Ill Kftuly Refer lo: At-.-) ' AUG 22 W4

Lxxon Conven*, U.S.A. Attention: Mr. M. k. tfemeck Post Office Bex 42 7 9 Houston, Tern 77210

fcoatleaaM;

Met erence it wide to your In i t ia l Plan ot exploration and Ln v 1 ronewn ta I Report received August l i , IW4, for Leases otS-C 6788 end o7«9, Hocks 129 end 144, respectively, east Delta free. Tnis plan Includes the act ivi t ies proposed for s ix we l ls .

In eccomanca nith JO CFR *&0.d4, revised uecoober l a , 19/9, ano oor letter doted January 29, 1979, this plan has oeen dete mined to ba caaplate os of August 22, 1J04, and is now being onsldered for approval.

Your plon control ayfrer Is u-1784 ana ihould be rv ftr rave co In yuur cosssuolce-tlon and correspondence concerning tMs plan.

bcc; Loase uCS-i o7*tf (OPW-J i (i iLc WON) .Loose uCS-c 0789 (OPS-2-3) (F lU ROOM) \orS»k-» w/FuolIc Info. Copv of tna plan end tft (PUBLIC RLCQftbS ROOM)

Sincerely yours.

(Orig. Sgd.} D. W. Solanas

AUU*ert:atJ:*/ i3/e4 01 sk 3o

AUG 2 3 1084

»

BTfCpti COMPANY U S A. AUG 13 694 W T » K I BOM 427t>HOUSTON Tt*A« 77J 10-42 >•

•UIU ANO PltttUCTNM

Q U ' » ' i »••••< O - V K X h t l k t »AC»C O M S K *

August 10, 1984

Initial Plan of exploration Exxon OCS-G 6788 and OCS-C 6789 Blockt 129 and 144 Waat Dolta Aroa Offshore Louiaiana

EXXON PROPRIETARY

Mr. D. w. Solanaa Minorola Manageaent S a r v l c e P. 0 . Box 7944

M e t e i r i e , Louiaiana 70010-7944

Ooor Mr. Solanas: E n c l o e e d are nine c o p i e s of an I n i t i a l Plon of Explorot ion ( four o f which are labe led "For Publ ic I n f o r m s t i o n " ) , en E n v l r o n a e n t o l R e p o r t , and a CZM C o n o i e t e n c y C e r t i f i c e t i o n fo i the e u b j e c t b l o c k s . We plen to d r i l l the f i r s t we l l covered by the Plen with t h o Zepeta Vorktown, a eea i -aubaere ib le r i g or a l a i l a r equlpaent ond ore hopeful thot oporetlone can commence ebout September 14 , 1984 .

I f you hove any q u e e t l o n e regard ing t h l a P l a n , E n v l r o n a e n t o l R e p o r t , or Cono ie tency C e r t i f i c a t i o n , p l e o e e c e l l ae et 7 1 3 / -591-5390 or Mo. M s r e l l e Moy et 713/591-5231.

S i n c e r e l y ,

W. R. Wornock

MBMife

E n c l o e u r e s

Additional Statement

Tht proposed activity wil l be carried out and completed with the guarantee of tho following Hams:

1. The best available and safest technologies, as set forth in the Gulf of Mexico Region OCS Orders, will be utilised throughout the project. This Includes masting a l l applicable requirements for equipment types, general project layout, safety systems, and equipment and monitoring systems.

2. All operations wil l be covered by a M.M.S. approved oi l sp i l l contingency plan.

3. All applicable Federal, State and local requirements regarding a i r emission and water quality and dis­charge for the proposed act iv i t ies , as well as any other permit conditions, will be compiled with.

Due to the nature and location of the proposed dr i l l ing operations to be conducted pursuant to the Plan of Exploration, and based on the Impact assessments contained in the Environmental Report, Exxon submits that no adverse Impacts on coastal resources can reasonably be expected to occur. Likewise, activit ies conducted pur­suant to this Plan of Exploration are not expected tr adversely affect or Inpact land or water ur.es within the coastal zone. The Federal consistency provisions of the Cosstal Zone Management Act only apply to OCS sct iv i t ies which affect lend or water uses within the coastal zone. The term "affecting land or water uses" Is not defined by statute, regulation, or judicial decree. To the extent that the statutory language 1s unclear, Exxon reserves Its right to seek future clarif ication as circum­stances may require.

COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT

CONSISTENCY CERTIFICATION

INITIAL ruB-o;,nm«ATiPM Type of Plan

WI8T DELTA AJL1A. SL0CK3 129 and 144 Art* and Block

OCS-C 6784 and OC8-C 6789 Ltase Number

Tht proposed activities described 1n detail 1n this Plan cooply with

LOUISIAHA approved Coastal Management Program(s) snd will bt conducted

1n • manner consistent with such Progrsn(s).

Arrange.«ents hsve bttn made with the State-Tints 1n Baton Rouge, Louisiana

to publish a public notice of the proposed act iv i t ies no later than

Keeon Corporation Lessee or Operator

Certifying Official

August 10, 1984

——

IN IT IAL PLAN OF EXPLORATION

BLOCKS 129 and 144, NEST DELTA AREA

C'.'LF OF MEXICO

OFFSHORE LOUISIANA

SECTION 1i PLAN DESCRIPTION

Thla i n i t i a l Plan of E x p l o r a t i o n f o r Waat D o l t o A r o o , Blocks 129 (OCS-G 6788) ond 144 (OCS-G 6789) c o n s i s t s o f s i x p o o o i b l o we l l a ae ehown be low i

WELL ANTICIPATED LOCATION

Block 129 Leeee 6788

A 500 * FSL A 7150'FEL

B 2M)0'FSL A 7100'FEL

C 500'FSL A 2500'FEL

D 7750'FSL A 3000'FEL

Block 144 Leaae 6789

1500'FNL A 7800'FEL

2800'FNL A 8100'FEL

In the event edditionel eeieaic surveys ere conducted in the oree, e conventionel ocean-going aeieaic eurvey veaael equipped with en eppropriete hydrophone coble end non-dynoaite energy source (e .g . , oir gun) would be ueed.

Dr i l l ing on Well "A", Leeee OCS-G 6788, Block 129, Weat Delte Aree, ie plenned to coaaence about Septeabor 14, 1984 end end w i l l require ebout 92 doye to conplete.

The d r i l l i n g of eubeequent wells "8" through "0" on Block 129 end welle A end B on Block 144 wi l l depend on the reeulte of well "A" and other geologicel dete which w i l l be developed. The totol d r i l l i n g end conpletion tine for the I n i t i a l Plan of Explorotion dependo on the d r i l l i n g of e l l eix welle ond could require ebout 20 aonthe to conplete. A contlnuoue

EXXON CORPORATION

INITIAL PLAN OF EXPLORATION

BLOCKS 129 and 144, WEST DELTA AREA

GULF OF MEXICO

OFFSHORE LOUISIANA

SECTION 1

SECTION 2

SECTION 3

SECTION 4

SECTION 5

SECTION 6

SECTION 7

SECTION 8

PLAN DESCRIPTION

ORILLING EQUIPMENT

GEOLOGICAL AND GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY RESULTS, AND SHALLOW P R I L L I N G MAZABPS HCPOWT 1

LOCATION

OIL SPILL CONTINGENCY

MUD ADDITIVES

PERMITS

PROPRIETARY DATA

TOR PUBLIC INFORMATION-

BLOCKS 129 and 144 WEST DELTA AREA

CULF OF MEXICO

OFFSHORE LOUISIANA

S E C T I O N 1i PLAN D E S C R I P T I O N ( c o n t i n u e d )

d r i l l i n g p r o g r a m , however , i e not l i k e l y . I t i e our c u r r e n t p l o n to d r i l l t h e e e w e l l e s e q u e n t i a l l y w i t h no more t h e n one w e l l b e i n g d r i l l e d e t a t i o o .

