TITLE
Recommendation to request a brief presentation from Signal Hill Petroleum on their proposed next phase of seismic surveying across the City of Long Beach for the benefit of residents and businesses.
DISCUSSION
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Signal Hill Petroleum has proposed to initiate the next phase of its seismic survey in its effort to use this technology to more closely pinpoint where oil and natural gas deposits may exist below the surface. As this proposed next phase is expected to encompass wide areas throughout the City, it is requested that Signal Hill Petroleum provide a brief presentation to the City Council to outline what streets the proposed seismic survey will occur in this next phase, 2) outline the proposed extent of advance outreach to residents and businesses in each area, and 3) offer survey demonstrations in each impacted district.
The Process - What is a Seismic Survey?
The technology used to image the subsurface geological strata uses specialized trucks to input acoustical energy into the ground. The acoustic waves generated are very subtle, but can penetrate deep into the earth. The different geological strata generate reflections as the acoustic wave passes by. These acoustic reflections can be detected by very sensitive and specialized recording devices called "Nodes" that are placed in the ground. The recorded data is downloaded and processed by highly sophisticated computer programs that generate a three dimensional image of the earth's crust.
The information obtained will provide an unprecedented understanding of the deeper geology and potential earthquake faulting in the area of the survey. The Survey team is working with several universities and government agencies and will share the survey data for academic and scientific research of potential earthquake faults. This information will also give a better understanding of the additional resource potential of the Long Beach/Signal Hill area.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
COUNCILMEMBER SUJA LOWENTHAL
SECOND DISTRICT
COUNCILMEMBER GARY DELONG
THIRD DISTRICT
COUNCILMEMBER PATRICK O'DONNELL
FOURTH DISTRICT
COUNCILWOMAN GERRIE SCHIPSKE
FIFTH DISTRICT