Marine seismic surveys for hydrocarbon exploration: What’s at stake?

Abstract

We argue that the immediate, intermediate, and long-term implications of seismic surveys for hydrocarbon exploration merit noting. If seismic surveys detect feasible hydrocarbon deposits, they effectively serve as a precursor to hydrocarbon extraction and consumption. The additional greenhouse gas emissions that will originate from new oil and gas fields in South Africa will push the world closer to the tipping point of breaching the limit of 1.5 °C targeted at the 2021 COP26 UN climate summit, and should thus be avoided at all costs. South Africa's pursuit of energy self-sufficiency through local fossil fuel extraction should not come at the cost of its unique biodiversity nor planetary health.

David versus Goliath? Indigenous people, carbon majors and climate litigation in South Africa

“…The Wild Coast area is rich in natural resources 39 and inhabited by many Indigenous communities who rely on this land for their livelihoods. South Africa's Wild Coast is an environmentally important area 40 and an example of Guyot's eco-frontiers, which are 'places of pristine biodiversity and scarce but valuable natural resources (e.g., water, minerals, forest and local knowledge).…”

Comments on Singh et al. (2022) ‘Marine seismic surveys for hydrocarbon exploration: What’s at stake?’

“…CO 2 capture and storage is globally recognised as one of the key technologies in a suite of emission reduction strategies to combat anthropogenic climate change. 10,11 CO 2 capture and storage technologies linked with hydrocarbon exploitation is not a new practice -companies such as Statoil in Norway have captured and stored 22 Mt of CO 2 in offshore saline aquifers since 1996 12 , largely mitigating the long-term effects of greenhouse gas emissions alluded to by Singh et al 1 Current research within South Africa 8 indicates that individual sedimentary basins possess multiple storage reservoirs with capacities equivalent to regions of the Rotliegend sandstone in the North Sea 13 . This work is already under way and a next phase of study, or economic studies run in parallel with geological investigations, may investigate the uncertainty surrounding sustainable injection rates and to what extent storage infrastructure is feasible within a balanced energy mix (see for example Lane et al 14 ).…”

“…Therefore, the message in the Singh et al article 1 , namely that this has not been considered in South Africa, is misleading.…”

“…On the first concern, a statement in the paper 1 suggests that only one programme aims to transition South Africa's economy to a low carbon emission future, and that this is a new initiative. This is not the case.…”

Die soektog na gasbronne in Suid-Afrikaanse gebiedswaters: ’n omgewingsregsperspektief

“…265 Dit is onwaarskynlik dat die sones voldoende is waar die seelewe nie noodwendig aan spesifieke gebiede gebonde is nie. 266 Artikel 48A(1) van die NEMPAA plaas 'n beperking op dít wat in mariene beskermde gebiede mag gebeur, en dit sluit die oprigting van platforms en die gebruik van vaartuie vir eksplorasie en produksie in. 267 Die minister verantwoordelik vir omgewingsaangeleenthede mag wel toestemming gee vir sodanige aktiwiteite in bepaalde sones.…”