Underwater Acoustic Measurement of the Spartan 151 Jack-up Drilling Rig in the Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Critical Habitat

This report details underwater acoustic measurements in the vicinity of the Spartan 151 jack-up drilling rig in the Kitchen Lights Unit of Cook Inlet, Alaska. There is also an analysis of the collected data. The measurements were performed by Marine Acoustics, Inc. in September 2011 under contract to Furie Operating Alaska, LLC. Spartan 151 is an independent leg, cantilever jack-up rig, capable of drilling in up to 150 ft (45.7 m) of water depth 12 nm northeast of Nikiski Bay, Alaska. An exploratory well was begun in September 2011.

Compliance with underwater noise environmental regulations for offshore drilling rig operations is of increasing concern for the oil industry, especially in designated critical habit areas. Furie Operating Alaska, LLC, began drilling an exploration well in Cook Inlet Basin of Alaska in September 2011 within the newly designated National Marine Fisheries Service critical habitat for beluga whales. Furie Operating Alaska, LLC, contracted Marine Acoustics, Inc. (MAI), to monitor and record acoustic energy radiated from the jack-up rig before and during drilling operations to meet their environmental commitment. Cook Inlet tidal currents, in excess of 5 knots (9.3 kph), are a challenge to traditional underwater noise monitoring.