Public Reports & Articles
Keraudren Extension 3D Marine Seismic Survey—Acoustic Modelling
December 2019 — Western Australia
Client: Santos WA Energy Ltd.
Appendix H - Acoustic Modelling for Assessing Marine Fauna Sound Exposures
Source and propagation modelling of underwater sound associated with a planned 3-D marine seismic survey to assess potential acoustic impacts on marine mammals, fish, turtles, benthic invertebrates, sponges, coral, and plankton as part of Santos Ltd’s Environment Plan. Single-impulse sound fields were predicted at eight sites, and accumulated sound exposure fields were predicted for two representative scenarios for likely survey operations over 24 hours.
Browse to North West Shelf Project: Noise Modelling Study
November 2019 — Western Australia
Clients: Jacobs, Woodside Energy
Addendum: Additional Information
Acoustic propagation and animal exposure modelling for Jacobs on behalf of Woodside Energy to assess potential sound exposures to marine mammals, turtles, and fish from proposed operations including FPSO anchor pile installation, vertical seismic profiling, and vessel operations. Ranges to acoustic exposure thresholds of marine fauna were predicted. The addendum includes additional modelling scenarios and calculations of areas within relevant exposure threshold isopleths.
Sound Source Characterization of Down-the-Hole Hammering: Thimble Shoal, Virginia
October 2019 — Virginia, United States
Client: Chesapeake Tunnel Joint Venture
An acoustic measurement study to determine the underwater sound levels produced by DTH (down-the-hole) hammering, a new technology for creating casings for installing dock piles. Measurements were obtained with three bottom-mounted flow-shielded moorings at Thimble Shoal along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel in Virginia. The sound footprint was determined for DTH hammering, both with and without bubble curtain mitigation, and compared to regulatory thresholds for onsets of behavioural disturbance and injury to marine mammals. The results suggest that only behavioural disturbance is possible.
Monitoring of Tidal Energy Platforms in Minas Passage
2018-2019 — Nova Scotia, Canada
Clients: Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy (FORCE), Cape Sharp Tidal
2018-2019 — Nova Scotia, Canada
Clients: Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy (FORCE), Cape Sharp Tidal
2018: Acoustic Analysis of OpenHydro Open-Centre Turbine at FORCE
Measurement and analysis studies for the Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy and Cape Sharp Tidal in support of Environmental Effects Monitoring Plans required under their Environmental Assessment Approval. In 2018 JASCO conducted a challenging measurement study of underwater noise from the OpenHydro in-stream tidal turbine demonstration project in Minas Passage, home of the world’s highest tides. The results show that at most frequencies the turbine had a lower source level than vessels typical of the area. The 2019 study compares the noise levels at different measurement locations and further analyzes how the turbine contributed to the soundscape.
Ocean Acoustic Observatories to the Rescue of Marine Life
July 2019
In: ECO Magazine, Ocean Sound special issue
“The science and technology of monitoring underwater noise grows more capable by the day, but so grow the threats on the aquatic environment related to noise from human activities. We have a finite window in which to apply our increasing knowledge of the problem to addressing and mitigating its causes.”
Contributed by Roberto Racca, JASCO’s Chief Communications Officer.
Underwater sound propagation modelling to illustrate potential noise exposure to Maui dolphins from seismic surveys and vessel traffic on West Coast North Island, New Zealand
June 2019 — Northwest New Zealand
Client: Fisheries New Zealand
A modelling study to assess noise related to vessel traffic and seismic surveys off the West Coast North Island of New Zealand over a 343 × 780 km area. Sound levels were estimated at locations potentially occupied by Maui dolphins, revealing the contributions from sources such as seismic surveys, vessels, jackup platforms, and FPSOs. Recommendations for future work, including long-term noise monitoring in habitat areas and efforts to better understand the hearing capabilities of Maui dolphins, are described.
Scarborough Mermaid Sound Pile Driving Modelling Study
June 2019 — Western Australia
Client: Advisian
A modelling study of underwater sound levels in Mermaid Sound associated with proposed development of the Scarborough Project Nearshore Component at the Pluto LNG field to assist in understanding the potential acoustic impact on key regional receptors including marine mammals, fish, and turtles. The study considered the driving of subsea piles which may be required to assist with pipelay operations close to the Pluto LNG facility, inside Mermaid Sound, and compared the sound levels against multiple effects criteria.
Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation–Mary River Project: 2018 Passive Acoustic Monitoring Program
May 2019 — Nunavut, Canada
Clients: Golder Associates Ltd, Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation
May 2019 — Nunavut, Canada
Clients: Golder Associates Ltd, Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation
Five recorders, deployed north of the 72nd parallel in Milne Inlet, measured sound levels for 8 weeks from shipping activities associated with the Mary River mine site in northern Baffin Island. The underwater soundscape and its noise contributors were analyzed and quantified, and acoustic presence was determined for narwhals, killer whales, and ringed seals.
Study of Quiet-Ship Certifications
March 2019 — British Columbia, Canada
Client: Transport Canada Innovation Centre
An analysis using the ECHO Ship Noise Database to assess the conservativeness of five vessel noise certification societies. A multi-variate linear regression analysis of the database produced a powerful vessel noise model for predicting ship noise based on ship type and operating conditions. A final study examined noise savings that could be achieved if 90% of vessels conformed with thresholds based on median noise emission levels of ECHO measurements.
Potential Impacts of Petroleum and Mineral Exploration and Production on Hector’s and Māui Dolphins
March 2019 — New Zealand
Client: New Zealand Department of Conservation
A literature review focussing on knowns and unknowns of potential impacts, to inform updates to New Zealand’s Threat Management Plan for Hector’s and Māui dolphins. A collaborative effort with Cawthron Institute (New Zealand) and Ocean Science Consulting NZ (Asia-Pacific) Limited.
Acoustic Monitoring During Scotian Basin Exploration Project
March 2019 — Nova Scotia, Canada
Client: BP Canada Energy Group
An acoustic monitoring study during exploratory drilling on the Scotian Shelf with the mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU) West Aquarius. Three recorders were deployed for 5 months to:
(1) Characterize how underwater sound levels vary with distance from the drilling activity,
(2) identify natural and other anthropogenic sound events that may have been present during this monitoring period, and
(3) compare the received sound levels with pre-operations model predictions.
Western Australia 2-D Marine Seismic Survey
February 2019 — Western Australia
Client: INPEX Operations Australia
Acoustic Modelling for Assessing Marine Fauna Sound Exposures
A numerical modelling study of underwater sound levels associated with the planned INPEX Western Australia (WA) 2-D Marine Seismic Survey (MSS) to understand the potential acoustic impact on key regional receptors including fish, marine mammals, turtles, benthic invertebrates (including pearl oysters), and plankton.
ECHO Program | Whale Watch and Small Vessel Underwater Noise Measurements Study
February 2019 — British Columbia, Canada
Client: Port of Vancouver
A measurement study for the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s Enhancing Cetacean Habitat and Observation (ECHO) Program to advance the understanding of noise levels from whale watching boats and small vessels transiting in SRKW critical habitat, and how they vary with speed.