Dear Marmamers,
Pleased to announce publication of our latest paper on 28 December 2020: Todd, V.L.G., Williamson, L.D., Jiang, J., Cox, S.E., Todd, I.B., and Ruffert, M. (2020): Proximate underwater soundscape of a North Sea offshore petroleum-exploration
jack-up drilling-rig in the Dogger Bank. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
148, 3971-3979.
Please find the article here:
https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0002958
Abstract
Little is known about localized, near-field soundscapes during offshore hydrocarbon drilling campaigns. In the Dogger Bank, North Sea, underwater noise recordings were made 41-60 m from the drill stem of the
Noble Kolskaya jack-up exploration drilling-rig. Aims were to document noise Received Levels (RLs) and frequency characteristics of rig-associated near-field noise. The rig produced Sound Pressure Levels (SPL) of 120 dB re 1µPa in the frequency range
of 2–1,400 Hz. Over transient periods, RLs varied by 15–20 dB between softest (holding) and noisiest (drilling) operations. Tonal components at different frequencies varied with depth. Support-vessel noise was significantly louder than the jack-up rig at frequencies
<1 kHz, even in its noisiest ‘boulder-drilling’ phase, though radiated noise levels were higher above 2 kHz. Rig SPLs fell rapidly above 8 kHz. Marine mammals, such as harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) forage regularly near offshore oil & gas rigs
and platforms, and it is predicted that animals experience different noise regimes as they traverse the water column, and can potentially detect the higher-frequency components of drilling noise to a distance of 70 m from the source; however, while levels
were unlikely to cause auditory injury, effects on echolocation behavior are still unknown.
If you require a pdf, please don’t hesitate to ask me on
info@osc.co.uk.
Kind regards,
--
Dr. Victoria Todd
Managing Director
Ocean Science Consulting Limited (OSC)
Spott Road, Dunbar, East Lothian, EH42 1RR, Scotland, UK
T: +44 (0)1368 865 722
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