Block D-230 Seismic Survey Environmental & Socio-Economic Impact Assessment December 2018 Block D230 Seismic Survey Non-Technical Summary Environmental & Socio-Economic Impact Assessment Non-Technical Summary This Non-Technical Summary (NTS) presents a concise overview of the Environmental and Socio- Economic Impact Assessment (ESIA) prepared for the 3D Seismic Survey to be undertaken in Block D230 with one acquisition line extending beyond the block boundary. It is intended to provide a summary of the project activities, the issues considered in the ESIA and the main conclusions on environmental and socio-economic impacts and their mitigation. Detailed technical descriptions of modelling studies, proposed mitigation measures and monitoring activities are presented in the main sections of the ESIA. E.1 Introduction BP and SOCAR are proposing to undertake an exploration program, comprising a 3D seismic data acquisition across Block D230 and beyond, approximately 80km from the Azerbaijani coastline in water depths ranging between 100 and 800m. Figure E.1 shows the proposed survey lines, Block D230 and other Contract Areas in the Region. The seismic survey is planned to be undertaken in 2019/2020 over a maximum 6 month period. The survey will comprise survey lines contained within Block D230, and one survey line extending to the Ashrafi-1 well in the Dan Ulduzu Ashrafi Contract Area. Vessel movement will not be restricted to the Block boundaries as it will be necessary for the vessels to travel outside Block D230 in order to turn at the end of each line. The vessel manoeuvring zone may extend as far as 10 km from the end of acquisition lines. Data acquisition may also be conducted when the vessel changes lines. The purpose of the seismic survey is to assess hydrocarbon prospects within the basin; following which targets for potential future exploration drilling can be identified. The data will be used to inform scoping and planning of exploration and development of the area. Given the location and scale of the planned activities associated with the Block D230 3D Seismic Survey, BP has taken the decision to prepare an ESIA. This approach was agreed with the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources (MENR) and is consistent with that taken by BP for similar seismic surveys completed in the Azerbaijani sector of the Southern Caspian Sea. December 2018 E/2 Final Block D230 Seismic Survey Non-Technical Summary Environmental & Socio-Economic Impact Assessment Figure E.1: Location of Block D230 Seismic Survey in Relation to other Contract Areas in the Region December 2018 E/3 Final Block D230 Seismic Survey Non-Technical Summary Environmental & Socio-Economic Impact Assessment E.2 Overview of the 3D Seismic Survey The 3D Seismic Survey will be undertaken by a seismic survey vessel using between four and six streamers1 and multiple energy sources, which will both be towed behind the vessel. As the survey vessel travels along pre-determined survey lines, the energy source will release a controlled burst of energy which will travel through the water column to the seabed where it will penetrate the subsurface geological layers and reflect back towards the sea surface. The reflected energy will be recorded by the receivers (hydrophones) which are embedded in the streamer and the data sent back to the survey vessel, where it will be stored and processed. Tail buoy will be connected to the far end of the streamers to act as a hazard warning of the submerged towed streamer and provide positional information of the location and the depth of the equipment. During the Survey, up to two support vessels will undertake activities including transporting supplies and crew to the survey vessel, transferring waste to shore and maintaining a safety exclusion zone around the survey vessel and towed equipment. The survey and support vessels will operate on a 24- hour basis. Figure E.2 provides an illustration of a 3D seismic acquisition process. Figure E.2 Illustration of the 3D Seismic Survey Process 1 A streamer is an electrical cable, floating on the surface of the water, to which the seismic receivers (termed hydrophones) are connected at regular intervals and along which the signals received by each hydrophone are sent to the seismic acquisition equipment on the survey vessel. December 2018 E/4 Final Block D230 Seismic Survey Non-Technical Summary Environmental & Socio-Economic Impact Assessment E.3 Assessment Methodology The ESIA process constitutes a systematic approach to the evaluation of a project and its associated activities throughout the project lifecycle. The overall aim of the ESIA process is to identify, reduce and effectively manage potential negative environmental and socio-economic impacts arising from the Block D230 