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Seismic Programs

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Seismic Programs

The 2024 seismic season ran from May to mid August. The seismic vessel, the Amazon Conqueror, was operated by international company Shearwater GeoServices, and contracted by ExxonMobil. As a standard mitigation measure, FFAW Fisheries Liaison Officers (FLOs) were deployed onboard. Approximately 700km² of 4D marine seismic and navigation data was acquired near Hibernia and Hebron to determine what oil remains near the platforms and to investigate the potential for subsea tie backs.

An ExxonMobil EOI is currently out for seismic near the Persephone well outside of 3K drilled this past summer. However, this drilling program was unsuccessful in the discovery commercial hydrocarbons, so we are not expecting this seismic program to come to fruition.

MKI recently registered a proposal for its Newfoundland Offshore Seismic and Environmental Data Collection Program, 2025-2029. MKI is proposing to conduct seismic surveys and collect environmental data during one or more years within the 2025–2029 timeframe and specific data acquisition plans for 2D, 3D and/or 4D surveys are not yet determined. Engagement with FFAW is ongoing. 

Industry Relations

Dr. Erin Carruthers

Dr. Erin Carruthers is the Science Director and Senior Fisheries Scientist with the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW-Unifor), which is the labour union that represents the owner-operator fleet in Newfoundland and Labrador. The FFAW is committed to research and management that supports healthy oceans, fisheries, and coastal communities. Dr. Carruthers received her Ph. D. in Biology from Memorial University in 2011 followed by a postdoctoral fellowship with the Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research. Before coming to Newfoundland, Erin worked as a Research Biologist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada at the St. Andrews Biological Station. Her current research program is co-constructed with fish harvesters and includes research on coastal fishing communities, collaborative longline and trap surveys, and best practices for the avoidance, handling and release of unwanted catch.