Chevron suspends seismic survey in Lawachhara

FE Team | Published: April 28, 2008 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

FE Report
Chevron, the US energy giant, Sunday suspended its three-dimensional seismic survey at Lawachhara national forest in Moulvibazar district following an incident of fire.
"Chevron has initiated an investigation into the fire, and although there is no evidence that the fire was related to the seismic survey work, it has suspended all of its seismic related work in the forest pending the results of initial findings," Chevron said in a statement Sunday.
It said the safety of people, wildlife and the forest flora and fauna is Chevron's top priority in Lawachhara forest that is located within the Moulvibazar gas field area. Chevron launched a 3D seismic survey to delineate gas reserves.
Saturday afternoon Chevron received reports of a fire in the Lawachhara Reserve Forest but no injuries were reported and the cause of the fire has not yet been determined, said Chevron's external affairs director Naser Ahmed.
Referring to local officials, Chevron said the fire affected a zone of approximately 10 by 20 meters.
"From initial reports, it appears that the fire had no major impact on the wildlife or the environment with superficial damage on the ground and limited impact on trees," it said.
Chevron Bangladesh is employing the latest survey equipments, which are designed to leave no significant impact on the environment, it said adding that all seismic materials used are biodegradable, and small charges are buried about 22 meters beneath the ground.
"When charges are set off, there is no surface explosion, and sound vibrations propagate down into the earth. Impact above the ground is designed to be minimal," Chevron said in its statement.
UNB adds: according to Petrobangla officials, the fire broke out from an area of the forest adjacent to a rail-track that passed through the forest.
However, the fire damaged only a small area of the forest and there was no report of any injury to people or animal from the fire.
Petrobangla Director (PSC) Major (retd) Muktadir Ali told UNB that they have sent a general manager of the organisation to visit the area and investigate into the incident of fire.
He said normally the seismic survey does not cause any fire as very small-scale explosives are used underground, not on the surface. "But only after the investigation is completed by our official, we can reach a conclusion about the cause of the fire."
Local environmentalist groups blamed Chevron for the fire incident and demanded immediate suspension of the survey work.