Services

 For an American oil company, WALSH prepared a baseline environmental assessment that identified the sensitivity of exploration activities in a critical environmental area of Guatemala. Sensitive issues investigated for this block included government and NGO political conditions, the presence of several categories of protected areas including national parks, biotopes, and biospheres. A recommendation to avoid pursuing a concession in a specific, sensitive lease block was made and followed.

 For an oil-producing block in the Peruvian Rainforest, Walsh conducted a baseline environmental assessment to document pre-existing conditions for an oil company. A variety of remote sensing techniques were used to map land use, biological zones, major river systems, and secondary and tertiary drainages. Areas where habitats have been disturbed by cutting of primary forest were mapped. A single Landsat multi-spectral Thematic Mapper satellite image provided a site-wide base map for the study. Additional 35mm aerial photographs, a Global Positioning System (GPS) survey, and ground verification reconnaissance trips were used to refine and augment the initial results of the satellite imagery interpretations.

 WALSH conducted a Baseline Environmental Audit of a producing lease block. The block is 160 square kilometers and contains several hundred producing and shut-in wells, tank batteries and pump stations, and several pipelines. Audit results were used by the acquiring company to negotiate environmental indemnification from the seller. For this project, WALSH conducted an aerial photographic survey of the site using a helicopter and Walsh's camera system. Images with 0.1 to 2 meter resolution were acquired at all facilities in the Block. These images were then geo-referenced, and the areal extent of hydrocarbon contamination was calculated. In addition, SPOT satellite imagery used to identify other areas that may have hydrocarbon contamination. The extent of surface contamination was determined from the aerial and satellite images. The volume of contaminated soils was estimated from field observations and laboratory data. The presence of ground-water contamination across the site and in specific spill areas was determined using analytical data from the ground-water monitoring well samples.

 On behalf of a client, Walsh negotiated the specifications for Merrick & Company to conduct a flight to collect LiDAR and ortho-photography in support of a large natural gas development project. These data will be used by the client to support operation planning and lease and permit support, including serving as a comprehensive record of existing surface disturbance prior to any project development.

 Walsh conducted an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for a seismic program in a remote area of Ecuador. In order to evaluate environmental baseline conditions, we used a LandSat image to classify and map geologic features, geomorphology and landforms, vegetation patterns and hydrologic regions. Ground crews sampled soils, water and vegetation. GPS points were used to locate and classify the image based on ground observations.

 WALSH conducted an environmental impact assessment for a 3-D seismic project in the Ecuadorian Amazon. LandSat imagery was used to map sensitive habitat. A GIS model was developed to help predict the impacts associated with the proposed seismic survey. This EIA received the first approval for a 3-D seismic project granted in Ecuador.

 WALSH conducted an environmental impact assessment for the development of a well field in the Ecuadorian Amazon. LandSat imagery was used to map landforms. Geomorphology, geology, vegetation, hydrology and other maps were created using Satellite imagery of the area. Map layers were combined in the GIS to provide information to the client and NGOs.

 For an American oil company, WALSH conducted an Environmental Impact Assessment for a seismic acquisition project in Albania. Two seismic projects were planned - one in mountainous, difficult terrain, and the other on the predominantly agricultural coastal plain. Walsh utilized Landsat satellite imagery to map land use and evaluate potential environmental impacts from the planned seismic program. The figure at right shows how the satellite image was interpreted to evaluate land use patterns.

 WALSH Performed a GPS survey of a water well field in the Kalahari Desert on the border of Botswana. A Trimble 4800 RTK system was used to achieve 1 centimeter, real time accuracy of vertical and horizontal positions. The well location data were imported into a GIS for detailed modeling and mapping.

 WALSH conducted an environmental impact assessment for a Ecuadorian pipeline that linked the oil fields of the Orienta to the coast. The assessment was conducted for a consortium of oil companies that were interested in increasing pipeline capacity. The large amount data for this project was managed and stored in a GIS. Over 150 maps were generated from the data to incorporated into the EIA. Field data collected with GPS and satellite imagery were used in the process. During the project alternatives were identified and mapped to reduce potential environmental damage.

 The principal impact to rainforest environments from seismic programs is the cutting of primary forest. For Encana’s proposed 3-D seismic project, Walsh used satellite imagery to accurately locate heliports from previous seismic programs in the mature tropical rainforest for reuse by Encana's seismic contractor. Our GIS team analyzed satellite images from the 1980s and 1990s for historic heliports, which had partially naturally regrown. A total of 324 locations were identified; these represented about 3 times the number of locations needed for the program. By re-using these previously cleared areas, Encana reduced the clearing of primary forest by 85%. Walsh and EnCana were presented with a first place environmental award by the London's Institute of Petroleum for this project.

 WALSH provided remote sensing support, including SPOT multispectral imagery interpretation and ground truthing, for the audit of an oil field in Shongdong Province, China. WALSH's client is entering a production sharing agreement for this 550-square-kilometer active oil field that produces 20,000 BPD.

 E & E/Walsh have completed a Draft Final Resource Management Plan Amendment (RMPA) and associated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Roan Plateau Planning Area (73,602 acres) in western Colorado. E & E/Walsh used GIS to construct maps illustrating different resource locations, lands available for oil and gas leases, surface use restrictions, and management designations for multiple alternatives, as well as to conduct impact analyses.

 WALSH provided GIS and satellite imagery interpretation for an Environmental Impact Study for a gas fired power plant and pipeline project in Southern Peru. WALSH purchased a Landsat image for the client, a European oil company, and classified vegetation, ecosystems, geomorphology, and soils using the image data. The data were used to help locate the power plant and pipeline. WALSH produced final large-scale images for the report.