Chevron plans seismic testing in Beaufort Sea

Chevron Canada is preparing to do 3D seismic work in the Beaufort Sea this summer.

The oil giant and Statoil, a Norwegian company, won oil and gas exploration rights for two parcels back in 2010.

Chevron has since put out a call of interest for seismic companies to help survey one of those areas, an approximately 2,060 square kilometre block about 120 kilometres offshore.

"Seismic is the first step in a longer-term exploration program," said Leif Sollid, a spokesperson for Chevron. "Basically what it does is gives us a picture of the subsurface geology to let us know if there may be oil and gas."

The company wouldn't say how much it plans to spend on its seismic program this summer.

The project has been submitted to the Environmental Impact Screening Committee in Inuvik for review.

Chevron Canada says it plans to spend up to $103 million on oil and gas exploration in the Beaufort Sea.