Sandia National Laboratories research update: seafloor earthquake sensor may aid offshore construction
A device to aid in the recovery of offshore oil and gas by measuring response of the ocean floor to earthquakes and other disturbances is being tested in the Santa Barbara Channel off the coast of S. California. The device - the seafloor earthquake measurement systems (SEMS) - should provide better data for the design and construction of safe, cost effective offshore oil production structures. In addition, the SEMS will provide the Federal government with data needed to fulfill its regulatory responsibility in certifying these offshore structures. The mushroom-shaped SEMS consist of a 26-in. x 30-in. pressure vessel atop a 7-ft long probe which is pushed into sediments as the unit comes to rest on the seafloor. A part of the other housing of the 4-1/2-in. diameter probe can be retracted, leaving the tip of the probe isolated from the remainder of the unit except for a data transmission wire. The tip contains a 3-axis accelerometer, which responds to seismic activity in the dynamic range of 10/sup -4/ to one gravity and 2-axis magnetometer which determines direction of the seismic activity. Three of the prototype units have been placed in the vicinity of offshore drilling platforms in 165 to 500 ft of water 4 to 10 miles from shore.
- OSTI ID:
- 6720950
- Journal Information:
- Drilling; (United States), Journal Name: Drilling; (United States) Vol. 42:5; ISSN DRILA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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020300 -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
03 NATURAL GAS
030300 -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
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& Processing
58 GEOSCIENCES
580201* -- Geophysics-- Seismology & Tectonics-- (1980-1989)
DESIGN
DETECTION
EARTHQUAKES
ENGINEERING
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NATURAL GAS WELLS
OFFSHORE PLATFORMS
OFFSHORE SITES
OIL WELLS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SAFETY ENGINEERING
SANDIA LABORATORIES
SANTA BARBARA CHANNEL
SEA BED
SEISMIC ARRAYS
SEISMIC DETECTION
SEISMIC DETECTORS
SEISMIC EVENTS
TESTING
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WELLS