Geophysical Service Incorporated
2008 Northern Labrador Sea
2D Seismic Survey
Project Description for the NEB
April 2008
Proposed GSI 2008 Northern Labrador Sea 2D Seismic Survey
Geophysical Service Incorporated (GSI) proposes to acquire approximately 5,768 km of
seismic lines in the northern Labrador Sea north of 61o N, offshore from Nunavut, during
the late summer or fall of 2008. These data are to be acquired within the period August to
November.
The location of these lines (see Figure 1, below) are within or adjacent to the lines
approved by the NEB for acquisition in 2007 (though these lines were not subsequently
acquired). The Nunavut Impact Review Board (NIRB) determined in 2007 that the lines
proposed for that program did not fall within their area of jurisdiction as they were outside
the Territorial Sea zone.)
The 2008 area is immediately northward of, and adjacent to, the area assessed (through a
Canadian Environmental Assessment Act screening) by the Canada-Newfoundland and
Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB) for GSI’s 2-D Labrador Sea and Slope
seismic survey for 2007 - 2009 (Canning & Pitt Inc and LGL Ltd 2007). The Labrador
Offshore area is also contiguous with areas assessed (and projects approved) for previous
GSI 2-D seismic surveys in recent years, and within the same temporal scope (June –
November). The 2008 survey offshore Nunavut would also use the same ship and
technologies as those approved by the NEB in 2007 (and assessed in the previous EAs).
The area proposed for this current survey is also within the study area jointly assessed
and approved by the NEB and the C-NLOPB for TGS-NOPEC’s 2002 Nunavut –
Labrador slope 2-D seismic survey (Canning & Pitt Inc. 2002).
The lines currently proposed do not introduce any new environmental issues or VECs not
included in the other assessments noted above.
Regulatory Context
Geophysical programs (seismic surveys) in the jurisdiction proposed for this project require
authorization from the NEB. The Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA)
requires federal authorities to conduct environmental assessments (EAs) before issuing
regulatory permits for certain projects (Section 5(1)d). The NEB is a federal authority as
defined under the CEAA.
Because seismic surveys are included in the Inclusion List Regulations but are not in the
Comprehensive Study List Regulations (SOR/94-638 et seq.), the CEAA requires that the
responsible authority "ensure that (a) a screening of the project is conducted; and (b) a
screening report is prepared" (Section 18(1)).
The lines are not located within the Nunavut Settlement Area as defined in the Nunavut
Land Claims Agreement (NLCA) (Agreement between the Inuit of the Nunavut
GSI Northern Labrador Sea Survey Program 2008
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Settlement Area and Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 1993, given force
federally by the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act, 1993, c. 29); i.e. they are outside
12 Nautical Miles from any coast or island. They are not near the Baffin Land fast Ice
area.
Figure 1: location of proposed GSI survey lines north of 61 o N in the Northern Labrador Sea.
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Project Location and Scale
The work proposed is the acquisition of 5,767.8 km of seismic data, as shown in Figure 1.
The lines are situated between 61o N latitude and approximately 63 o N, and between 64
30 W and 58 00 W.
The survey programs will not enter the Nunavut Settlement Area as defined in the
Nunavut Land Claims Agreement (NLCA), and are within Canada’s Exclusive Economic
Zone (EEZ).
Schedule / Timing
The acquisition is expected to occur between mid July and November 2008. This is within
the temporal scope of the previous GSI Labrador Sea EAs.This timeframe will allow a
sufficient "window" to allow scheduling to minimize environmental impacts and potential
conflicts with fishing activities, as well as sea ice and other factors.
The timing of specific portions of the survey area will be conducted in light of fisheries,
research surveys and other considerations, in order to prevent possible conflicts.
Project Components
There are three main project components. All are the same as for the program
authorized in 2007:
1. the survey ship (the GSI Pacific)
2. the survey streamer (a 6-km long passive "listening" device, containing
hydrophones, which floats approx. 9 m below the sea surface)
3. a compressed air sound source ( a 3,180 cu inch array).
Survey Vessel. The vessel to be used, the GSI Pacific call sign HO4496, is fully
equipped to conduct the proposed seismic program, and will have on board appropriate
environmental protection equipment or systems. Its length over-all (LOA) is 56.3m, and
it has a draft of 4.2 m.The same ship conducted the GSI Labrador Sea surveys
successfully in 2005 and 2006. It is expected that the vessel will travel at a speed of
about 5.0 kts (approx. 9 km/hr) while surveying.
Streamer. The survey will use a single streamer (towed behind the vessel containing
the hydrophones which record the sound impulses) 6,000 m in length, towed at a depth
of 10m (+/- 1m). The streamer will be marked at the end by a tail buoy with GPS
positioning devices, a strobe light, and radar reflectors. Distance from the stern of the
vessel to the tail buoy will be approximately 6,200 m based on the planned near trace
offset, tail stretch and tail rope length.
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Source Array. Characteristics of the array for the survey are provided in the following
Table; Figure 2 shows the signature (amplitude over time) of the downward pulse (lobe)
of the full array. Figure 3 shows the amplitude of the frequencies that make up the
sound pulse (downward lobe). Figure 4 shows the array configuration.
