230319001162 - Application for Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) for the Proposed Multiclient or Proprietary 2D/3D Seismic Surveys Covering Blocks 2211Ba, 2211Bb, 2212B, 2311B, 2311A, 2312,2412A, 2412B, 2413B, 2513, 2512A, 2512B, and Parts of Blocks 2210B, 2210A

The ECC is required by Searcher Geodata UK Ltd here in referred as (“Searcher”) (the “Proponent”) for the proposed Multiclient or Proprietary 2D/3D Seismic Surveys over a 127872km2 Area of Interest (AOI) covering Blocks 2211Ba, 2211Bb, 2212B, 2311B, 2311A, 2312, 2412A, 2412B, 2413B, 2513, 2512A, 2512B, and Parts of Blocks 2210B, 2210A, 2211A, 2211Aa, 2212A, 2313, 2310, 2411, 2511, 2611, 2612B, 2612A, 2612A_Part, and 2613 falling in the Lüderitz and Walvis Basins Offshore Southcentral Namibia. The Proposed survey area falls in water depths ranging from ca-500m to -4000m from east to west, respectively. Although the proposed AOI may appear large, the actual areas to be surveyed are likely to highly localised and limited and subject to the interest for seismic survey datasets by the Petroleum Exploration License (PEL) holders covered by the AOI. 2D seismic survey is a regional mapping / imaging methodology aimed at de-risking a large exploration project area by establishing a validated Sedimentary Basin Scale Model of an exploration Area of Interest. 3D Seismic survey on the other hand, is a detailed local mapping / imaging methodology aimed at de-risking an exploration project area by establishing a validated Prospect/s or Lead/s Scale Models of an exploration Area of Interest within a Sedimentary Basin. 2D/ and 3D seismic surveys are acquired on dense and widely spaced grids, respectively. The dense grid of a 3D seismic survey provides high-resolution 3D images which reveals fine-scale geological structures for exploration in more complex settings with the aim of delineating local prospects or leads. The basic principle of 3D or 2D seismic survey method is the application of controlled generation of sound / acoustic waves by a seismic source to obtain an image of the subsurface. The generated acoustic waves that travel deep into the earth, gets reflected by the various rock formations, and returns to the surface where the waves are recorded and measured by receiving devices called hydrophones. The recorded wavefield contains all kinds of useful information about the structure and composition of the subsurface geology. By analysing the travel times that the seismic waves travelled through the rock formations, geophysicists, geologists, and petroleum engineers use sophisticated software to create subsurface resources maps showing potential drill-ready subsurface geological structures called reservoirs that may contain economic hydrocarbons. The proposed 3D seismic survey will be conducted using MARPOL / Namibian Maritimes Laws compliant and modern survey vessels. Seismic survey datasets are not only important in oil and gas exploration and production, but also used in various other fields including in Deep Sea Minerals (DSM) exploration and production and in the search for suitable Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) terrains as one of the possible options for Climate Change long-term mitigations.