ExxonMobil has run into opposition to its initial plans to explore deepwater South African acreage where its work has been opposed by environment groups.

According to a report in the South African Star newspaper, local environmental activists have raised objections to the operator’s exploration plans offshore the KwaZulu-Natal coast in the Deepwater Durban Exploration Area, located in the Indian Ocean.

According to the newspaper, the objectors say the government’s Environmental Resources Management Agency “…did not adequately notify or consult the public...” about ExxonMobil’s exploration plans. Fears about the effects of seismic data acquisition on marine life have also been mentioned.

ExxonMobil, through its subsidiary ExxonMobil Exploration and Production South Africa Limited (EMEPSAL), submitted an exploration application to the Petroleum Agency of South Africa (PASA) to explore the area after gaining a three year exploration license.

Initially it plans to acquire 7,000 sq km (2,702 sq miles) of airborne geophysical data, taking up to 60 days, then possibly up to 2,600 line km (1,625) of 2-D seismic data although EMEPSAL says it may also acquire an additional 40,000 sq km (15,440 sq miles) of airborne data – which will require a further 160 days – and another 4,300 line km (2,687 miles) of 2-D data.

After that, the subsidiary may also undertake 2-D and 3-D surveys, and carry out seabed surface heat flow measurements; obtain seabed and water column samples; and conduct echo sounder, sub-bottom profile as well as AUV surveys.

The Deepwater Durban area is about 50 km (31 miles) off South Africa’s east coast, and the total exploration area covers 50,000 sq km (19,300 sq miles) with water depths ranging from 2,200-3,600 m (7,216-11,800 ft).

Exxon has already documented the public consultation exercise it has undertaken to identify and inform stakeholders of the work it is proposing to carry out in both a draft environmental management programme and a Final Environmental Management Program.

Furthermore in an implementation plan draft report, the company details how it is using guidelines developed by the UK’s Joint Nature Conservation Committee in 2009 to protect marine mammals and turtles, which are now used internationally to mitigate the effects of marine seismic surveys.