APPENDIX 2
Environmental Monitoring Synopsis – Whio-1
Exploratory Wellsite
3 June 2014
Whio-1 Impact Assessment - Submission Version 03062014.docx
Environmental Monitoring Programme (EMP) [revised] Synopsis for Whio exploratory well site,
OMV New Zealand Ltd – October 2013
Synopsis summary [revised version]
Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) is being supplied with a synopsis of the Environmental
Monitoring Plan (EMP) for the proposed ‘Whio’ exploratory well site baseline (pre-drill)
benthic ecological survey, from OMV New Zealand Ltd (OMV). The pre-drill sampling is
scheduled for October 2013*. This synopsis covers the general approach and
methodology (as derived from the draft ‘Offshore Taranaki Environmental Monitoring
Protocol’; OTEMP 2012) for the EMP, including station locations, frequency of sampling,
and general reporting framework. Detailed specifications are described in OTEMP.
Operator -
OMV NZ Ltd.
Facility -
‘Whio’ proposed exploration well site
Field Schedule -
Pre-drill survey: October 2013*
Post-drill survey: October 2014
Methodology -
Benthic macrofauna, sediment characteristics and
chemistry, epibenthic biota. Chemical tracers will be as per
OTEMP, e.g. standard metal/metalloids, total petroleum
hydrocarbons (TPH) and poly aromatic hydrocarbons
(PAH).
Archiving samples -
All sediment samples will be retained for 6 months postsampling. Client will be contacted before disposal of
samples. Note: sediment characteristics and metals/
metalloid samples are considered viable for 6mths. Semivolatiles & volatile organic compounds (PAHs & TPHs) are
viable for 1-2 weeks (USEPA guidelines). If additional
analyses are required to determine organic compound
concentrations, then it is likely that these particular
analytes would need to be resampled.
Sampling Stations -
Benthic: 20 at proposed drill site + 3 from each control
station (NCc and SCb) (Figure 1). Each station will be
sampled with 3 replicates. These are allocated based on
the flow modelling (Figure 2) as recommended in OTEMP.
Epibenthic videos: 6 at the proposed drill site + 2 at the
Control sites.
Control sites -
Northern Control site (NCc) located 67 km northeast from
Whio. Southern Control site (SCb) located 26 km
worthwest from Whio.
Sampling Frequency -
Pre-drill October 2013*; Post-drill October 2014, or
annually until drilling activities cease (if longer than a year).
Results reviewed per-survey to determine ecological
recovery.
Environmental Monitoring Programme (EMP) [revised] Synopsis for Whio exploratory well site,
OMV New Zealand Ltd – October 2013
Reporting Frequency -
Per survey (all parameters) within 6 months of all field
effort being completed**. Subsequent reports will include
analyses from previous sampling efforts and be to a
standard appropriate for external peer review. All raw data
can be included in the report(s) if necessary. Discharge
quantities can be related to monitoring results, in the postdrilling reports if supplied by OMV.
*Due to bad weather conditions, the field work for the control locations was unable to be
completed in October. Sampling of these sites will be completed at the earliest opportunity
(November/December 2013).
**Six month reporting timeframe will commence after the sampling of control locations is complete
(i.e. after the remaining field component is complete).
Monitoring Hypotheses of Environmental Monitoring Programme for Whio
exploratory drilling:
H0.1. There will be no effects to the physical sediment characteristics (grain-size &
AFDW), as a result of the drilling activity.
H0.2. Project discharges will not result in sediment chemistry concentrations to exceed
ISQG-Low guideline values (where applicable) or be significantly higher than
background or control concentrations.
H0.3. Project discharges will not cause adverse biological effects.
H0.4. Incidental observations of project related debris will not be observed.
H0.5. Chemical tracers (metals/metalloids, total petroleum hydrocarbons and poly
aromatic hydrocarbons; as per OTEMP) will not detect the depositional footprint
of drilling discharges as far as the 4000 m station.
Environmental Monitoring Programme (EMP) [revised] Synopsis for Whio exploratory well site, OMV New Zealand Ltd – October 2013
Figure 1.
Whio benthic sampling station locations. Control sites NCc and SCb are also shown in the larger scale map. Note that the
well site close proximity sampling station, although included, has no label in the figure.
Environmental Monitoring Programme (EMP) [revised] Synopsis for Whio exploratory well site,
OMV New Zealand Ltd – October 2013
Figure 2.
Annual depositional footprint modelling plot1 (top) and current rose
diagram (bottom) at the Maari facility, but applicable (pers comm. Govier,
D, REM Ltd) to the Whio proposed well site.
This document can be cited as:
EMPS 2013. EMP Synopsis [revised version] for Whio exploratory well site. Prepared for OMV
New Zealand Ltd. by Cawthron Institute, October 2013. Eds. Elvines, D. & O. Johnston.
1
MetOcean Solutions Ltd. 2012. Dispersal of Drill Cuttings: Numerical modelling of the dispersal
and deposition of cuttings discharged to the sea from proposed wells at Maari and Matuku-1.
Prepared for OMV New Zealand Ltd. MetOcean Solutions Ltd. Report P0091-03.