Table 1: GSI Pacific 3180 Sound Source Array Characteristics
Source (Array) Depth
6 meters from surface to source port
Array size (cu in)
3180 cubic inch (52.11 liter)
PSI
2000 PSI nominal pressure (13.8 MegaPa.)
Configuration
2 x 1590 cu. In. strings (see Figure 2.4)
Rise Time
6 ms
Record length
8 seconds
Sound pulse interval (between pulses)
Cycle period minimum 9 sec / nominal 10 sec
Time Domain:
Sound Levels - Downward Lobe
p-p Bar re 1m
95.4
zero--p Bar re 1m
46.6
RMS Bar re 1m
33.0
RMS dB re 1Pa/Hz
205
Time Domain:
Sound Levels – Crossline (10o, 30o, 45o and 90o from horizontal)
205
RMS dB re 1Pa/Hz @ 1m @ 90 deg
RMS dB re 1Pa/Hz @ 1m @ 45 deg
201
RMS dB re 1Pa/Hz @ 1m @ 30 deg
202
RMS dB re 1Pa/Hz @ 1m @ 10 deg
200
Time Domain:
Sound Levels – Inline (10o, 30o, 45o and 90o from horizontal)
205
RMS dB re 1Pa/Hz @ 1m @ 90 deg
RMS dB re 1Pa/Hz @ 1m @ 45 deg
200
RMS dB re 1Pa/Hz @ 1m @ 30 deg
198
RMS dB re 1Pa/Hz @ 1m @ 10 deg
194
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Figure 2: 3180 Array Signature, Amplitude Over Time, 0o Azimuth, 0o from Vertical
Figure 3: 3180 Array Signature, Amplitude at Frequency, 0o Azimuth, 0o from Vertical
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Figure 4: Array Configuration (2 Strings X 1590 cu in)
Off-site Land Use & Resource / Material Requirements
Off -site uses is expected to consist of wharf facilities at St. John's or Holyrood, NL, and
possibly St. Anthony NL for crew changes, any needed repairs, and provisioning.
Materials are normal ship supplies, fuel, provisions.
Toxic / Hazardous Materials to be Used
The planned streamer uses Isopar, for buoyancy. Isopar is liquid paraffin, evaporates
very quickly, and is biodegradable.
Discharges and Waste Disposal
The GSI Pacific will comply with all applicable regulations concerning discharges of
materials into the marine environment. The ship is outfitted with equipment to prevent
and/or deal with any accidental spills.
It has in place a shipboard oil pollution emergency plan (SOPEP) in conformity with the
International Maritime Organization (IMO) and approved by the Det Norske Veritas
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(DNV) Classification AS on behalf of the Government of Canada.
The ship’s International Oil Pollution Prevention (IOPP) equipment includes a bilge / oily
water separator (World Water System, 1.1 gpm), oily water / sludge holding tanks (cap.
12,000 litres), oil spill absorbent / damage control (powersorb spill kit/safe send salvage
drum).
GSI also follows the International standards contained in Marpol 73/78. This deals with
handling different types of waste and specifies the distances from land and the manner
in which materials may be disposed. The requirements are strict in many areas; one of
the most important features of the Annex is the complete ban imposed on the dumping
into the sea of all forms of plastic, which protect marine animals, especially sea turtles
which often ingest this material.
Consultations and Issues Identified
Consultations were undertaken with fishers, relevant fisher organizations (Labrador
Sea) and DFO in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 to exchange information on the
survey and fisheries, and to identify and scope issues for the environmental assessment
for the various Labrador Sea projects. Contact with the Nunavut Impact Review Board
(NIRB) will be made to provide details of the proposed survey.
The chief issues raised by fishers in the past were about the impacts of marine seismic
surveys in general, rather than about the GSI programs. These include impacts on
fisheries resources, and both behavioural and physical impacts on fish, especially as
they pertain to "catchability". As in previous surveys, fishers were also concerned about
conflict / interference with fixed gear fisheries in particular. DFO has raised concerns
about documenting marine mammals and avoiding interference with research surveys.
Species at Risk Act Species
Based on an initial review of the proposed area (and the Labrador Sea survey area to
the south), the following species at risk (based on SARA Schedule 1) might occasionally
be in or near the area:
Endangered
 North Atlantic Right Whale (Eubalaena glacialis) Atlantic Ocean Population
 Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) Atlantic Ocean Population
 Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) Atlantic Ocean
 Eskimo Curlew (Numenius borealis)
Threatened
 Northern Wolffish (Anarhichas denticulatus) Arctic and Atlantic Oceans
 Spotted Wolffish (Anarhichas minor) Arctic and Atlantic Oceans
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
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus anatum)
Special Concern
 Atlantic Wolffish (Anarhichas lupus) North Atlantic Ocean
 Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) Eastern Population
 Ivory Gull (Pagophila eburnea)
Project Contacts
Darlene Davis
Geophysical Service Incorporated
PO Box 2727
Windsor, Nova Scotia
Tel:
(902) 798-1305
Fax: (902) 798-4205
E-mail: darlenedavisgsi@eastlink.ca
or gsiwindsor@eastlink.ca
Rob Pitt
Canning & Pitt Associates Inc.
St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador
Tel: (709) 753-9499
Fax: (709) 753-4471
E-mail: rpitt@canpitt.ca
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