Residents of the Village of Turkey Creek could possibly experience a positive economic impact if its council approves CGG’s request to perform a 3-D seismic survey to view the underground rock layers down to about 26,000 feet.
At a recent Turkey Creek council meeting, Todd Groves, with CGG, stated, “The purpose of the seismic survey is to provide gas and oil companies with a road map of underground rock layers they want to drill in.”
The surveying that would take place in Turkey Creek is a part of a larger project that spans over portions of Evangeline, Rapides, Avoyelles and St. Landry Parishes for a total of 578 square miles.
According to Groves, he can’t say what type of economic impact this specific job will have on the residents of Turkey Creek. But, he was able to shared the impact he has seen in other areas.
“We are the geologist,” said Groves. “Oil companies don’t tell us anything. However, from my past experiences, it cost $670,000 a square mile for us to do our part. What that tells me is there have already been hand shake deals between CGG and some local operators about needing this data, or we wouldn’t be out here. Typically, in the past, I’ve seen about eight months to a year after we finish in an area, things get popping.”
Groves also shared oil pads and drilling rigs have already started to go up near the Glenmora area because “they could not wait on the data.”
Groves continued, “They are really optimistic about these areas. I anticipate that a year or two from now there will be a lot of activity in this area.”
According to Groves, the trucks used to do the surveying are called vibe trucks, which are approximately the size of a garbage truck. He said, “When a vibe truck arrives at a predetermined area, it will use a plate under the truck that is lowered to the roadbed to inject sound waves. CGG then records the sound waves as they bounce back off the different rock layers.”
The equipment used raised questions from the village’s mayor and council, which centered around holding CGG liable if testing causes damage to village property.
In response to this concern, Grove shared CGG would be willing to provide the village with an insurance certificate, which would cover the cost of any damage caused by the seismic surveying. He also stated CGG typically only covers the cost of damage up to a year.
The mayor requested Groves find out if the bond or insurance could be extended for longer. The Groves could not answer that question, but he did agree to check into the request for the village.
By the end of the special meeting, the council decided to hold off on approving CGG’s request to use village roads to perform their 3-D seismic survey until its next meeting.
Following this discussion, the council approved a mandate by the state to require commercial businesses to have a cross-connection on it waterline. The purpose of the cross-connection is to prevent chemicals from being injected into the water system.
Had the village not approved the policy, Mayor Heather Cloud said, “The Department of Health and Hospitals would have come in and started fining us for not having this policy in place.”
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ELIZABETH WEST Managing Editor