Methods to measure underwater sound sources from oil and gas activities (PDF)

De Jong, C.A.F., M.B. Halvorsen, D.E. Hannay, and M. A. Ainslie

The Effects of Noise on Aquatic Life (2023)

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-10417-6_37-1

In 2021, the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP) published a report in which measurement procedures are described that enable the acoustic characterization of underwater sound sources associated with seismic acquisition, high-resolution geophysical surveys, and production of oil and gas. These procedures are designed to provide consistency and comparability of independently carried out measurements. An initial review of existing methods revealed that there was some commonality in reported measurements of airgun arrays and high-resolution geophysical sources, but very few reports or publications included all relevant parameters. Achieving comparability in measurements requires precise nomenclature and clear documentation of the various choices made concerning measurement geometry, instrumentation, and processing. The measurement procedures describe requirements and recommendations for equipment selection, calibration, placement in depth and range, sampling rates, and operational measurement procedures for the three source types. Signal analysis methods are specified, as well as reporting content and formats for the acoustic results and relevant metadata. Where possible, calculation procedures are described to determine source metrics from the measured acoustic field, which can be used as input for environmental impact assessments for future projects.