RPS has previously supported OEER`s sister organization -Offshore Energy Technical Research Association (OETR) with the technical oversight of a crustal seismic research project offshore Nova Scotia in 2009.
The invertebrate fisheries and the oil and gas industries are both economically important for Nova Scotia, and there have been numerous calls for research on the potential impacts of seismic exploration on invertebrate fisheries. Although there have been previous seismic-invertebrate experiments offshore Canada none have involved in-situ monitoring of the animals movements or vitals and that is the gap which the current research sets out to fill.
The current research work intends to determine if seismic energy causes stress in crabs. A key innovation of the project is the developments of Biota Guard –a subsidiary of IRIS- which provides a system for monitoring the marine environment using different marine organisms (mussels and crabs) and recording vital signs.
The experimental design includes measuring the behaviour and heart rate of crabs in a cage at the seabed. Each crab is connected via a sensor and the vitals of the crabs will be recorded before, during and after a seismic survey. Biota Guard’s system is based on ten years of research and is utilized offshore Norway on mussels to detect impacts from produced water.
The planned utilization in Nova Scotia is unique in that it is being applied to a seismic operation. The system has the capability to provide real time information via a sensor platform. Planning for work is underway with the timing dependent on the outcome of laboratory experiments, suitable seismic vessel availability and research partnerships.
Contact:
Tony LaPierre
T: +1 902 425 1622
E: lapierreT@rpsgroup.com
Darlene Davis
T: +1 902 425 1622
E: DavisD@rpsgroup.com
1OEER is a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to fostering offshore energy and environmental research and development including examination of renewable energy resources and their interaction with the marine environment.