ENERGY and exploration group Sasol Petroleum International (SPI) hopes to resume its search for gas and oil off Zululand’s coastline by the end of next week.
In November, the JSE-listed company received its first Exploration Right permit in more than a decade from the Petroleum Agency of South Africa (Pasa) to inspect South African sea beds.
SPI’s Paris-based subcontractor CGG Services will lead the search for oil and gas reserves by reviving its two-dimensional seismic survey covering a total of 6 000kms from Port Shepstone to the Mozambican border.
It has already completed 4 000kms with a remaining 2 000kms left for this year to obtain further enlightening information about the region’s seabed and geological features.
Silver Wave Energy and Impact Africa are also showing interest in exploring Zululand basins.
Marine measures
However, on hearing news of the prospective energy ventures last year, World Heritage Site iSimangaliso Wetland Park’s management retorted and said the noise from airguns used in the surveys will intimidate animals, especially endangered leatherback and loggerhead turtles, moving between the shore and offshore environments.
CCA Environmental Consultant Eloise Costandius said SPI has since been involved in ongoing discussions with iSimangaliso and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife to eliminate these threats.
‘They have been doing extensive research on turtle migration and CCG will not be allowed to cross a 25km buffer area from the coast to avoid marine protected areas.’
According to Pasa, Zululand’s basins’ gas values during drilling in the past were recorded as low, but the agency indicates that of the 11 wells bored, only six (from 1971 to 1978) were drilled using mudlogging equipment important for geological records.
Today, the large untested delta system shows promising seismic evidence of submarine fans, turbidites, sand-filled channel systems and amplitude anomalies.
Another upside for potential oil and gas investors is that Zululand has well-developed infrastructure with existing gas pipelines and refineries as well as being close to industrial markets and the major Richards Bay and Durban ports.
