Whales force gas rerouting

Sakhalin Energy, the Shell-led consortium developing oil and gas reserves near Sakhalin Island off the east coast of Russia, is to move three of its offshore pipelines to avoid feeding grounds for the endangered western grey whale. The pipelines, which link two production platforms to the shore, will be moved 20km to the south.

The decision was taken after the company’s researchers found that the underwater noise from the pipelines would be louder than they had originally anticipated, and that this might disturb the whales. Western grey whales migrate to the Sakhalin region in the summer, and only two confirmed feeding sites have been found, one offshore and one nearer the coast.

The research was presented in April 2004, after which Sakhalin Energy stopped pipe laying activities for two seasons for additional studies. The company asked the World Conservation Union to convene an independent scientific review panel to look at the results and recommend a course of action.

The panel’s report, delivered in February, called for a conservative risk management approach, and the company decided that re-routing the lines was the best option.

‘We have listened to the scientists’ advice, as well as taken into consideration the views of various concerned stakeholders, and have selected a route that maximises the distance between our activities and the whales,’ says Sakhalin Energy ceo Ian Craig.