TECHNICAL ADVANCES IN HIGH-RESOLUTION HAZARD SURVEYING, DEEPWATER GULF OF MEXICO

High-resolution geophysical techniques are now capable of routine assessment of sea-floor geology relevant to oil and gas exploration and production in the Gulf of Mexico to water depths of 7,700ft. Survey methods pioneered in deepwater areas off the Atlantic east coast have been significantly improved. Present practice uses satellite navigation for ship positioning and bottom-mounted telemetering transponder arrays for accurate positioning of deeply towed sensors. Deeply towed subbottom profiler and side-scan sonar systems provide very high resolution data for near-surface sediments and sea-floor morphology. Digital recording provides capability for real-time image processing and enhancement. Bathymetric mapping uses surface-towed narrow-beam fathometers calibrated for water column velocity and bottom slope. Medium-penetration seismic data are displayed through a control module to reduce vertical exaggeration and improve resolution. The new techniques allow comprehensive engineering geologic evaluations of deepwater prospects in a cost- and time-effective manner.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Proc. 20th Offshore Technology Conference, held Houston, Texas, 2-5 May 1988, Vol. 3, p. 109 [9 pp., 4 ref., 1 tab., 10 fig.]
• Authors:
  • Prior, D B
  • Doyle, E H
• Conference:
  • Proc. 20th Offshore Technology Conference
  • Location: Houston texas, United States
  • Date: 1988-5-2 to 1988-5-5
• Publication Date: 1988

Language

• English

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Geological surveying; Oil exploration
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00694699
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: British Maritime Technology
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 14 1995 12:00AM