Proceedings: Twentieth Annual Gulf of Mexico Information Transfer Meeting
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OCS Study MMS 2001-082 Proceedings: Twentieth Annual Gulf of Mexico Information Transfer Meeting December 2000 U.S. Department of the Interior Minerals Management Service Gulf of Mexico OCS Region OCS Study MMS 2001-082 Proceedings: Twentieth Annual Gulf of Mexico Information Transfer Meeting December 2000 Editors Melanie McKay Copy Editor Judith Nides Production Editor Debra Vigil Editor Prepared under MMS Contract 1435-00-01-CA-31060 by University of New Orleans Office of Conference Services New Orleans, Louisiana 70814 Published by New Orleans U.S. Department of the Interior Minerals Management Service October 2001 Gulf of Mexico OCS Region iii DISCLAIMER This report was prepared under contract between the Minerals Management Service (MMS) and the University of New Orleans, Office of Conference Services. This report has been technically reviewed by the MMS and approved for publication. Approval does not signify that contents necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Service, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use. It is, however, exempt from review and compliance with MMS editorial standards. REPORT AVAILABILITY Extra copies of this report may be obtained from the Public Information Office (Mail Stop 5034) at the following address: U.S. Department of the Interior Minerals Management Service Gulf of Mexico OCS Region Public Information Office (MS 5034) 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394 Telephone Numbers: (504) 736-2519 1-800-200-GULF CITATION This study should be cited as: McKay, M., J. Nides, and D. Vigil, eds. 2001. Proceedings: Twentieth annual Gulf of Mexico information transfer meeting, December 2000. U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, New Orleans, La. OCS Study MMS 2001-082. 464 pp. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF FIGURES.......................................................... vii LIST OF TABLES........................................................... xiii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .................................................... xvii INTRODUCTION ........................................................... xix SESSION 1A: MISSISSIPPI-ALABAMA MARINE ECOSYSTEM MONITORING PROGRAM Co-Chairs: Dr. Gary Brewer and Dr. Robert Rogers................................1 SESSION 1B: AIR QUALITY Chair: Dr. Chester Huang; Co-Chair: Ms. Terry Scholten...........................37 SESSION 1C: GAS HYDRATES IN THE GULF OF MEXICO Chair: Dr. Mary Boatman; Co-Chair: Mr. Jesse Hunt .............................65 SESSION 2A: DEEPWATER SESSION Co-Chairs: Mr. G. Ed Richardson and Mr. James Regg...........................105 SESSION 2B: AIR QUALITY (continued) Chair: Dr. Chester Huang; Co-Chair: Ms. Terry Scholten..........................135 SESSION 2C: ARCHAEOLOGY Chair: Dr. Richard Anuskiewicz; Co-Chair: Mr. David Bull .......................159 SESSION 1D: NORTHERN GULF OF MEXICO CONTINENTAL SLOPE HABITATS AND BENTHIC ECOLOGY STUDY, “DGoMB” Co-Chairs: Dr. Robert Avent and Mr. Greg Boland ..............................183 SESSION 1E: IMPROVEMENTS IN MODELING OF OIL SPILLS Chair: Ms. Gail Rainey; Co-Chair: Dr. Walter Johnson ...........................205 SESSION 1F: BEYOND OIL AND GAS: THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE— SOCIAL SCIENCE IN THE GULF OF MEXICO REGION Co-Chairs: Dr. Claudia Rogers and Dr. Harry Luton .............................231 vi TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) Page SESSION 2D: STABILITY AND CHANGE IN GULF OF MEXICO CHEMOSYNTHETIC COMMUNITIES: “CHEMO II” Co-Chairs: Dr. Robert Avent and Dr. Mary Boatman.............................279 SESSION 2E: NEW INITIATIVES IN MODELING OF OIL SPILLS Chair: Ms. Gail Rainey; Co-Chair: Dr. Walter Johnson ...........................299 SESSION 2F: SOCIOECONOMIC MODELING Chairs: Ms. Stephanie Gambino and Ms. Vicki Zatarain ..........................339 SESSION 1G: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES Chair: Mr. Greg Boland; Co-Chair: Ms. Debra Vigil .............................379 SESSION 1H: MMS SPONSORED OIL SPILL RESEARCH Chair: Ms. Darice Breeding.................................................409 INDEX TO AUTHORS.......................................................443 ATTENDEES ..............................................................449 vii LIST OF FIGURES No. Page 1A.1. Locations of final monitoring sites...........................................4 1A.2. Composite side-scan image of Sites 1 and 3 with locations of current meter moorings noted..........................................................8 1A.3. For Froude number (U/Nh) a) F = 0.2 and b) F = 4. Derived center-plane streamline (top) and surface shear-stress patterns (bottom). From Hunt and Snyder (1980). ......12 