|
Another oil seismic survey off Bohol sea
By: KIT BAGAIPO
Another
oil seismic survey will take place off northern Bohol coasts
in the next few months. This, according to an advisory issued
by the Department of Energy (DOE) to Australian oil exploration
contractor Otto Energy Ltd.
Otto
Energy was advised by the DOE that its subsidiary NorAsian
Energy has been ranked as a preferred bidder for an exploration
of Service Contract for Area 8 which lies in between Bohol,
Cebu and Leyte.
It
may be recalled that NorAsian undertook the controversial
2D and 3D seismic oil exploration at the Bohol-Cebu Strait
in June last year.
A
competitive bidding process has been conducted for the exploration
of the said area for
a period of seven years, the advisory stated.
The
DOE is expected to award the contract soon as the formal terms,
work commitments and schedules are being negotiated and finalized.
Area
8 substantially covers the Visayan Basin with an area of about
7,500 square kilometres.
The
exploration is a follow up of an existing 2D seismic data
covering the area which established an active petroleum system
based on abundant onshore oil seeps and DHIs (direct hydrocarbon
indicators) on prospects in the area.
|
|
|
Area
8 is situated in between two Service Contracts that
are now being developed for drilling within this year.
This includes Service Contract 51 or the Bohol-Cebu
Strait exploration.
Otto
Energy Ltd, through NorAsian already has an 80% interest
on Service Contract 51.
According
to the DOE advisory, success on the initial drilling
at the Bohol-Cebu Strait prospect may become a basis
for exploring Area 8.
Otto
Energy is set to drill its first wells at the Bohol-Cebu
Strait this year until 2009, a deadline set by the DOE.
|
EXPLORATION
OPPOSED
Some
100 marine biologists and scientists have opposed the ongoing
oil exploration at the Visayan Seas.
Recently,
environmentalist groups and marginal fishermen sued Japanese
exploration firm Japex for alleged drop of fish catch, destruction
of the seascape and non-compensation of affected fisherfolks
with the exploration of Tañon Strait.
Reported
stranding of dolphins have also been blamed to seismic oil
surveys which the DOE have aggressively been pursuing.
A
group led by City Mayor Dan Lim filed a petition for injunction
and temporary restraining order against the oil exploration
at the Bohol seas.
Some
fisherfolks in Loon and Maribojoc claimed that until now,
the DOE and NorAsian has not paid their demanded compensation
for loss of income when the oil survey was conducted.
|
HOME
