OETR is currently undertaking a seismic survey to obtain a refraction line off the eastern coast of Cape Breton. This survey is taking place as part of the Play Fairway Analysis and Data Package Program, an 18-month program with funding totaling $15 million to re-examine the geology of offshore Nova Scotia. The overall goal of the Play Fairway Program is to make detailed geological information available for oil and gas exploration companies to attract interest in developing Nova Scotia’s offshore petroleum resources.

This 400km line, running 115° from the Scotian Shelf down the Scotian Slope to deeper water, reaches water depths from 32m to 4807m below sea level. The survey will take approximately 15 days to complete. The work location extends from eastern tip of Cape Breton and is 290 nautical miles offshore

The location of this refraction line was chosen to parallel the proposed African/North American rifting margin. The survey will allow for the integration of new refraction data and reprocessing of magnetic data. Combined with reprocessed refraction data from Morocco, this new data will help in developing an updated plate reconstruction for the margin with better age constraints for break up age and early spreading history.

OETR has contracted GeoPro GMBH of Hamburg, Germany to use 100 of their Ocean Bottom Seismographs (OBS), stand-alone seismic stations, to acquire the SEG-Y format seismic data. They will be conducting this work from the Superport Marine Research Vessel Strait Explorer, based in Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia. GeoPro will also perform initial processing of this data to develop a velocity model.

The results of this refraction line will feed directly into the Plate Tectonics component of the Play Fairway Program. The processing of this refraction data will allow the geoscience community to better understand the formation history of the basin, and to make more accurate assumptions concerning source rock distribution and to a lesser extent the reservoir distribution.

Figure 1 – Scotian Shelf Bathymetry complete with location of proposed OBS survey line

Figure 2 – OBS unit (Courtesy of GeoPro)

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

In accordance with the requirements set out by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA), there was no trigger for an environmental assessment. However, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was conducted to ensure that the environmental aspects of the refraction line survey project are considered and documented, and that the project is completed in a professional manner and with due regard to the environment.

The EIA examined the purpose, scope and location of the project, as well as a detailed analysis of the environment in the project area, and the technology to be used. The EIA also included several appendices containing detailed background information, regulatory statements, and guidelines for seismic surveys.

Click here to download a full copy of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report