BLOCKS 129 ond 144, WEST DELTA AREA

GULF OF MEXICO

OrrSHORE ..OUISIANA

SECTION 2» DRILLING EQUIPMENT

A. DESCRIPTION

We intend to u t i l i z e the Zapata Yorktown, a 200' x 260' semisubmersible d r i l l i n g vessel, or similar drilling equipnent. The Yorktown i s moored on locotion with en 8-line epreed with eech line consisting of 2500' of 2-3/4" chein e^d 4500' of 2-3/4" wire rope. Eech line ie connected to e 40,000 pound Moorfeet enchor. A schemstic of the diverter system end e lieting of blowout prevention equipment with e configuretion schematic ere attached.

A deecriptive rig brochure wes filed in 1981.

B. EMERGENCY PLAN

Our plen for abandoning the locotion, in ceee ff? en emergency such ee e well kick, will very in eccordence with the severity of the occasion. I f the well cannot be controlled by our ueuel normsl methods, snd e possible broeching ie imminent, then enchor cheins on the down wind side of the vesael will be tightened end the rig moved off the location. Transportation will be available to evecuate personnel from the rig end eree es need be. Appropriate U. S. Coast Guard preecribed l i f e refte, jeckete, end ring buoye w i l l be provided.

C. SAFETY FEATURES

Sofety feeturee w i l l include well control end blowout prevention equlpaent to comply with OCS Order No. 2.

0. POLLUTION PLAN

Waehed cuttinge and teble ecrepe wi l l be diepoeed of into the Gulf. Pollution prevention end control feeturee w i l l prevent contamination, in eccordence with OCS Order No. 7. The vessel ie equipped with drip pens end coeaing, end euch w i l l be aeinteined. The rig hee e USCG epproved eewege unit installed.

OPERATIONAL rROCEDUAE FOF THE ZAPATA YORKTOWN DIVERTED SYSTEM

The surface divetter system ahcwn en the attached schematic in c o n t r o l l e d by a h y d r o e l e c t r i c system froa either tha nain panel on tha d r i l l f l o o r or from tha remote control pnnnl in the c o n t r n c t Toolpusher'a o f f i c e . F lu id flowing np the r i s e r can be d i rec t ed te either the port or starboard of the d r i l l vesae l by pneumatical ly c o n t r o l l e d valves through 12" welded s t e . l ine s . Zn normal operation, the d i v e r t e r element and the valve on the 14" l i n o to tho gumbo box sre open. The valve on the 12* U n ­loading to the two overboard linos i s c l o s e d . The v s l v e on the downwind divertor l i n e i s slwsys open. I n the event of flow, the va lve on the 12" l ine leading to the overboard l i n e s lo opened. Once th i s valve i s f u l l y opened, tho vslve on tha 14" l ine to the gumbo box automatical ly c lo se s . The d i v e r t e r element i i then c l o s e d snd tho f low i s diverted swsy from the ship through the downwind divertor l i n e .

ZAPATA YORKTOWN BLOWOUT PREVENTION PROGRAM

EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION

RISER AND DIVERTER

Regan lype KFDS Diverter. Caneron Riser system with two 1?" diverter l ines, one to starboard, one to port. Riser - A Cameron ? ! " 00, 1/?" wall with Integral 3-1/?" choke and k i l l l in ts . -

BLOWOUT PREVENTERS

Two - 18-3/4", 10,000 psl UP Cameron type Double "U" BOP's with wedge locks. (Four rams - bottom three are pipe rams and top ram Is a blind/shear ram.) Two - 21-1/4", SOOO psi NP Shaffer Spherical BOP'S.

BOP CONTROL SYSTEN

Cameron Payne 300L i s i hydraulic surface accumulator unit with air end electr ic pumps. Dual control pod< are supplied by two (2) subsea hoses and a 2-7/8" 00 rigid power fluid conduit Is attached to the r iser .

SURFACE 10,000 psl system with one (1) positive, two (2) manually adjustable, and two (2) remote controlled hydraulically adjustable chokes.

c a e

BLOCKS 129 end 144 WEST DELTA AREA

GULF OF MEXICO

OFFSHORE LOUISIAMA

SECTION 2: DRILLING EQUIPMENT (continued)

E. PROJECTED GASEOUS EMISSIONS

Projected emissions fron the Zapata Yorktown aro froo four sources: power generation engines, energency generetor, crones, end storoge tank vapors. Equlpaent in ure end the locotion of the emission diacherge are shown in the etteched celculationa ond eketcn. The etteched Teble shows projected emissions for f e c i l i t i e s in this Plen. Six wella may be drilled froa theae blocke. The r' rteat distance to shore from iny point on the lueses i s 11.8 miles. In eer l i e r Plen cub-aittole, diotencee to esch well were ueed beued upon our interpretation of the Regulation that exemption calculations are to be beeod on epecific distance* of each propoeed well oite fzoa ehore. However, the MMS eree office euggeoted ueing the center of the block for en "average" distance to evoid cumbersome emissions calculations for eech eite. The neereet point of the block ia more conservative, eo we heve chosen to uae that "worst-csse" distance end the "worst-case" well in this plon ea a "one-time" celculetion of proposed emissions. I t ie not enticipeted thet theae wella w i l l be drill e d in the eoae yeer.

Bosed on the exemption forauleo ehown in *•* CFR 250.57-1(d) end the etteched calculations, i t i s believed the f a c l l l t l e e propoeed in thie Plen of Explorotion are exempt froa further eir quelity review. Onehore f a c i l i t i e a are described in Section 4; they ere not new nor ore they to be Modified.

CALCULATION OF PROJECTED EMISSIONS IAPATA YORKTOWN

West Delta Blocks 129 and 144

X. E l a c t r i e Power Generation consisting of three EMD MD16E8 ItSO rstrd horsepower, 2-Cycle, Roots blown dieael engines driving 1400 KW SOO Volt generators.

Averaqe Fual nse i s 73.2 barrels (3074 gallons) per day.

Emiasion factors provided by the Electro-Motive Divis ion of tho General Motors Corp. for the MD16EI engine at f u l l load (1950 BF) are es fo l Iowa:

* Based on su l fur content of 0.2 percent (by weight) l n Mo. 2 diesel f u e l .

Example Calculations

MOx for E l e c t r i c Power Generation (Source - lb. /day)

597.5 lb.WO, X 3.074 10 3 gal - 1836.7 lb.MO, 103gsl. day day

wox for E l e c t r i c Power Generation ( F a c i l i t y - Tone/Well)

1838.7 lb.NO, X 143day X 1 Tons -131.3 Tons NO,

day wel l 2000 l b . v e i l

XZ. Emergency Power generator engine i n a Caterp i l l ar D-353-JWAC 490 horsepower d i e s e l engine. Onit l s operated for two hours once each week.

Ee tima ted f u e l use l s 27.4 gallons per hour.

l b . / 1 0 3 t a l . of No. 2 d iese l

»Ox 13.0

S97.S CO VOC (HC) •02*

• 8.7 19.4 28.5

Page 2

C a i s s i o n factor* provided by ths Engine Div i s ion of tho C a t e r p i l l a r Tractor Co. for ths D353-JWAC engine St f u l l load (490 HP) srs s s follow*-.

l b . / 1 0 3 f s l . of wo. 2 d l s s s l

T S * 2.19 241.23

16.09 1.0

2 l . i l

• Based on sulfur content of 0.2 percent (by weight) i a Wo. 2 d l s s s l f o a l .

Example Calculations

WOx f o r Emergency Generator (Source - lb . /day) - As above

WO, f o r Emergency Generator (Fac i l i ty - Tona/veil)

12.22 l b . W0X X 20 day* X 1 Tons • 0.13 Tons WO, day wal l 2000 l b . wall

* Thaaa ars intermittent operationa resu l t ing in f luctuating amiss ions . Emergency gsnsrstor lo oparstad 2 ' ours par week or 20 time a during a 143 dsy w a l l .

2X2. Cranes a r s equipped with Caterpi l lar D-353-JWAC dieael engines r s t a d a t 490 horsepower. Average uae amounts to ona craaa f o r a i g h t houm par day.

F u a l consumption i s 219 gal Iona for 9 hours.

