantic waters. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Biological Services, Washington, D. C. FWS/OBS-82/65. 455 pp.
Geyer, R. A. 1979 Naturally occurring hydrocarbon seeps In the Gulf of Mexico and
Caribbean Sea. College Station, Texas: Texas A I N University Press.
Hardy, J . 0. J r . 1978 Developaent of fishes of the Mid-Atlantic Bight. Voluae I I I :
Aphredoderidae through Rachycentridae. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Biological Services, Washington, 0. C : FWS/OBS-78/12. 394 pp.
23
-
r Hoese, H. D. and R. H. Moore
1977 Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico. Texas A Jt M University Press, College Station, Texas. 327 pp.
Johnson, G. D. 1978 Development of fishes of the Mid-Atlantic Bight. Volume IV:
Carangidae through Ephippidae. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Biological Services, Washington, D. C: FWS/OBS-78/112. 314 pp.
LassIter, Ronald C. 1980 The Georges Bank: Fish and Fuel. Ninth Annual Sea Grant Lecture,
MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Lowery, G. H., Jr. 1974 Louisiana birds. Third ed. Louisiana State Univ. Press, Baton
Rouge, Louisiana, xxx and 651 pp.
Marine Experiment Station 1973 Coastal aM offshore environmental Inventory Cape Hateras to
Nantucket Shoals. Marine Publication Series No. 2, University of Rhode Island.
National Academy of Sciences 1975 Petroleum in the marine environment. Washington, D.C. 107 pp.
National Fish and Wildlife Laboratory (NFWL) 1980 Selected vertebrate endangered species of the seacoast of the
United States: Brown Pelican, eastern and California subspecies. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Biological Services Program FWS/OBS- 80/01.40. 16 pp.
U. S. Department of Commerce, National Marine Fisheries Service 1985 Louisiana landings in 1984 and 1983. Unpublished report. National
Marine Fisheries Service, New Orleans, LA.
U. S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service 19/6 Endangered and threatened species of the southeastern United States.
Region IV, Atlanta, Georgia (periodically updated).
U. S. Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service 1983 Final Regional Environmental Impact Statement, Gulf of Nexico.
Vol. 1. Prepared by Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, Metairie, Louisiana. 527 pp.
U. S. Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service 1986 rinal Environmental Impact Statement, Proposed Oil and Gas Lease
Sales UO and 112, Gulf of Nexico OCS Region, Prepared by Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Nexico OCS Region, New Orleans, Louisiana.
Walthar, J. 1984 (Personal comrunIcation) Refuge Manager, Sabine National Wildlife
Refuge, Mackberry, Louisiana. 24
V J o h n Em Ghmsdoo at 4 8 8 9 a , ftio.
\
White, C. J. end C. J. Boudreaux 1977 Developaient of an areal management concept for Gulf penaeld shrimp
Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, Technical Bulletin No 22.
Zo Bell, C. E. 1954 Marine bacteria and fungi, Fisheries Bulletin 55 (89): 217 - 222.
25
APPENDIX 1
COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT
CONSISTENCY CERTIFICATE
26
COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT
CONSISTENCY CERTIFICATION
EXPLORATION
Type of Plan
GALVESTON AREA BLOCK 315 (OCS-G-9043)
Area and Block
The proposed activities described in detail in ttr attached Plan of Exploration comply with Louisiana's approved Coastal Management pregram and will be conducted in a manner consistent */1th such Program.
Arrangements have been made with the State Times in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to publish a Public Notice of the proposed activity no later than ..v\0y.9*.»W