07-Nov-2008 -- Myself and my co-worker Mark Nel decided to finally get this DCP that we had been planning for quite some time. The reason it took so long is because of its location. This DCP is located 54 km inland from the coast of Cabo Delgado, Northern Mozambique.
Mark and I are here in Mozambique in support of an oil company conducting seismic operations in the area. I've been involved with DCP for 2 years now. I have successfully logged 3 in Libya and now I'm submitting my first one for Mozambique. Upon arriving in this country earlier this year, I immediately checked the DCP site to see if I could claim any fame here. It was awesome, there were 4 DCPs available and one would eventually be 35 km from where we are camped. If we waited long enough for the temperatures to go up (Lion awareness 101) and for the seismic company to reach as far as it did on that specific seismic line, the remaining distance could be travelled easily. Such was the case on 7 Nov and we were successful.
This is Mark's first DCP, I'm sure he will now join in and maybe some day we will see him out there hunting down yet another.
This DCP is located along a seismic line that we have been working on. It was no easy task to reach the coordinates. We had to utilize ATVs to reach the point and we were always in doubt about the local animal population in the area. This is Africa, sub Saharan, there are many critters out there in that jungle. During our venue here we have been well briefed on the local wildlife, most are friendly enough or will mind their own business, but there is one critter here that we respect more than it respects us, the lion. It pays to plan a trip into a jungle where the King of Beast sits and waits. With proper radio communications and possible extraction with helicopter, we waited for the right day to get this DCP logged.
It was very hot, +40°C, a day when mostly all critters would remain in the shade and not bother with a passer-by. Our trip turned out very successful, we logged the DCP and we saw no sight of lions. We did encounter a huge group of baboons; hundreds of them began to flee as we approached with our ATVs. Carefully we crossed this section of land, so as not to disturb this group too much. It was amazing seeing so many of them.
This DCP was located in a somewhat open area. The trip there took us through a very overgrown old seismic line. At one point we encountered a mangrove that I thought would end our day, but we were persistent. A quick look at our GPS and our knowledge of the area, and we found access around the mangrove and onto the DCP. It helps as well that I just happened to recce this DCP by helicopter one day while out flying seismic lines. As I say, if you dare to enter this jungle, plan well and stick to your plan.
This makes number 4, Mike (Bonnici). Just wished our project ran awhile longer, I may have been able to get another 2.
Cheers all!