EXTENDED CONTINENTAL SHELF DELIMITATION The Seychelles Experience By Patrick R Joseph Ag. Managing Director, Seychelles National Oil Company Chairman, Extended Continental Shelf Sub-committee March 31 st – April 2 nd 2003, GRID Arendal, Norway The Seychelles Experience (cont.)
Structure of the presentation -Introduction -Composition of the Extended Continental Shelf Sub-Comm. -The area of interest -Current Status -Data Coverage -Data Management -Difficulties & Limitations
General Location Map Madagascar East Africa Saya de Malha Seychelles Plateau Mascarene Ridge
Article 76 is short but complex We fully understand that delineation of the extended continental shelf is a complex scientific and legal exercise that requires expertise in the fields of geoscience, law and IT. No single government body could handle this task Decided to set up the Extended Continental Shelf Sub-committee We also seek the experience of international consultants when necessary Team work
The Extended Continental Shelf Sub-committee Seychelles National Oil Company – geophysicist, geologist Seychelles Coast Guard- hydrographer Geo-informatics div, MLUH- GIS experts Seychelles Bureau of standards- sci-tech studies coord. (bibliographic information repository) Seychelles Fishing Authority-living resources The sub-committee brings together local experts in the different fields.
Area of Interest 55E 65E 4S 10S
Desktop Study Current Status Available data compilation Interpretation & model generation Resources evaluation Working towards the completion of a desktop study To generate adequate & accurate information to enable govt. to decide on whether to proceed with a claim. Aim
Data Availability
Gridded Sedimentary Thickness Source : GEODAS contoured using Arc scene
Free air satellite gravity data (Sandwell & Smith)
Data Management Currently setting up a computerised meta-database - all participating bodies have submitted table structures - brainstorming to come up with a data model The Tech Comm. is helping to finalise a national data policy Quality Assurance procedures to be implemented by all parties The MBDP database will serve as a pilot study for creation of Seychelles Geoscience Data Centre (SGDC) Data will be stored at respective organisation until SGDC ready
Data Management (computerisation) Linux Windows Database Engine Main Server PC Network - ARCGIS 8 is currently the graphical front end. CARIS LOTS will subsequently be used LAN / WAN
Difficulties & Limitations Limited financial resources (competing with other National priorities) Limited human resources (experts not 100% committed to project) Seychelles is remotely located (access to workshops & conferences) Data hunting can be tedious