1. potential environmental sciences benefits of an ocean observation system to the offshore E&P industry James C. Robinson, P.E. Environmental Engineer, Deepwater Production BP Exploration & Production Inc., Houston, Texas, USA November 3, 2005

2. Background info –The offshore E&P industry –BP in the deepwater GoM –Deepwater developments potential environmental sciences benefits to the offshore E&P industry of an ocean observation system –data used for oil spill trajectory and fate modeling –monitoring and documentation of natural oil seeps –understanding water currents –potential environmental impacts of explosive charges

3. Offshore E&P – Gulf of Mexico

4. GoM bathymetry Houston New Orleans Shelf Slope Basin

5. MMS Active Leases by water depth

6. GoM Deepwater Discoveries

7. BP in the deepwater GoM

8. Fixed Platforms industry wide ~ 4,000 platforms in GoM BP ~ 150 platforms in GoM Most are located in less than 300 ft. water depth A few are located in water depth greater than 1,000 ft.

9. Drilling Rigs (MODUs) BP presently has 3 under contract in the GoM Can operate in ~ 10,000 ft. water depth

10. Floating production facilities BP presently has 7 in the GoM Located in water depths of 3,300 – 6,600 ft.

11. Deepwater Subsea Developments

12. potential environmental sciences benefits of an IOOS to the offshore E&P industry data used for oil spill trajectory and fate modeling monitoring and documentation of natural oil seeps understanding water currents potential environmental impacts of explosive charges

13. oil spill trajectory and fate modeling Real-time water current, sea state and temperature data used for the purpose of oil spill trajectory and fate (evaporation) modeling Subsurface water currents data for DeepSpill modeling TABS, NDBC and Flower Garden buoys. Forecast water currents, near-surface and deepsea. How much information is required to offer "enough" information for accurate spill trajectory models?

15. monitoring and documentation of natural oil seeps Utilization of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imaging, and construction of historical records of natural seep location, orientation (based on water currents), origin point and frequency of observation. The benefit would be the avoidance of unnecessary production shut-in if and when a sheen is observed near production operations or oil export pipelines, when the sheen can be attributed to known, pre-existing natural seeps. such databases on natural seeps exist; however, better understanding of subsurface currents might help predict where these seeps will be expressed on the surface. local information via ADCP is usually desired.

16. Sea Surface Slicks Plate 3 Photo of sea surface slick Satellite based Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) image (partial) of sea surface slicks 5 Miles Grid North Slicks Slick Slicks

17. A slick is a “flat” part of the sea surface in which small capillary waves are suppressed. Can be natural film or oil. What is a slick? The sea here is “even”, that is with no directional waves or swell. The rougher the sea the brighter the radar image texture From NPA

18. Sea Surface Slicks – Satellite SAR (TAMU data 2000 - 2001) Slide modified from presentations by Drs. James Brooks & Ian MacDonald (TDI-Brooks and TAMU-CC) January, 2005 Source of most slicks are localized seafloor seeps. Slicks observed during same time-window are shown in same color.

19. SAR imagery and seep simulation

20. understanding water currents Perhaps beneficial in implementing a recently proposed MMS reg that requires including, when submitting plans for exploration, site-specific information on chemosynthetic communities, threatened or endangered species, marine mammals, sensitive underwater features, ESA designated critical habitat, or other areas of biological concern. Also, analyses of the potential direct and indirect impacts (including those from accidents, cooling water intake structures, and those identified in relevant ESA biological opinions such as, but not limited to, noise, vessel collisions, and marine trash and debris) that proposed exploration activities will have on the identified resources, conditions, and activities. Potential prediction of marine mammal or prey species movement from ocean current monitoring. Understanding their distribution and movement using currents as a surrogate could be an important tool in working out their behaviors and ecology. Perhaps gaining a better view of phytoplankton blooms, and thus the foundation of the food webs that some marine mammals utilize. Development of different approaches to modeling (forecasting) surface currents in the GoM.

21. SWSS – Mississippi Canyon 127

22. potential environmental impacts of explosive charges Learning more about potential impacts of explosive charges on marine life Applications include platform decommissioning / "reefing" projects, and seismic data acquisition There were numerous platforms “toppled” by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita & Ivan that will require decommissioning over the next several years

23. Summary There may exist potential environmental sciences benefits to the offshore E&P industry of an integrated ocean observation data system. Offshore E&P operators probably do not share all the same interests. An offshore E&P industry position or consensus has not yet been established. Some offshore E&P operators may be interested in exploring the kinds of data the program may generate and their relevance to their operations.