Emiss ion factora provldad by tha Caterp i l lar Tractor Co. ars tha sama as ln ZZ above.

Example Calculations

KO x fox crane anginas (Source - lb./day) - As above XX

WO, f o r crane uss ( F a c i l i t y - Tons/Wall)

52 . tS lb.WO, X 143 dsy X 1 • 3.71 Tons WO, day weTT 1000 ooTI

Page 3

Tank vapors result froai d i e s e l o i l e tor ego. Tota l e tor ego capac i ty l s 2400 bbl . (30-day supply) while da l ly consumption i s 7 8.6 bb l . Refueling i s performed about ones per weak. Evaporative onieeion fac tora for ao. 2 d i a s s l f u s l are obtained frost EPA AP-42 tact ion 4 .3 Storage of Petroleum Liquids , Table 4 .3-4 .

Breathing Loss 0.0038 l b . / 1 0 3 gal . /day

Working Loss 0.023 l b . / 1 0 3 gal./throughout

Exsrnplo Calculations

Average Stored veluawj

2400 b b l - 3.5 days (78.6 bbl . ) - 2125 bbl - 89.25 X 10 s g a l .

l a y "

D a i l y consumption

78.6 b b l . • 3.300 X 10 3 g a l .

Brae thing Loss

0.0039 l b . VOC X t t . 2 5 10 s gal . • 0.33 l b . VOC 10 3 gal./day day

Working Loss

0.023 l b . VOC 10 3 gal . thru.

X 3.300 10 J eal t h m • 0.01 l b . VOC

T o t a l loss - 0.43 l b . any

tKoaption Cslculstjons

t to t u o x . TSP, VOC and 8O2 • (33.3) ( 1 K 8 } • 3 9 2 > 9 T/yr

I f o r CO • (3400) (u.8 ) * / * • i 7 f M 2

TORWAAD^-

AUXILIARY GEN. EXHAUST AT SO'

3 CRANES EXHAUST AT 60'

TANK tENTS AT 40'

MAIN GEN. EXHAUST AT SO'

MAIN DECK PLAN ZAPATA YORKTOWN

Note: Heights above sea at drlg. draft

-

BLOCKS 129 and 1AA WEST DLL TA AREA

GULF OF MEXICO

OFFSHORE LOUISIANA

SECTION 3i GEOLOGICAL AND GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY RESULTS. AND SHALLOW HAZARDS REPORT 1

All anticipated geophysical work preparatory to in i t ia t ion of exploretory d r i l l i n g operetione hee been coapleted.

Meter depth on thia block verlee froa 310 to 413' . The "culturel resources" requlreaent wee not invoked for thie leeee.

fr'urouent to Notice to Lessees end Operotoro No. 83-3, doted September 7, 1983, end to 30 CFR 250.34 end 30 CFR 250.11, we heve exeained eveileble high resolution geophyoicel dete (eperker), oeieaic CDP ond bright spot informetion, velocity deta, and geologic deta end find to the beet of our knowledge, thet there ire no eignificent ehellow d r i l l i n g hezerde et the propoaed d r i l l i n g locetione.

Propoeed d r i l l i n g locetione on Block 144, Meet Delte Aree do not f e l l within the restricted three a l i o zone eround Sockett Bonk eddreeeed in Stipuletion 2 of thie leeee.

BLOCKS 129 and 144 WEST DELTA AREA

GULF OF MEXICO

OFFSHORE LOUISIANA

SECTION 4l LOCATION

A. LOCATION MAP OF BLOCK AND SHORELINE.

P l e a s e aaa at tached.

B. DESCRIPTION OF ONSHORE SUPPORT BASE F A C I L I T I E S .

The following deocrlbed coaeerciol f a c l l l t l e e for storage, stsging, end supply ore opereted by A-Z Terainel , Inc. on Haliburton Rood, Venice, Louieiene.

Approxiaotely 1200 feet of dock front edjocent to 32 ecree of lond atorege aree. Office spaces, covered storege end werehouee f a c i l i t i e s ore eveileble ee needed. Approxiaetely 1345 square feet of o f f i ce epoce. 30 perking epecee. Dieoel fuel end geeoline ere eveileble froa coaaerclal f a c l l l t l e e within one a l io of the terminsl; therefore, no fuel etorege ie required. Potoble water ie eveileble et dockeide.

The following described helicopter f e c i l i t i e e ere opereted by Petroleua Helicoptere, Inc. nn Tideweter Rood, Venice, Louisisnst

27 concrete helicopter pedo equipped with windaock direction indicator. Adequete perking epecee, o f f i ce opece, end welting f a c i l i t i e s are evei leble .

Helicopter fuel end wetor ere eveileble et the ped.

Al l f e c i l i t i e e ere coneidered adequate; no ecquieitona fo. f o c i l i t y expenaione ere conteapleted.

Other then en Exxon diepetcher, i f required, l t ie not onticipeted thet edditionel eaployeoo wi l l be required to aen thie f o c i l i t y . No edditlonal eaployaente ore foreceet et thia t iae . lapact

BLOTKS 129 and 144 WEST DELTA AREA

GULF OF MEXICO

OFFSHORE LOUISIANA

SECTION 4t LOCATION

on housing, services, end public f e c i l i t i e e ie expected to be minimal. The nunber of poreone on the dr i l l i n g veeeel will generally be between 53 end 70.

At current explorotion ectivity levels we expect 20 boot tripe end 25 helicopter flighte per nonth fron theee f a c i l i t i e s . The docks ere opproxirately two miles fron West Boy, via Tiger Psss, and once boete reech open water, they w i l l travel the noot prac­t i c a l , direct route to the r i g . All helicopter flighte follow the noet precticel end direct route to the r i g . The eubject well ie epproxinetely 37 nlles aouthweet of Venice, Louieiana.

C. LOCATION MAP Of BLOCK WITH WELL LOCATIONS

Pleeee eee etteched.

Open Y- J / , 79/ 90

V- /T, OSS. 90

Enon

129

OCS- G 6788

128

O p t n

ft K

_f

7'mo

E u o n \-00O'

144 tooo

\ I

O.C.S-6 6 769

o gooo 4ono rr

SCALE

Ad\TS <s?&£ WesrDetTA &i# '?9 ****

Exxon Company, U.S.A. (DIVISION OF EXXON CORPORATION) PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT

N E W O R L E A N S

I INO* MC1I0M-

AfftOVK)

l'**ooo' DATf * 7 **

X » NO. nu NO.

SCALC

6Y<9$ Exxon Company, U.S.A. (DIVISION Of EXXON CORPORATION) P R O D U C T . O N D E P A R T M E N T

NEW O R L E A N S tCM HO. CHI NO.

APWfovro

BLOCKS 129 end 144 UEST DELTA AREA

GULF OF MEXICO

OFFSHORE LOUISIANA

SECTION 51 OIL SPILL CONTINGENCY

Procedures for preventing, reporting, end cleening up o i l e p i l l e • weete • e ter i e l e ere included in contingency aonuole developed by Exxon'e Southeeetern Divieion off ice end revieione epproved January 12, 1984 by the Oil end Gee Supervieor, Gulf of Mexico, Minerals Menegeeent Service. All proceduree, pereonnel troining, end equipment ere deeigned to be in compliance with OCS Order No. 7.

The poss ibi l i ty of e e p i l l of eny neture end •egnitude hee been contemplated by the Cleen Culf Aeeocietee. Thie orgenizetion hee e membership of almost every operetor in the Gulf of Mexico, including Cxxon. CGA maintains e p i l l end contsinment equipnent et stretegic locetione elong the coeet, end ee e nenber of the orgenization, thie eqjipnent ie innediotely eveileble to Exxon. A Hot of the principel itene of euch equipnent ie included in Section I I I of the CGA "Oil S p i l l Contingency Manual."

Reeponee tine in the event of er energency on this apec i f i c leeeet

"pproximate1y 23 ninutee by helicopter.

2. Approxinetely 6.8 houre by Cleen Gulf fron ite b^«e et Grond l e l e , Louieiene, where fori reeponee eyotene ere loceted.

