Search and Rescue Operations for Logistic, Drilling and Seismic Operations in Dense Jungle in Papua New Guinea

Abstract

Abstract Papua New Guinea (hereinafter referred as PNG), the land of the unexpected. Around 7 million of PNG nationals are spread on more than 600 islands. There, 800 languages are spoken. This represents 12% of the total number of languages spoken in the world. Here 65% of the land area is covered by rainforest. There, studies in biodiversity estimate that in PNG shelters over 5% of the world's biodiversity. The relief of the main island and the high number of islands explains the isolation of various tribes, clans and ethnicities. Only a few areas are fitted with basic infrastructure (paved roads, dispensaries, public or domestic lighting and running water). If in the main cities, efforts have been done these last years to provide the minimum to the maximum of people, in the villages, if primary schools are sometimes functioning the rest of the public infrastructure is inexistent. One of the main issue being the public health. Only 21 public hospitals located in the main towns are functioning, but they do not offer the same level of medical service. To compensate this lack of facility, private hospitals, clinics or dispensary opened, but access to medical care remains expensive in PNG and a lot of people wait till the last moment to present themselves to an hospital, hoping to would avoid the expenses. This said, at least two international medical suppliers have opened clinic with the will of offering care to the greatest number with an affordable price, but this remains not enough. In addition, the limited road infrastructure of this country limits very much the development of the countryside, and consequently the medical one. On the main island, there is only 3000 kilometers of paved road shared between the main mountain ridge, one network on each side but no link in between (for a country of the size of Sweden or Cameroon). The majority of the islands are not equipped with asphalted roads. Logistic, then, is a real daily challenge for the inhabitants. They rely on mixed means of transport, feet, canoes or in the best case, collective motorized transport means (PMV). In 2014, Total created an Exploration & Production affiliate, Total E&P PNG with offices located in Port Moresby. The creation of this affiliate was directly linked to the acquisition of 40% of the shares of the onshore block PRL-15. This block is located in the East of the Gulf Province (North West of Port Moresby). One of its main characteristic is its remoteness. In this area, people are used to travel by foot or in canoes, trips to markets or Province Capital hospital can last days.