3D Seismic Survey activities. Figure E.3: The ESIA Process Screening and Scoping Type/level of assessment to be conducted Initial appraisal of likely key issues Targeted stakeholder engagement Project Alternatives Base Case Design Existing Conditions Analysis of viable Gather and review Baseline environmental alternatives to base design information and socio-economic case design conditions Environmental and Socio-Economic Interactions Determine project activities – receptor interactions Impact Assessment Transboundary and Cumulative Determine activity event Impacts magnitudes Assessment of transboundary and Determine receptor sensitivities cumulative Impacts Identify existing controls and base case mitigation Determine impact significance Residual Impacts Undertake residual impact assessment and determine any additional mitigation measures required Disclosure and Consultation Communicate draft findings and recommendations to stakeholders for comment Finalise ESIA and submit for approval to authorities Monitoring and Mitigation Development of management plans and procedures as part of AGT HSSE Management System Assessment of the Block D230 3D Seismic Survey environmental and socio-economic impacts has been undertaken based on identified routine activities and accidental events that have the potential to interact with the environment. The impact significance considers receptor sensitivity and the magnitude of the impact and takes into account existing control measures embedded in the project design. December 2018 E/5 Final Block D230 Seismic Survey Non-Technical Summary Environmental & Socio-Economic Impact Assessment E.4 Consultation The scope of the ESIA was agreed with the MENR at a scoping meeting held on 10th November 2016. Key issues raised by the MENR, which have subsequently been addressed within the ESIA, include the requirement to: • Asses all impacts of transboundary nature and present the results in a standalone chapter; • Provide clear definition of unplanned/accidental events; • Provide robust baseline description for the Project Study Area; and • Ensure impacts and mitigation are considered for the survey line outside the D230 block to prevent potential risks on existing well structures in the Dan Ulduzu Ashrafi Contract Area. Public consultation and disclosure meetings will be planned following the submission of this ESIA. E.5 Environmental and Socio-Economic Impacts Environmental and socio-economic impacts have been assessed for routine Project activities and Table E.1 summarises the outcome of the impact assessment. Table E.0.1: Summary of the Residual Environmental and Socio-Economic Impacts (taking into account control design and additional mitigation measures) Event Receptor Receptor Event Magnitude Residual Impact Sensitivity Significance Operation of Caspian seal High Low to Moderate Moderate Energy (summer) Source Moderate Moderate (autumn) Low (winter) Low Fish High (sturgeon Negligible Low species) Moderate (kilka Low species) Low (other Low species) Plankton Low Low Low Benthic Low Negligible Not Significant Planned Water Low Negligible Not Significant Marine Quality Discharges Fish High Negligible Low Plankton Low Negligible Not Significant Survey Shipping and High Negligible Low Activities Navigation (international (excluding shipping) Operation of Low (national Negligible Not Significant Energy shipping) Source) Caspian seal High Negligible Low December 2018 E/6 Final Block D230 Seismic Survey Non-Technical Summary Environmental & Socio-Economic Impact Assessment Underwater Sound During the 3D Seismic Survey, the energy source (refer to Figure E2) will be moving and the underwater sound will occur repeatedly but intermittently, with the sound energy reducing with distance from the source. Therefore, a given sound level will last for a very short period of time in any one location. Since underwater sound has the potential to impact fish and Caspian seals in the marine environment, underwater sound calculation were undertaken and a number of control measures (described below) have been included in the design of the Project to reduce potential impacts. The endemic Caspian seal is a threatened species with an International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List ‘Endangered’ status. The Caspian seal population has dramatically declined over last century and is considered to be sensitive to anthropogenic factors, including underwater sound. Caspian seals are observed in different regions of the Caspian Sea depending on the season. They typically undertake annual migrations between breeding locations in the north (where pupping and mating occurs on the ice) to feeding locations in the Central and Southern Caspian during spring and autumn. Recent research conducted between 2009 and 2012