Marine Mammals

The sound produced during seismic surveys is comparable in magnitude to many naturally occurring ocean sound sources.

A motion was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana yesterday by all parties involved in litigation concerning seismic surveying in the Gulf of Mexico.

API Director of Upstream and Industry Operations Erik Milito said: “We are pleased that the parties to this litigation were able to work together to resolve this matter.

“Modern offshore oil and natural gas exploration requires the use of seismic surveys to feasibly and accurately prospect for oil and natural gas reserves offshore.”

The sound produced during seismic surveys is comparable in magnitude to many naturally occurring and other man-made ocean sound sources, including wind and wave action, rain, lightning strikes, marine life, and shipping.

Four decades of world-wide seismic surveying activity and scientific research on marine mammals have shown no evidence that sound from seismic activities has resulted in injury to any marine mammal species.

Nevertheless, the industry employs a number of robust mitigation measures to further reduce the negligible risk of harm to marine mammals and has committed in this settlement to continuing them voluntarily even when not legally required.

API intervened in the case on behalf of the federal government, along with the International Association of Geophysical Contractors, the Independent Petroleum Association of America, and the U.S. Oil & Gas Association.