Gun-launched instrumented seabed penetrators: initial field tests of the ISP-1 and ISP-2 systems

Technical Report · Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1983

OSTI ID:6018995

James, L T

Until May 1982, the use of instrumented penetrators to obtain in-situ measurements of marine sediment properties had been limited to maximum depths into the sediment on the order of 10 m. This paper describes the initial field tests of two gun-launched, instrumented, seabed-penetrator systems (ISP-1 and ISP-2). These tests have extended the technology of instrumented seabed penetrators by demonstrating the feasibility of obtaining in-situ measurements from depths into sediment greater than 30 m. While the primary objective of these tests was to demonstrate feasibility, a secondary objective was to obtain useful information about the gas-bearing sediments in a region of the Gulf of Mexico currently being actively investigated by several organizations. This paper describes the ISP-1 and ISP-2 and discusses the results of the data from these tests. Furthermore, several new geotechnical instruments that could be developed to exploit the capabilities demonstrated by these tests are discussed. 15 figures.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 6018995
• Report Number(s): SAND-83-0095; ON: DE83015312
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
42 ENGINEERING
GULF OF MEXICO
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
EXPLORATION
SUBTERRENE PENETRATORS
FIELD TESTS
DEPTH
OFFSHORE SITES
SEA BED
SEDIMENTS
ATLANTIC OCEAN
CARIBBEAN SEA
DIMENSIONS
DRILLING EQUIPMENT
DRILLS
EARTH PENETRATORS
EQUIPMENT
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
MINERAL RESOURCES
PENETRATORS
RESOURCES
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS
TESTING
030200* - Natural Gas- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
420206 - Engineering- Mining & Drilling Equipment & Facilities- (1980-1989)
423000 - Engineering- Marine Engineering- (1980-)