OTC 21727--An Example of Technologies and Methodology Applied to Deep-Water Geo-Hazard Assessment, Offshore Nigeria

摘要

Improving our understanding of deep-water geo-hazards requires a long-term effort, which TOTAL has sustained over the last 20 years, in particular by carrying out joint R&D projects with “IFREMER”, the French Marine Sciences Institute. The successful avenue has, consistently over time, yielded significant technical advances, in terms of data acquisition and data analysis. The involvement of a wide range of specialists remains central to a properly robust analytical investigation of the processes governing the deep-water geo-hazards. The multi-disciplinary approach is also paramount to the technical specification of the acquisition program, for a campaign at sea where non-conventional instruments are deployed. The paper presents geo-hazards targeted by the latest joint R&D project carried out by TOTAL and IFREMER, and the set of dedicated instruments deployed during the 2008 campaign, offshore Nigeria. Some significant improvements of the technology are introduced, as well as their impact in terms of geo-hazard evaluation.