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Project Number 479
Date of Summary August 8, 2006
Subject Deep-Sea Furrows
Performing Activity OTRC/Department of Oceanography
Principal Investigator Drs. Bryant and Slowey
Contracting Agency Minerals Management Service
Estimated Completion Completed
Description Significant currents that affect offshore operations and facility designs exist in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico. This project is part of a JIP formed to carry out an integrated study of the seafloor furrows produced by the flow and characteristics of the flow itself. The JIP measured the extent and morphology of the furrows, the sediment properties, and assess the depositional history of the sediments using age-dating and seismic stratigraphic techniques. These results were compared to the measured current flow regime immediately above the furrows, and related it to the mechanisms of furrow formation and the climatology of deepwater currents. The resulting information will provide a basis for designing effective deepwater pipelines, risers, and templates (e.g. overbends, spans, and current loads) and a basis for estimating the effects of changes in furrow morphology and deepwater flow over the lifetime of deepwater oil field installations.
Progress A research cruise took place in May 2006, to recover the moored current meters from the five locations. Each mooring had a vertical array of three current meters. OTRC has completed the analysis of the data from the current meters. These data are proprietary and available only to the JIP participants.

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Last Updated: 08/11/2008, 07:53 AM