Proposed Oil well for Sunday’s River area

© Woody Cape Backpackers & Nature Lodge

Nanaga might soon be famous for more than its pies. An application has been made by Aberdeen Offshore Engineering Pty Ltd (AOE) to drill for oil just a coupla kay’s off Woody Cape Nature Reserve’s coastline.

If the application is approved, it could be the start of a 20 yr project to drill for, and produce oil. The initial plan is for a single well covering a 2ha area (located only 1km from the boundary to the Woody Cape Reserve); but another 4 wells could be drilled in other parts of the 4 832ha site (not part of this application process).

The Algoa Basin has long been identified as an area with the potential for economically viable onshore hydrocarbon deposits and has previously been explored with proved indications of oil-bearing sediments. Oil production has been estimated at approximately 400 – 500 barrels per day.

Apparently the proposed project will not involve fracking, and that only conventional methods will be used in production.

An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is currently being undertaken, to allow interested and affected parties the opportunity to voice any concerns, or submit comments.

Issues which could be of concern include the location of the oil well in close proximity to sensitive ecosystems.

There are a number of protected areas within the surrounding area and immediately adjacent to the application area. These include the Woody Cape Nature Reserve along the southern boundary of the site, Conga’s Kraal Nature Reserve just to the east and the main protected area to the north-west of the site, the Addo Elephant National Park. All of these protected areas are now integrated into the Greater Addo Elephant National Park.

The application area of the Algoa Production project falls partly within an area prioritised for future inclusion in the Addo Elephant National Park expansion programme. The initial proposed production is located 1 km from the boundary of the Woody Cape Nature Reserve.

Other issues which may occur as a consequence of the project could be surface and ground water contamination, air pollution and hazardous waste generation.

You can find a detailed report about the proposed project online here:

http://www.eims.co.za/content/view/116/43/

If you’d like to register as an I&AP, please email Caryn Clarke on [email protected]

Please note that only registered I&AP’s will be notified of further opportunities to participate in this Scoping and EIA process.