Issued Letters of Authorization: Oil and Gas Industry Geophysical Survey Activity in the Gulf of America
These letters of authorization allow for the unintentional taking of marine mammals (known as incidental take) during geophysical survey activities in the Gulf of America.
Letters of Authorization (LOAs) have been issued to the entities listed below for the take of marine mammals incidental to geophysical survey activity in the Gulf of America.
Learn more about the incidental take regulations that allow for the issuance of these LOAs.
Issued Authorizations
The following Authorizations are currently active:
| Applicant | Project Title | Documents | Effective Dates |
| WesternGeco LLC | Engagement 13 | Issued LOA (PDF, 17 pages) LOA Application (PDF, 7 pages) | 8/1/2026 - 3/31/2027 |
| WesternGeco LLC | Engagement 12 | Issued LOA (PDF, 17 pages) LOA Application (PDF, 7 pages) | 7/1/2026 - 2/28/2027 |
| TGS | Apex 3 | Issued LOA (PDF, 17 pages) LOA Application (PDF, 4 pages) | 9/1/2026 - 9/1/2027 |
| TGS | Apex 2 | Issued LOA (PDF, 17 pages) LOA Application (PDF, 4 pages) | 8/15/2026 - 8/15/2027 |
| TGS | Amendment 3 | Issued LOA (PDF, 17 pages) LOA Application (PDF, 9 pages) | 9/1/2026 - 9/1/2027 |
| LLOG Exploration Offshore, LLC | 2026 Combined VSP | Issued LOA (PDF, 17 pages) LOA Application (PDF, 4 pages) | 6/1/2026 - 4/19/2031 |
| Viridien | Laconia IV OBN | Issued LOA (PDF, 17 pages) LOA Application (PDF, 13 pages) | 6/1/2026 - 5/31/2027 |
| BP Exploration & Production, Inc. | Mad Dog/ Argos | Issued LOA (PDF, 17 pages) LOA Application (PDF, 30 pages) | 5/1/2026 - 8/31/2026 |
| Future Energy Consultants | FloatSeis NUT test | Issued LOA (PDF, 17 pages) LOA Application (PDF, 2 pages) | 6/1/2026 - 12/31/2026 |
| WesternGeco LLC | Engagement 9 | Issued LOA (PDF, 17 pages) LOA Application (PDF, 7 pages) | 4/20/2026 - 8/31/2026 |
Withdrawn Authorizations
The following Authorizations were withdrawn:
| Applicant | Project Title | Documents | Effective Dates |
| -- | -- | -- | -- |
Expired Authorizations
The following Authorizations are expired:
| Applicant | Project Title | Documents | Effective Dates |
| TGS | 2026 Amendment West 1 | Issued LOA (PDF, 17 pages) LOA application (PDF, 5 pages) | 4/20/2026 - 5/31/2026 |