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Mountain Goats and Helicopters: Implications for Heliportable Geophysical Activities

Mountain Goats and Helicopters: Implications for Heliportable Geophysical Activities. Jeff Matheson, Clint Smyth & Bill Nalder. EBA Waberski Darrow Ltd. Outline. A couple of pics illustrating talk. Project Background Goat Responses to Heli Implications Recommendations. OJAY Area.

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Mountain Goats and Helicopters: Implications for Heliportable Geophysical Activities

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  1. Mountain Goats and Helicopters:Implications for Heliportable Geophysical Activities Jeff Matheson, Clint Smyth & Bill Nalder • EBA Waberski Darrow Ltd.

  2. Outline A couple of pics illustrating talk Project Background Goat Responses to Heli Implications Recommendations EBA Goat Study

  3. OJAY Area OJAY O&G Development Area Veritas 3-D Seismic Program EBA Goat Study

  4. Canyon-Dwelling Goats Belcourt Creek Wapiti River Mistanusk Creek ? ? Goat range? Impacts of helicopters? EBA Goat Study

  5. Solution Veritas OGC WLAP EBA Goat Inventory & Operational Monitoring EBA Goat Study

  6. Objectives • Protect mountain goats • Determine distribution and habitat use • Helicopter disturbance distance? • Disturbance reduction/mitigation? • Refine guidelines and regulations EBA Goat Study

  7. Inventory - Aerial Aerial Survey EBA Goat Study

  8. Inventory - Ground Ground Transects EBA Goat Study

  9. Inventory Results EBA Goat Study

  10. How many goats? Aerial Survey EBA Goat Study

  11. How many goats? Ground Surveys Over 10 Days EBA Goat Study

  12. Heliportable 3-D Seismic Source and receiving lines Low-impact, hand-cut seismic lines Heliportable drilling Recording equipment drop-off and pick-up EBA Goat Study

  13. Heliportable Drilling EBA Goat Study

  14. Recording Equipment EBA Goat Study

  15. Protocol (1) 1. Search for Goats 2. Begin Monitoring for Baseline Behaviour EBA Goat Study

  16. Protocol (2) 3. Commence Aerial Operations 4. Constant Contact With Heli and Ground Crews EBA Goat Study

  17. Protocol (3) 5. Record Behavioural Responses to Heli Distance 6. Terminate Operations if Goats Stressed EBA Goat Study

  18. Protocol (4) • Helicopters began working far from goats and gradually moved closer. • Disturbance was intermittent. EBA Goat Study

  19. Behavioural Responses R1 No overt response R2 Unconcerned response R3 Curious response R4 Concerned response R5 Low alarm response R6 High alarm response EBA Goat Study

  20. Monitoring Results (1) EBA Goat Study

  21. Monitoring Results (2) • Increased levels of alarm and flight at helicopter distance under 1000m. • Cases of helicopters operating at close range (less than 500m) with little or no apparent concern by goats. • Careful control of helicopter movements. • Termination of helicopter use to minimise negative responses. EBA Goat Study

  22. Monitoring Results (3) • Few negative responses • Topography has a big effect • Sudden close range flight resulted in high negative response. • In general, goat responses less than other studies. • Why? • Close management of heli movements • Acclimation period • Canyon topography EBA Goat Study

  23. Conclusions • Helicopters can operate close to goats, provided there is operational monitoring. • Avoidsudden close helicopter flights andbegin working far from goats with a slow progression. • Better to have longer duration, slower flights that might allow habituation. EBA Goat Study

  24. Recommendations 1000m buffer no-fly zone from high use area, unless goats are monitored. For Canyon-Dwelling Goats What about high-elevation alpine goats? EBA Goat Study

  25. Canyon versus Alpine EBA Goat Study

  26. High Use Goat Areas EBA Goat Study

  27. Acknowledgements • Bill Nalder, Roberta Parson, Darren Schmidt, Jeff Matheson, Steve Moore, Clint Smyth, Derek Ebner and Karla Langlois • Ed Schreuder of Veritas Energy Services Ltd. • Dave Robinson of Time Seismic Exchange Ltd. • Darrell Daniels of Complete Land Services Ltd. • Derek Doyle of the Oil and Gas Commission for their support in this project. • Drillers and helicopter pilots. EBA Goat Study

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