Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 02/01) - Anadarko Canada Corporation is planning to conduct a 2D seismic program in the Delta this winter.

Rob Jefferies, manager of frontier operations, spoke at a community consultation meeting recently at Ingamo Hall on his firm's proposed 2D Immerk seismic program, which will go before the environmental screening process in early December.

The program extends across the northern portion of the Kendall Island Bird Sanctuary, and includes up to 12 seismic lines for a total line length of about 416.5 kilometres. The program is on Crown land within the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, and no activity will be conducted over the beluga whale management zone.

"Our program that we're looking at conducting would start operations about Jan. 15, with the intent we'd be out by April 15," Jefferies said.

He explained that tracked vibroseis -- a method of sounding sound waves -- will be used on land, and on large bodies of water, dynamite will be used. Charges will be placed at least nine metres below the hardpan of the lake bottom, using a maximum two-kilogram charge.

"A lot of the track vibes have been brought up, they're sitting in Inuvik," Jefferies said.

"There are discussions going on now with the Kendall Island Bird Sanctuary and Canadian Wildlife Service, as to how activity can be performed in there," he said.

"There are meetings going on to try and create an industry agreement with all of the operators, that will say how we can actually work in the area and what are the limits," Jefferies explained.

"We're trying to establish a 10 to 15 year agreement there, that will allow people to work in the sanctuary without having impact."

Delta Trace Ltd. has been awarded the contract to conduct the seismic program on behalf of Anadarko. Operations supervisor Brett Cameron explained a fixed camp will be used, with a crew of about 65 people.

Delta Trace was formed about a year ago as a partnership between Trace Energy of Calgary and David Storr and Sons.