Developing technology in offshore deepwater fossil fuel extraction and processing (E&P) is introducing equipment and practices that involve seafloor mounted equipment used to "pre-refine" (separate wanted product from unwanted brine, gas, mud, and solids), re-inject unwanted materials and substances back into a reservoir, and pump or pressure drive wanted product to the surface. In many locations this multi-phase materials handling is being done across high differential pressures, and likely some consequent noise. We have some evidence of noises from these installations interfering with passive monitoring of marine mammals but have yet been able to quantify (or qualify) the noises. As these deepwater installations are becoming increasingly ubiquitous (almost all outer continental shelf areas except the east and west coast of the US, the US Arctic, and Antarctic) we suspect that some members of this list have inadvertently recorded or measured some of this sound in the course of their work. If you have any of data on, or recordings of deepwater fossil fuel operations we would find them very useful in designing a monitoring project. We would not use any of these data for publication. Thanks in advance for your time and consideration.
Michael Stocker, Director Ocean Conservation Research P.O. Box 559 Lagunitas, CA 94938 Mobile: 415-464-7220 Email: <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected] <http://www.ocr.org/> http://www.ocr.org
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