BLOCKS 129 end 144 WEST DELTA AREA

CULF OF MEXICO

OFFSHORE LOUISIANA

SECTION 6: MUD ADDITIVES

A. BASIC MUD COMPONENTS

Barite (Barium Sulfate) Bentonite (Sodium Montmorillonite Clay) Lignoeulfonete (Chrome Lignoaulfonete) Lignite (Leonard ite-Brown Coel) Ceue' c Soda (Sodium Hydroxide)

B. MUD ADDITIVES

Sode Aeh (Sodium Carbonate) SAPP(Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate) Sodium Bicorbonete Lioe (Celciuo Hydroxide)

C. SPECIAL PURPOSE ADDITIVES

Friction Reducers:

Lubrs-Glide (Copolymer Beede) Torq-Trim (Vegetable Oil Bore)

Lost-Clrculstion Msterisli

Mice

Nut Hulle

Special Fluid-Loss Control Agente:

CMC(Carboxymethyl Cellulose) Reeinex (Sulfoneted Lignites end Reein)

Defoeoinq Agentst

Aluminum Stearate Magconol (2-ethyl Hexanol)

D. MATERIALS SPO.TED IN HOLE BUT NOT DISCHARGED TO OCEAN

Pipe Lex (Nephe Beee) Block Magic (Oil Base) nilfoze (Clcys, Resins, Emulsifiers, end Petty Acide)

BLOCKS 129 ond 144 WEST DELTA AREA

CULF OF MEXICO

OFFSHORE LOUISIANA

SECTION 7: PERMITS

A. Required State Permits: None

B. Required Federel Permits: Coeetol Zone Manaqement RevIOMt

The ectivitleo deecribed in deteil in thie Plen of Explorotion end the ectivitleo Authorized by releted Federal permits end liceneee comply with the Louisiene Coeetel Zone Manageeent Program and w i l l be conducted in e manner coneietent with that progrea. The principel Federel Peraite ere li e t e d below:

MMS Application for Perait to D r i l l :

It ia anticlpeted the MMS, Fora 331C w i l l be filed ebout Auguet 30, 1984 pureuent to thin Plen of Explorotion.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (NPDES GENERAL PERMIT - TX 0083642

Letter of requeet to be covered under generol perait eubaitted June 6, '984.

Corps of Engineers. U. S. Amy. Notionwide PTrnU Effective July 22, 19flj!

In eddition to s c t i v i t i e s authorized by the ebove peraite, Exxon w i l l conduct certeln eupporting functiona pureuent to vsrious edditionel Federel permits, liceneee, end epprovole, euch es thoee euthorized by the Federel Communicstions Coaaieeion ond the Federel Avietion Admin-ietretion. All euch ectivitleo coaply with the Louielene Coeetel Menegeaent Progrea end w i l l be conducted in e aenner coneietent with thet progrea.

BLOCKS 129 end 144 WEST DELTA. AREA

CULF OF MEXICO

OFFSHORE LOUISIANA

SECTION 8: PROPRIETARY DATA

Location plats, a structjrel aap end throe echoaatic croee aectlone with expected depth marker foraetlone ere etteched.

A teble deecribing well perait depthe eetlaated drilling deye, end weter depthe ie ehown below.

Exxon considers the dote in thie Section to be proprietory end exeapt frow disclosure under the Freedom of Informetion Act(5U.S.C. » t ) end implementing requletlon (A3 crft Pert 2;.

CSA 1 . TITLE PAGE

P. 0. Box 3609 Jupiter/Te questa, Florida 33458

ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT (PLAN OF EXPLORATION)

GULF OF MEXICO: OFPSRORE LOUISIANA WEST DELTA AREA

3LOCK 129 (OCS-G 6788) AND

BLOCK 144 (OCS-G 6789) EXXUN CORPORATION

10 AUGUST 19P<*

MR. W. R. WARNACK EXXON COMPANY, U.S.A.

P.O. BOX 4279 HOUSTON, TEXAS 77001

TELEPHONE: (7 13) 591-5390

"Applied Murine Science 'jmi Technology"

i i

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PACE

1. TITLE PAGE i

L I S T OF FIGURES iv

2 . OESCRIPTION OP THE PROPOSED ACTION 1

(« ) DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED TRAVEL MODES AND ROUTES 1 AND FREQUENCY FOR MOVING SUPPLIES AND PERSONNEL TO AND PROM THE OFFSHORE ACTIVITY SITE ANO THE ONSHORE BASES

(b) IDENTIFICATION OF SUPPORT BASES AND NUMBER AND 1 TYPES OF NEW WORKERS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROPOSED A C T I V I T I E S . REFERENCE I S ALSO MADE TO THE MOST CURRENT UPDATE OF THE SOCIOECONOMIC DATA BASE REPORT

(C) IDENTIFICATION OF THE NUMBER, LOCA'. ION, AND 1 SIZE OF ANY NEW SUPPORT F A C I L I T I E S THAT WILL NEED TO BE PROVIDED FOR THE PROPOSED A C T I V I T I E S

' J A S C R I P T I O N OF ANY NEV TECHNIQUES OR UNUSUAL 3 TECHNOLOGY THAT MAY A.PECT COASTAL WATERS

<•> MA"S ShOWING LOCATION OF THE PROPOSED 3 A C T I V I T I E S IN RELATION TO EACH OF THE AFFECTED STATES* COASTAL ZONES

i z ) FOR DEVELOPMENT OPERATIONS COORDINATION 3 DOCUMENTS, THE MEANS PPOPOSEi TO TRANSPORT OIL AND GAS TO SHORE FROM THE LEA8E AREA AND THE ROUTES TO BB FOLLOWED ANO THE ESTIMATED QUANTITIES OF OIL AND GAS TO BE MOVED ALONG SUCH ROUTES

3 . DESCRIPTION OF THE AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT ANO IMPACTS 4

(a) PHY8ICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL 4

(1) COMMERCIAL FISHING 4

(2) SHIPPING 9

(3) SMALL CRAFT PLEASURE BOATING, SPORT F I S H I N G , AND RECREATION

9

I

I :

i i i

4.

5.

6 .

T A B L E OP CONTENTS (CONTINUED)

(4 ) CULTURAL RESOURCES

(5) E C O L O G I C A L L Y S E N S I T I V E FEATURES

(6) E X I S T I N G P I P E L I N E S AND C A B L E S

(7 ) OTHER MINERAL USES

(8 ) OCEAN DUMPING A C T I V I T I E S

(9 ) ENDANGERED OR THREATENED S P E C I E S

(b) SOCIOECONOMIC

UNAVOIDABLE ADVERSE IMPACTS

( « ) SUMMARY O F THE UNAVOIDABLE ADVERSE IMPACTS

(b) STATEMENT CONCERNING THE UNAVOIDABLE ADVERSE IMPACTS

REFERENCES

FINDINGS

PAGE

10

11

15

16

16

16

17

18

18

18

20

22

•

LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURE DESCRIPTION

1 LOCATION OF WEST DELTA AREA BLOCKS 129 AND 144 RELATIVE TO THE LOUISIANA COASTAL 20NP (ADAPTED FROM: USDOI, MMS, 1983).

2 LOCATICN OF DRILLSITES IN WEST DELTA AREA BLOCK 144 RELATIVE TO SACKETT BANK (ADAPTED FROM: USDOI, MMS, 1983).

1

2. DESCRIPTION OF TKE PROPOSED ACTION

(a) DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED TRAVEL MODES AND ROUTES AND FREQUENCY FOR MOVINg SUPPLIES ANO PERSONNEL To AHD~FROM T H E OFFSHORE ACTTVITV SITE AHD THE ONSHORE BASES

Exxon Company, U .S .A. (Exxon) a d iv is ion of Exxon

Corporation plans to conduct exploratory ac t iv i t i e s in West

De l ta Area Blocks 129 and 144. Helicopters and boats w i l l

move supplies and personnel to and from the offshore and

onahore locations. Helicopters w i l l make 2S round tripe per

month, and boats w i l l make 20 round tr ips per month. I f

s erv ic ing only the proposed lease area, helicopters and boats

w i l l normally take the most direct route, weather and t r a f f i c

conditiona permitting (see Figure 1) .