1A.4. Side-scan sonar mosaic of the Garden Banks survey site. Dark areas represent seafloor with high acoustic backscatter whereas light areas represent low-backscatter seafloor. Most of the dark areas are seep-affected zones along faults. Several subcircular features are mud volcanoes. Linear downslope-trending features are sediment flows. Vertical lines are the ship track locations........................18 1A.5. Side-scan sonar mosaic of the seafloor in the shallow Green Canyon survey area. Conventions as in Figure 1A.4. ........................................19 1A.6. Side-scan sonar mosaic of the seafloor in the deep Green Canyon survey area. Conventions as in Figure 1A.4. ........................................20 1A.7. Location of monitoring sites...............................................27 1A.8. Rank-frequency relationship for all fish taxa observed in video transects across study Sites 1 through 9 for Cruises 1C, M2, M3, and M4. .......................28 1A.9. Total fish taxa observed in video transects across study Sites 1 through 9 for Cruises 1C, M2, M3, and M4..............................................29 1A.10. Sample scores from correspondence analysis of a taxa-by-samples matrix based on video transects plotted on Axes 1 and 2. The scores are labeled 1 through 9 to represent the monitoring sites. Sites 1, 5, and 7 are high relief; Sites 2. 4, and 8 are medium relief; and sites 3, 6, and 9 are low relief. .............................30 1A.11. Food Web model of the Pinnacles Reef Fish Community. Lower trophic groups follow Christensen (1995). ................................................32 1A.12. Zooplankton abundance estimated at near surface (2m), midwater, and near-reef water depths during March 2000. Samples were collected using stationary, 0.5m diameter, 335µ mesh opening-closing plankton nets. Values given are number of zooplankters collected per 10-minute sample. .................................33 viii LIST OF FIGURES (continued) No. Page 1A.13. Zooplankton abundance estimated at near surface (2m), midwater, and near-reef water depths during May/June 2000. Samples were collected using stationary, 0.5 m diameter, 335µ mesh opening-closing plankton nets. Values given are number of zooplankters collected per 10 minute sample. .................................34 1A.14. Planktonic prey availability to deep reef zooplanktivores. .......................35 1B.1. Meteorological Stations in the MMS Gulf of Mexico Study domain................47 1B.2. Project schedule, 1998 – 2003. ............................................50 1C.1. The Gulf of Mexico continental slope off the state of Louisiana as portrayed by computer enhanced multibeam bathymetry. ..................................69 1C.2. This figure summarizes the spectrum of seafloor responses associated with rapid fluid and gas venting (mud-prone) to slow seepage (mineral-prone)................69 1C.3. A high resolution subbottom profile across an active mud volcano in Green Canyon 143. Rapid venting of fluidized sediment, other fluids (including crude oil) and gases have created this cone-like buildup and its downslope mudflow deposits. ......71 1C.4. A north-south high resolution seismic profile (15 in3 water gun) across the mound in Green Canyon 185 (Bush Hill) which contains gas hydrate deposits at the surface and in the shallow subsurface. ................................................73 1C.5. An outcropping of gas hydrate at apex of the Green Canyon 185 mound. This outcrop was orange in color covered with gray mud on which orange Beggiatoa mats occurred. The field of view is about 2 m across. ...........................74 1C.6. A high resolution seismic profile across a part of the dome in Green Canyon 140. Note the irregular surface made up of authigenic carbonate mounds that appear to have developed in a slow seepage environment................................76 1C.7. Sketch map showing distribution of known gas hydrate sites, seeps with chemosynthetic communities, and oil and gas fields in the Gulf of Mexico. Note study areas (GC 185, GC 234, MC 853, AT 425) and closely associated oil fields (Jolliet, Mars, Ursa). ....................................................93 ix LIST OF FIGURES (continued) No. Page 1C.8. Sketch showing main elements of a typical gas hydrate mound (1-3 m across) formed around thermogenic gas vents in a chemosynthetic community. (From Sassen et al. 1999b.) ....................................................96 1C.9. Sketch showing modeled subsurface distribution of gas hydrate at the GC 185 site. Note that much gas hydrate is thought to be deeply buried and stable in sediments where thermogenic hydrocarbon flux from the Jolliet Field faults is continuous for meaningful spans of time. ................................................98 2A.1. Alternatives in FPSO EIS................................................108