Friday, February 1, 2008

Deep Ocean Exploration

As accessible coastal oil reserves in shallow waters near the shore become exhausted, alternative sources must be continually found. A synthesis of advanced technologies has opened up new frontiers in deeps sea oil and gas explorations. With over 70% of the earth covered in water there is a lot of territory to explore, which makes starting in the right place a paramount issue. Sensors aboard satellites, surface ships, and submarines have helped locate and access oil reserves in areas previously thought impossible to reach. Currently drilling in the Gulf of Mexico is taking place at depths as low as 2500m’s.

Satellite imagery is an area continually undergoing innovation. In the past satellite data has been used to identify “macroseeps”, or large pools of oil at the surface leaked from reserves below. Using advanced sensing equipment and lasers, satellites can now pick up traces of hydrocarbons in the atmosphere above suspected oil reserves. Comparing images taken at various times can help pinpoint locate the exact sources of the seeps.

Determining actual depth seabed has traditionally been done with surface ships using depth sounding equipment, but now satellite altimetry is used to create images of the seabed below. Dips and bulges at the surface of the ocean, not visible with the naked eye, follow the ocean floor can be identified by measuring signals sent through a network of satellite and ground stations.

Until recently the intense pressures of the deep sea has limited submersible exploration. Robotics has allowed submersibles to dive as deep as 3600m’s, or 12 000ft. These craft can take pictures, videos, and scans as well as collect material samples from the oceans floor. Samples can be examined for hydrocarbon contents, and imagery can be used to locate oil seeps coming from the sea bed.

With oil wells successfully operating nearly a mile below the surface mining and mineral exploration companies have begun to cross the rift to deep sea operations. If you can go 2 km’s through solid rock to reach mineral deposits why not 2km’s below sea level? Hydrothermal vents near volcanically active places superheat sea water as it seeps below the porous ocean floor. As the water shoots out the vent dissolved minerals precipitate forming mineral rich towers known as black smokers. These towers collapse over time forming vast fields of resources. Some suggest that mining in these sea beds are far less environmentally destructive than mining from the earth’s surface. Deposits lying on the sea floor are immediately accessible without extensive excavation efforts. Acid drainage released from the process would be neutralized in the alkaline sea water. Another benefit advocates point to is that no permanent structures or rock waste piles would be left behind.

With emerging superpowers, China and India, driving the demands for oil exponentially upwards American companies, such as Triple Diamond Energy Corp, are continually seeking new ways to reduce the need for foreign oil importation.


About the Author: Robert Jent is President & CEO of Triple Diamond Energy Corp. Triple Diamond Energy is an independent producer of oil and natural gas. Located in the Dallas area, the company specializes in acquiring the highest quality prime oil and gas properties

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