(b) IDENTIFICATION OF SUPPORT BASES AND MUMBER AND TYPES OF NEW WORKERS ASSOCIATED WITH THE pkOEOSEp ACffOTrTgsT pTFgRTWcfi IS ALSO MADE TO THK H05T CURRENT OPDATE ST T H E SOCIOECONOMIC DATA BASE REPORT

The support baae w i l l be located in Venice, Louisiana.

Tha base is capable of providing the services neceeeary for

tha proposed a c t i v i t i e s . No new f a c i l i t i e s or workers w i l l

bs needed for the proposed a c t i v i t i e s . The I n i t i a l OCS

Socioeconomic Data Base Re pott wi l l be developed after the

MMS and the Spates of Manama, Louisiana, and Mississippi

have identilied tha spec i f i c parameters to be addressed in

r.h*ee semiannual reports .

• c ) IDENTIFICATION OF THE NUMBER, LOCATION, AND STZE OF AMY NE» SDPPOST FACILITIES THAT WttL N E T T J ^ ^ H n t c ^ i T j E p — POR THE PROPOSED ACTT'^.TCT

No new support f a c i l i t i e s w i l l be needed for the

propoeed a c t i v i t i e s .

a r j a t j t_i L J r J i J t J i j L 1 i 1 i J i i i j L i

LOUISIANA COASTAL ZONE

SCALE IN AMLES 10 20 30 40

0 30 00

SCALE M KR.0AOITERS

FIGURE 1. LOCATION OF WEST OELTA AREA BLOCKS 1*0 ANO 144 RELATIVE TO TME LOUISIANA COASTAL ZONE (ADAPTED FROM: U80OL IS4S. 1883).

(d ) DESCRIPTION OP ANY NEW TECHNIQUES OR UNUSUAL TECHNOLOCY

THAT MAY AFFECT COASTAL WATERS

No new techniques or unusual technology w i l l be used

during the proposed ac t i v i t i e s .

(e) MAPS SHOWING LOCATION OP THE PROPOSED ACTIVITIES IN

RETJTTON" TO EACH OP THE AFFECTE5 STATES' COASTAL 2QNES

Figure 1 shows the location of the proposed ac t i v i t i e s

in relation to each of the affected States' coastal zones.

The proposed a c t i v i t i e s w i l l take place in waters adjacent to

the State of Louisiana.

( f ) FOR DEVELOPMENT OPERATIONS COORDINATION DOCUMENTS, fHE MEANS PROPOSED TO TRANSPORT OIL AMP CAS TO SHORE PROM THE LEASE AREA ANb THE ROUTES TO BE FOLLOwBb ATfo THE ESTIMATED QUANTITIES OF OIL ANb CAS TO BE M0vlb~ A LONC SuCri ROUTES

This Plan i s exploratory. No o i l or gas w i l l be

produced for ssle from tuese proposed ac t iv i t i es at th is

time.

4

3. DESCRIPTION OF THE AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND IMPACTS

(a) PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL

(1) Commercial Pishing

The proposed a c t i v i t i e s are located within some of

the most productive fishing grounds in the Gulf of Mexico.

National Marine Fisheries Service Zone 13, which includes the

leaae area, accounted for epproxlaately 8.5% of the

commercial f i s h e r i e s harvest from the western and central

Gulf of Mexico (USDOI, BLM, 1981, Visual No. 5; USDOI, MMS,

1983, Visus l No. 4 ) . Gulf waters account for approximately

30% of the to ta l annual U.S. f i sher ies harvest (USDC, ;982).

The Gulf f ishery is dominated by the s h e l l f i s h

f i sher ies . Shrimps, crabs, and oysters (with smaller amounts

of clams and scallops) are the most valuable f i sher ies and

are usually worth three or four times more than the greater

volume of f i n f i s h catch (USDOI, BLM, 1979). The USDC ( 1982)

l i s t s the annual commercial f i sher i e s landings s t a t i s t i c s for

the northern Gulf coast area onshore from the lease area.

The shrimp fishery in the Gulf of Mexico includes the

brown (Penaeus aztecus), white (P. s e t i f e rus ) , and pink

(P. duorarum) shrimps. These species are taken almost

exclusively by trawls ' . depths ranging from approximately 2

tc 73 m (6 to 240 f t ) . These shrimps are estuarine-dependent

species which spawn in the open ocean, go through a series of

larval phases in the plankton, migrate during the post-larval

phase to the estuarine nursery areas, and then return to the

open Gulf as adul ts . The USDO*, BLM (1977, Visual Ko. 5)

indicates the seasonal variation in the habits of each of

these species. The leaae area is located outside the major

shriap spawning grounds and migration routes in the northern

Gulf (USDOI, MMS, 1983, visual No. 4 ) . Planktonic eggs and

larval stages of a l l commerci-i'.y important shrimp species

may occur per iodica l ly in -he lease area.

The blue crab (Cal l sa^.idus) makes up 98% of the

crab harvest in the Gulf -texico (Ri ley , i970). I t s l i f e

cycle <8 s imilar to the shrimps' in that i t has planktonic,

estuarine, and open ocean phases. Adults spend most of their

lives i.i the estuaries; thus, the blue crab harvest i s taken

primarily injhore of the leaae area. Gravid females migrate

to the open Gulf to release their eggs during spring and

summer. Consequently, gravid females and planktonic larvae

may occur seasonally i . . the lease area.

The proposed act iv i t i es are located within commercially

important f i n f i s h fishing grounds (USDOI, MMS, 1983, Visus l

No. 4). Three species of menhaden known from the Gult make

up the major f i n f i s h tonnage taken. Theee are Brevoortia

patronus, B. gunterl , and B. smith!. ftrevoortia patronus

comprises moat of the Gulf catch. Pui? reining i s the aajor

capture meth-d ueed in this f i shery (Lindall et a l . , 1972).

Red enapper (Lut janua campechams) and various species

of grouper ( i . e . , the red grouper Epinephelus morio and jag

fa

Mycteroperca microlepis) compose the commercial hook-and-1ine

fishery of the northern Gulf of Mexico. These fishas may be

taken over irregular bottom areas in depths of 2 to 305 m (5

co 1,000 ft) (TerBcc Corporation, 1976).

The atriped mullet (Mugil cephalus) i s generally found

in nearshore areas such as harbors, estuaries, bays, and

along beaches. I t i s a schooling fish and i s generally token

with seines and trawls.

The Atlantic croaker (Micropoqonlas undulatus) i s an

abundant fish in estuarine waters. Perret et a l . (19"")

reported croaker to be the most abundant juvenile commercial

flah taken in estuaries. Croaker i s harvested and marketed

both as a food fish and as an industrial bottom fish (Lindall

et a l . , 1972).

The Florida pompano (Trachinotus carollnu*) ia primarily

an inshore fi s h that ia taken mostly in the surf or et

passes. I t i s seasonally abundant (January to April) in

shrimping area.'.

The Spanish macke-el (Scomberomorus maculatua) migrates

seasonally along the Gulf coast. I t i s generally taken in

nearshore areas.

The red drum (Sciaenops ocellatuo) ie taken

predominantly in nearshore habitats, as are the sheepshead

(Archosargus probatocephalus), flounders, and the black drum

(Pogonias cromls).

:

:

— j

]

:

j

Seatrouts, i nc lud inq the spotted (Cynoscion nebulosus),

the s i lve r (C. nothus) , and the sand (C arenar iua) , are

important to the *>ottom f i s h f i s h e r i e s in the northern Gulf

( L i n d a l l et a l . , 1972). They are usual ly taken in o f fehore

areas with bottom t r awl s .

