HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Oil And Gas Advisory Committee - 09/23/2009 MINUTES
CO RECEIVED
OIL AND GAS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING
Wednesday, September 23, 2009 @ 10:30 a.m.
City Council Chambers, City Hall AUG 1 8 2010
1201 Leopard Street, Corpus Christi, Texas 78401
PRESENT: John Cantu,Chairman, Industry Representative COY SECRETARY'S OFFICE
Lois Huff,Public Representative
Glenn Cooper,Industry Representative
Charles E. Jacobs,Public Representative
Tom Fisher,Alternate Public Representative
OTHERS PRESENT: Jesse M. Cantu Jr.,Petroleum Superintendent;Ricardo Guzman, Interim Assistant
Gas Superintendent; Elizabeth Hundley,Assistant City Attorney;Pat Alvarez,Management Aide; Monica
Rowland-Castillo, Management Aide; Jim Devlin, Suemaur Exploration&Production, LLC; Bill Moffitt
and David Cias,Moffitt&Associates; Steve Forsdick, Dawson Geophysical Company
MEMBERS ABSENT: Gretchen Arnold, Public Representative; Robert E. Powell, Public
Representative; Chet Freeman,Alternate Industry Representative
Chairman John Cantu called the meeting to order and asked the committee if they had reviewed the
minutes for the meeting held on April 22,2009. A motion to approve the minutes was made by Mr.Tom
Fisher, seconded by Ms. Lois Huff and the minutes were unanimously approved.
Chairman John Cantu asked for discussion and possible action on absences from the meeting held on
April 22, 2009 and asked for some clarification. Ms. Pat Alvarez answered the absentees were Ms.
Gretchen Arnold, Mr. Charlie Jacobs and Mr. Chet Freeman. Ms. Elizabeth Hundley stated the standard
practice is to consider the absences approval at the next regular meeting and if no action is made the
absence will be considered unexcused. Mr. Charlie Jacobs reported that he was absent due to an eye
surgery. Mr. Glenn Cooper asked if the Committee could approve Mr. Charlie Jacobs absence as excused
but consider the other absences pending and Ms. Elizabeth Hundley stated if the absences are not excused
by the Committee they will be considered unexcused. Ms. Lois Huff recommended that the Committee
approve all absences and stated that it be noted in the minutes that unexplained absences are reported
and will impact your participation in future appointments and to express the importance of
communication with staff if an absence is inevitable. Ms. Elizabeth Hundley stated the City Council is
interested in knowing how many appointments serving are actively engaged and said unexcused absences
exceeding twenty five percent (25%) of regular called meetings have resulted in automatic vacancies.
Ms. Lois Huff made a motion to excuse all absences, Mr. Tom Fisher seconded, and the absences were
unanimously excused. Chairman John Cantu added since this Committee does not meet regularly and
may only meet once or twice a year, one unexcused absence could trigger the twenty five percent (25%)
rale.
Chairman John Cantu asked for public comment and Mr. Ricardo Guzman, Interim Assistant Director of
Gas Services,welcomed and introduced Mr. Jesse Cantu as the Petroleum Superintendent.
Chairman John Cantu asked if there were any presentations and there were none.
Chairman John Cantu introduced the next item to discuss and consider a request for a permit by Suemaur
Exploration and Production, LLC to conduct a 2D geophysical seismic survey at Oso Bay and near the
roadways of Saratoga, Roscher, Glenoalc, Carrribean and Brooke. Mr. Jim Devlin with Suemaur
Exploration and Production, LLC introduced Mr. Bill Moffitt and Mr. David Cias with Moffitt &
Associates; and Mr. Steve Forsdick, with Dawson Geophysical Company. Mr. Moffitt referred to a map
showing the area where the seismic survey would take place and discussed the details of the survey.
Discussion followed and Chairman John Cantu asked what the public impact would be. Mr. Moffitt
stated the visual presence of cables and seismic tracks would be the biggest impact on the public. He said
shot holes will be conducted in the Oso, which is a dynamite process used in water areas. He stated he
does not anticipate any negative impact besides the traffic impediment. Chairman John Cantu asked if
SCANNED
Oil and Gas Minutes
September 23, 2009
Page 2.
flagging and pilot vehicles. Mr. Steve Forsdick discussed their traffic safety plan which includes hiring of
off duty police officers or constables in their units to escort their vehicles along public roads which helps
perceive the legitimacy of the project and also reduces the likelihood of a collision. He stated the amount
of cable that is placed on the pavement is reduced due to the system being used which results in less
irritation to the public. He also mentioned smaller vibrator trucks will be used versus larger trucks which
will result in a reduction of noise and energy levels. Mr. Forsdick stated all source points will be
monitored by contractors that measure peak particle motion velocities to prevent energy sources from
having an impact on any culture. He estimated the start to finish of the survey to be a week. Mr. Jesse
Cantu asked if the pipelines in the area have been identified and Mr. Devlin stated they have. He added
the one call system will be notified for verification of all lines(utilities included). A discussion followed
on the extensive line locates, surveying, and the location of source points. Mr. Guzman asked that they
give the Gas Department prior notice so that a schedule can be worked out for the line locates. Ms. Lois
Huff asked that other City Departments be notified as well such as Traffic, Park and Recreation, Water,
Wastewater, and Stormwater. Mr. Jesse Cantu refereed to the special conditions provided in the agenda
packet for review and suggested no vibrating be allowed over pipelines. Mr. Charlie Jacobs made a
motion to approve the seismic survey with the special conditions including no vibrating over pipelines.
Mr. Glenn Cooper seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion passed unanimously.
Chairman John Cantu asked if there were any items that needed to be identified for the next meeting and
there were none.
On a motion by Mr.Tom Fisher, seconded by Ms. Lois Huff,the meeting adjourned at 11:45 a.m.