TerEco Corporat ion (1976) describes some add i t i ona l f i a h

species of the nor thern Gulf which are important to

commercial and/or sport fishermen and t h e i r predominant

method of capture. Most of the northern Gulf f i shes are

temperate, wi tn some incursions from Caribbean fauna. They

e x h i b i t seasonal d i s t r i b u t i o n and abundance f l u c t u a t i o n s

r e l a t ed to oceanographic conditions (USDOI, MMS, 1983,

p . 174j. Many of the coastal species ( e . g . , the croaker,

J Mlcropogonlas undulatus) are eatuarine-dependent, because

- j estuaries or coas ta l marshes are a c r i t i c a l habi ta t during

some phaae of t h e i r l i f e cycles. Rogers (1977) postulated a

ne t inshore-offshore movement fo r many demersal shelf f i s h

species. Thus, i t is probable that many of theee species msy

occur in the lease area at some phase of t h e i r x i f e cycles .

Eggs and larvae (ichthyoplankton) of various

commercially important f i s h species are probably also present

i n the leaae area on occasion. S ix ty -n ine f i s h species have

been i d e n t i f i e d from zooplankton samples taken along the

northern Gulf coast . Dominant taxa were the f ami l i e s

Sparidae, L u t j a n i d a e , T r ig l i dae , Serranidae, and

— Synodontidae. Stenotomus capcinus, Prist ipomoidcs

:

3

:

B

a g u l l o n a n s , Pr l o n o t u s p a r a l a t u s , Serranus a t rohranchus , and

Synodus foetens wer»» the most impor t an t species ( C h i t t e n d e n

and Moore, 1976). Because the m a j o r i t y o f i c h t h y o p l a n k t e r s

a r e a t the mercy o f wa te r movements, t h e i r d i s t r i b u t i o n s •• i r y

c o n s i d e r a b l y w i t h space and t i m e . The p r imary f a c t o r s

i n f l u e n c i n g i c h t h y o p l a n k t o n i n the n o r t h e r n G u l f are the Loop

C u r r e n t , the M i s s i s s i p p i River , and l o c a l r u n o f f . nue t o

" p a t c h i n e s s " i n d i s t r i b u t i o n s , presence and abundance o f

i c h t h y o p l a n k t o n at any q iven ins tance cannot be p r e d i c t e d .

The proposed a c t i v i t i e s p robab ly w i l l t e m p o r a r i l y

d e g r a d e the water q u a l i t y in the immediate v i c i n i t y of the

d r i l l s i t e due t o d i s c h a r g e s of d r i l l i n g f l u i d s and c u t t i n g s .

T h i s may cause c e r t a i n f i s h species t o avo id the area .

Commercia l f i s h i n g may be a f f e c t e d t e m p o r a r i l y . The

s i t u a t i o n should r e v e r t to normal as soon as d r i l l i n q i s

c o m p l e t e d . C u m u l a t i v e e f f e c t s o f i n c r e a s i n g o i l and qas

a c t i v i t i e s o f f the n o r t h e r n Gulf coas t on annual catches are

a s y e t unknown. However, the re a re no l a t a t o i n d i c a t e t h a t

o i l and gas a c t i v i t i e s are r e s p o n s i b l e f o r any d e c l i n e i n

a n n u a l catches (USDOI, BLM, 1979, p . 1 8 1 ) .

Any o i l s p i l l t h a t would impact the s e a f l o o r cou ld

c o n c e i v a b l y k i l l b e n t h i c organisms such ar; shrimps o r cause a

v a r i e t y of s u b l e t h a l e f f e c t s . The p o t e n t i a l l ong - t e rm

e f f e c t s of J s p i l l on the benthos a re unclear because r e s u l t s

o f hydrocarbon a n a l y s e s are i n c o n c l u s i v e (USDOI, BLM, 1979,

p . 160).

9

An o i l s p i l l would temporarily degrade water quality and

Introduce toxins into the water. Ichthyoplankton, i f

present, may he k i l l e d or functionally impaired. However,

most adult f ishes encountering a s p i l l and associated toxic

water would probably exhibit avoidance behavior. This e f fect

would be ten. >rary and fishes should return to the area after

dispersal of the s p i l l . No s ignif icant or persistent J i r e c t

ef fects from an o i l s p i l l on f ish populations would be

expected. Recruitment from surrounding areas should quickly

replenish any affected ichthyoplankton populations once the

s p i l l haa dispersed. Any s p i l l would be handled according to

an o i l api l l contingency plan approved by the MMS.

(2) Shipping

The northwest corner of West Delta Area Block 144

and the northwest ha l f of west Delta Area Block 129 are

located within tha fairway leading to Southwest Pasa (USDOI,

MMS, 1983, v i sua l No. 11). The proposed act iv i t i es are rated

as having maximum potential impact on shipping as they are

less than 5 km (2.6 NN) from a fairway (USDOI, BLM, 1979,

' p. 145). A l l s tructures wl l l >e located outside ••he shipping

fairway. The offahora structure w i l l he equipped wich a l l

aafety equipment required by the U.S. Coast Guard and the MMS

to alert ships of i t s presence ln s i l weather conditions.

(3) Small C r a f t Pleasure Boating, Sport Pishing, and Recreation

Ditton and Graefe (1978) determined that o i l and

gas structures are the most popular offshore recreation

10

destination areas, attracting 87% of the boats that fished

offshore in their study area. Certain pleasure boats ( i . e . ,

sailboats, pleasure yachts, and/or open orean racing pcver

boats) may be s l i g h t l y inconvenienced by having to maneuver

around the offshore structure and i t s support veesels. Thie

inconvenience l-J considered extremely minor as offshore

structures can be avoided and ample maneuvering room i s

available.

Any sports fishing which might occur in th* lease area

could be temporarily affected by degradation of water quality

during d r i l l i n g . Such a change in water quality could cause

some desirable species to avoid the immediate lease area.

However, any such effecta are expected to be temporary and

localized and should not affect any flehery potential in the

area JS a whole. Populationa should return to normal once

drilling is completed.

(4) Cultural Resources

Coasta! environments. Inc. P977) has idsntified

two «.ypes of culturel resources which may be found in the

northern Gulf of Mexico areai ( l ) hist o r i c cultural resourcee

or shlpwtecke and (2) prehistoric cultural reaourcas or

traces of previously undescribed humsn civ i l i z a t i o n s (USDOI,

MMS, 1983, pp. 228-240). Approximately 82% of the known

shipwrecks are located within 10 km (5 NM) of shore, with

only a smell percentage occurring on the OCS (USDOI, BLM,

1979, p. 91). Known submarine archeological sites are

11

extremely rare , with none being ident i f ied to date in Pederal

offshore leasing areas (USDOI, BLM, 1979, p. 91).

The proposed ac t iv i t i e s are located outside the Historic

and Prehistoric C u l u r a l Resources High Probability Lines

(USDOI, MMS, 1983, Visual No. 11) and therefore are in a

large offshore area where h i s tor i c and prehisU ic resources

are considered unlikely to be found. An Archeological Survey

waa not required for this lease area.

(5) Ecological ly Sensitive Features

Several areas of environmental concern are located

onahore of the lease area. The Louisiana Coastal Zone

Management Program has been developed by the State to

regulate the s igni f icant land and water a c t i v i t i e s between

thr outer l imit of the coastal waters and land up tc the

Intracoastal Waterway and/or the 10-ft contour. Land uses

which are regulatod are those that have a direct and

significant impact on thc coastal area requiring a State

perait, and those which are required by Federal law to be

consistent with the management program (USDC and LDNR, 1980).

The program provides for the protection of beaches, dunes,

wetlands, submerged grass beds, barr ier islands, oyster

reefs, cu l tura l resources, water qual i ty , air qual i ty ,

biological resources, and w i l d l i f e habitat. Unique

ecological features include zoological, botanical, and

geological formations character i s t i c of coastal processes

(Burk and Associates, I n c . , 1975; USDC and LDNR, 1980).

12

Biologically sensitive ureas of the north-central Gulf area

include estuarine and coastal ecosystems comprised of salt

marshes, oyster beds, grass beds, barrier beaches, and dunes

(Coastal Environments, Inc., 1980). These coastal ecosystems

contain nursery areas for many species of economic importance

as well as habitat, rookeries, major overwintering s i t e s , a.id

neating areas for many endangered and threatened species,

euch as the southern bald eagle, brown pelican, golden eagle,

osprey, rwd cockaded woodpecker, American peregrine falcon,

and various marine turtles (USDOI, Rr.M, 1979, Visual No. 3;

Coastal Environmenta, Inc., 1980; USDC and LCNR, 1980).

There are two existing "Special Management Areas"

designated by the Louisiana Coastal Management Program (USDC

and LDNR, 1980, pp. 104-108). rhese areas are the "Louisiana

Offshore Oil Port" (LOOP or 3uperport) and the "Narah Island

Wildlife Refuge and Game Preserve." The lease area is

located 2 J 3 kn (126 NM) east-southeast of Marsh leland

Wildlife Refuge and Game Preserve and 47 km (25 NM) southeaat

of the LOOP. None of the proposed a c t l v i t l e a In this leese

srss should hsve any effect upon the Special Management

Areas.

Conspicuous areas of environmental concern for Louisiana

are depicted by the USDOI, BLM (1979, visual Nos. 1 and 4)

and the USDC and LDNR ( 1980, Figure No. D-1).

The coaatal zone area ia also of recreational importance

to residents and tourists. Most recreational a c t i v i t i e s

13

focus on the area's water resources which include beaches,

boating areas, and fishing areas.

One area of designated biological significance I s

located in the v i c i n i t y of the proposed a c t i v i t i e s .

According to the USDOI, NHS, the southwest corner of Block

144 is located within the "3 Nile Zone" of Sackett Bank and

i s subject to the conditions of th* biological leaee

Stipulation No. 2. This stipulation states that for

a c t i v i t i e s occurring within the "1 Nile Zone" the Operator

has the option of shunting a l l d r i l l i n g cuttings and f lu ids

to the botton through a downpioe thst terminates no more than

10 m (3? f t ) from the bottom, or conducting an environmental

monitoring plan designed to assess the effects of o i l and gae

exploration and development operations on the b iot ic

communities of the nearby bank (USDOI, NHS, 1983). Exxon

proposes to d r i l l two exploratory wells in Block 144. These

walls and a l l associated exploratory a c t i v i t i e s w i l l be

located in the area of the block outside the "3 Nile Zone"

where the biological Stipulation No. 2 doee not apply (Pigure

2 ) . The proposed exploratory a c t i v i t i e s ' w i l l not affect any

remnant coastal bmkc or oyster grounds.

While o i l s p i l l s during d r i l l i n g operations sre rare

(Danenberger, 1976), the poss ib i l i ty of a s p i l l does e x i s t .

011 fouling in any coastal area could direct ly or indirect ly

affect a variety of species, including threatened or

endangered species or species important to commercial and

sport f i s h e r i e s . Di rec t e f f e c t s on h io t a would include

fou l ing ( p a r t i c u l a r l y b i r d s ) , s u f f o c a t i o n ( p a r t i c u l a r l y

f ishes and t u r t l e s ) , and t o x i c i t y from contact or from the

inqestion of o i l or contaminated food . Any of these e f f e c t s

could be l e t h a l , cause weakening, or cause a greater

s u s c e p t i b i l i t y t o predat ion. S i g n i f i c a n t ecological or

economic impacts could also r e s u l t from the f o u l i n g of oyster

beds and h a b i t a t s . Ind i rec t e f f e c t s would include the

destruction o f c r i t i c a l hab i t a t s , espec ia l ly breeding and

nursery areas. Any e f f e c t s on endangered or threatened

species would be s i g n i f i c a n t .

Oi l f o u l i n g o f the coastal area cou!d also have adverse

socioeconomic e f f e c t s . Tourism is an important part o f Gulf

coast economies. Removal of beach or other coastal areas

from rec rea t iona l use by o i l f o u l i n g would s i g n i f i c a n t l y

decrease tour ism i n the a f fec ted area and cause loss of

income and a v a r i e t y of r i p p l e e f f e c t s in local economies.

Any s p i l l would be handled according to an o i l s p i l l

contingency plan approved by the MMS. I f a s p i l l d id occur

during opera t ions , i t seems u n l i k e l y that i t would a f f e c t any

nearshore or onshore areas or resources.

(6) E x i s t i n g Pipelines and Cables

There are no ex i s t i ng p ipe l ines or cables i n Block

144 (USDOI, MMS, 1984). A Marathon Pipel ine Company 12-in

o i l p i p e l i n e , a Texas Eastern Tre imiss ion Company 20-in gas

pipel ine , an Exxon Pipeline Company 12-in o i l p i p e l i n e , and

16

an Exxon P i p e l i n e Coinpany 8 - i n l i q u i d qas p i p e l i n e a l l run

p a r a l l e l t o each o t h e r i n a no r thwes t t o southeas t d i r e c t i o n

th rough the n o r t h e a s t corner o f B l o c k 129 (USDOI, MMS, 1984) .

The p i p e l i n e s w i l l be avoided d u r i n q t h e proposed

a c t i v i t i e s .

(7) Other M i n e r a l Uses

Other t h a n p o t e n t i a l o i l and qas r e s e r v e s , t h e r e

a r e no known m i n e r a l resources i n the lease a rea .

(9) Ocean Dumping A c t i v i t i e s

The p roposed a c t i v i t i e s a re not l o c a t e d i n an area

des igna ted f o r ocean dumping a c t i v i t i e s .

(9) Endangered o r Threatened Species

The USDOI, BLM (1979, p . 45) cons ide r s p o s s i b l e

impacts o f l ease a c t i v i t i e s on endanqered species i n t h i s

area o f the G u l f t o be temporarv , l o c a l i z e d , and chance

occur rences . I t has judged the p o t e n t i a l impacts on

endangered s p e c i e s t o be remote p o s s i b i l i t i e s w i t h o u t major

p o t e n t i a l f o r d i r e c t e f f e c t s on any s i n g l e s p e c i e s . I n

a d d i t i o n , i t has beei. determined t h a t lease a c t i v i t i e s w i l l

no t r e s u l t I n t h e d e s t r u c t i o n o r m o d i f i c a t i o n o f d e s i g n a t e d

c r i t i c a l h a b » t a t 3 o r p o t e n t i a l c r i t i c a l h a b i t a t s . Onshore

f a c i l i t i e s a r e l o c a t e d i n a p r e v i o u s l y developed area and

pose no new o r a d d i t i o n a l t h r e a t t o endangered or t h r e a t e n e d

spec ies .

A p p r o x i m a t e l y s i x endangered spec ies o f cetaceans occur

Gulf o f M e x i c o . They are the b lue whale (Bal aenoptera

17

musculus) , f i n wha le (Ba laenop te ra p h y s a l u s ) , humpback whale

;Megaptera n o v a e a n g l i a e ) , r i g h t whale (Eubalaena g l a c i a l i s ) ,

s e i whale ( B a l a e n o p t e r a bo rea l i s ) , and sperm whale (Physe ter

ca todon) . G e n e r a l l y , most o f these l a r g e r cetaceans occur i n

c o n t i n e n t a l s h e l f , s l o p e , o r deep ocean ic waters (USDOI, BLM,

1981). The s t a t u s and m i g r a t i o n p a t t e r - s o f these spec ies i n

t he Gulf o f Mex ico are unknown (Lehman, 1982) .

Several endangered o r t h r e a t e n e d j p e c i e s o f sea t u r t l e s ,

i n c l u d i n g the Kemp's r i d l e y ( L e p i d o c h e l y s k e m p i i ) , h a w k s b i l l

( Eretmochelys i m b i r c a t a ) , l e a t h e r b a c k (Dermochelys c o r i a c e a ) ,

loggerhead ( C a r e t t a c a r e t t a ) , and green (Che lon i a mydas) , may

o c c a s i o n a l l y v i s i t the Ier>e a r e a .

The p r i m a r y danger t o mar ine t u r t l e s would be > ib le

c o l l i s i o n s w i t h b o a t s . A d u l t t u r t l e s , e s p e c i a l l y

loggerheads, seem t o be a t t r a c t e d t o o f f s h o r e s t r u c t u r e s f o r

feeding and r e s t i n g (USDOI, BLM, 1979, p . 1651 i n c r e a s i n g the

p r o b a b i l i t y o f c o l l i s i o n s . No c r i t i c a l h a b i t a t f o r any o f

theae spec ies i s known to e x i s t i n the lease area (USDOI,

BLM, 1979, p p . 7 3 - 7 4 ) .

(b) SOCIOECONOMIC

The i n i t i s l OCS Socioeconomic Data Base Report w i l l be

developed a f t e r t he MMS and t h e S t a t e s o f Alabama, L o u i s i a n a ,

and M i s s i s s i p p i have i d e n t i f i e d the s p e c i f i c parameters to be

addressed i n t hese semiannual - e p o r t s . No new personnel w i l l

be needed f o r t h e proposed a c t i v i t i e s .

1 H

4. UNAVOIDABLE ADVERSE IMPACTS

(a) SUMMARY OP THE UNAVOIDABLE ADVERSE IMPACTS

Offshore structures w i l l result in minimal naviqational

interference to ships using established fairways. However,

during times of reduced v i s i b i l i t y , vessels have the greatest

potential to deviate from established fairways and impact

offshore structures (USDOI, BLM, 197°, p. 230). Discharge of

dr i l l ing muds and cuttings and a i r emissions during d r i l l i n g

operations w i l l adversely affect marine organisms, water and

air quality, and commercial f ishing as described by the USDOI,

BLM (1979, pp. 229-230). These impacts aro temporary,

however, and w i l l be limited to an extremely small area.

They are j u s t i f i e d by the national interest in discovering

and developing badly needed leserves of o i i and gas. During

the exploratory operations, a l l discharges w i l l comply with

a l l applicable MMS and EPA requirements. No s igni f icant

adverse Impacts are expected. The propoaed a c t i v i t i e s

covered by th i s Plan should not result ln unavoidable impacts

on wetlanda, cultural resources, recreational ( a c t i v i t i e s ,

shoreline aesthetics, or other lend uees.

(b) STATEMENT CONCERNING THE UNAVOIDABLE ADVERSE IMPACTS

None of the environmental consequences expected luring

norm/1 operations should produce s ignif icant or cumulative

adveree environmental e f fec t s . The effects of a possible o i l

s p i l l should have no overall cumulative or long-term effect

19

on the envir ..ient, except in th* possible event of

contamination of endanc»red mar In- species. A e p i l l would be

handled according to an o i l s p i l l . ntlnqency plan approved

by the HMS. Thus, i t ia unlikely • it a s p i l l would occu1

during operations and affect any nearshore or onshore areas

or resources. The proposed a c t i v i t i e s should have no

significant impact on endangered species or c r i t i c a l habitat.

The information presenter in thie Environmental Report

indicates no c lear or preeent reason not to proceed with the

proposed a c t i v i t i e s . Withdrawal of the Plan would reeult ln

the loss of potential hydrocarbon production from th<s area.

JO

5. REFERENCES

Burk and Assoc iates , I n c . 1975. Lou i s iana coas ta l resources Inventory. V o l . I . Geographic Areas of P a r t i c u l a r Concern. New O r l e a n s , LA.

C h i t t e n d e n , N. E . , J r . and D. Moore. :976. Composition of the ichthyof*'»na inhabi t ing the 110-m bathymetric contour of the Gul f of Mexico, M i s s i s s i p p i River to the Rio Grande. Oepartment of Marine Resources Information Center for Marine Research, Texas AtM U n i v e r s i t y . 15 pp.

C o a s t a l Environments, I n c . 1977. C u l t u r a l resources evaluation of the northern Gulf of Mexico. National Park Serv ice , Washington, D . C .

C o a a t a l Environments, I n c . 1980. CPA-2, Offshore Mias i s s ipp i -Alabt -na-P lor id . , b i o l o g i c a l l y s e n s i t i v e areas . Baton Rouge, LA.

Danenberger, F . P. 1976. O i l s p i l l s , 1971-1975. Gulf of Mexico outer c o n t i n e n t a l s h e l f . Geo log ica l Survey C i r c u l a r No. 74*.

D l t t o n , R. 8. and A. R. Graefe . 1978. Recreat iona l f i s h e r y use of a r t i f i c i a l reef8 on the Texas c o a s t . Department of Recreat ional P a r k s . Texas A*M U n i v e r n i t y . 155 pp.

Lehman, J . 198.. Personal communication. Minerals Management S e r v i c e , OCS ' V i c e , Meta ire , LA.

L i n d a l l , W. N . , J r . , J . R. H a i . , J . R. Sykes, and B. L . Arno.'d, J r . 1972. Louis iana c o a s t a l zone: Analyses of resourceJ and resource development need ln connection with a s t u a r l n e ecology. Sect ions 10 and 13, F i s h e r y

, Reaourcas and t h e i r Needs. Report to the U.S . Army Corps of E n g i n e e r s , New O r l e a n s , LA. Contr ibut ion No. 14-17-002-430. 323 pp.

P e r r e t , N. 8 . , B . b . B a r r e t t , W. R. I . a t a p i c , J . F . P i l l a r d , W. R. Nock, C . B. Adkins, W. J . G a i d r y , and C . J . White. 1971. Cooperat ive Gulf of Mexico E s t u a r i n e Inventory and Study, L o u i a i a n a . Phase I , Area d e e c r i p t i o n . Phase I V , Biology. Loui s iana w i l d l i f e and F i s h e r i e s Commission.

R i l e y , P. 1970. F i s h e r i e s of the United S t a t e s , T969. U.8. Department of the I n t e r i o r , Bureau of Commercial F i s h e r i e s . C . F . S . No. 5300. 87 pp.

21

Rogers.- R. M. , J r . 1977. Trophic interrelationships of selected fishes on the continental shelf of the northern Gulf of Mexico. Ph.D. dissertation, Texas A&M University. 229 pp.

TerEco Corporation. 1976. Ecological Aspects of the Upper Continental Slope of the Gulf of Mexico. A report to the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Gulf of Mexica OCS Office, New Orleans, LA. Contract No. 08550-CT4-12.

U.S. Department of Commerce. 1982. Current Fisheries Statistics No. 8200. Fisheries of the United States, 1981. U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

U.S. Department of Commerce and Louisi ia Department of Natural Resources. 1980. Louisiana Coastal Resources Program Final Environmental Impact Statement. Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, Baton Rouge, LA.

U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management. 1977. Final Environmental Impact Statement. Proposed 1977 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease Sale 47, Gulf of Mexico.

U S. Department of the 'nterior. Bureau of Land Management. 1979. Pinal Environmental Impact Statement. Propoeed 1979 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease dale SSA, Western and Central Gulf of Mexico. 181 pp.

U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Lend Management. 1981. Final Environmental Impact Statement. Proposed 1981 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leaee Sales 67 and 69, Gulf of Mexico. 300 pp.

U.S. Department of the Interior, Minerala Management Service. 1983. Final Regional Environmental lapact Statement. Gulf of Mexico. 1,004 pp.

U.S. Department or the Interior, Minerala Management Service. 1984. Personal communication. OCS Office, Metarie, LA.

22

6. FINAL STATEMENT

1. Exxon's Plan of Exploration (Section-7) for OCS-G 6788

and OCS-G 6789 addresses a l l of the permits, l i censes ,

and clearances needed to conduct the ac t iv i t i e s described

In the Plsn.

2. To the best of our knowledge, s i l of the data necessary

for Coastal Zona Managenent Review ia contained in thia

Environmental Raport and the accompanying Plan.

3. The proposed d r i l l i n g ac t iv i t i e s are located outside of

the Louisiana Coaatal Zone, and are not expected to

affect any Special Management Zone.

4. No signif icant jatrimental Impact l s l ikely to occur to

water or land uses in the coastal sones as a result of

act iv i t ies propoaad in the Plan.

5. Each of the propoaed a c t i v i t i e s , their associated

f a c i l i t i e s , snd their effects sre coneietent with the

provisions of the T.ouislana Coastsl Management Prog rar