“In-Situ Sampling and Characterization of Naturally Occurring Marine Methane Hydrate Using the D/V JOIDES Resolution.” DOE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT: DE-FC26-01NT41329

The primary accomplishments of the JOI Cooperative Agreement with DOE/NETL were the deployment of specialized tools and measurement systems for use on ODP Leg 204, which studied hydrate deposits on Hydrate Ridge, offshore Oregon. Earlier deployments of these tools on ODP Leg 201 (Peru Margin) were made to prepare the tools and measurement systems for extensive use on ODP Leg 204. Prior to undertaking these field deployments, a baseline survey of the state-of-the-art in pressure coring systems was conducted (Task 1.1) and delivered to DOE/NETL shortly after this contract was awarded. The operational results from the frequent use of the PCS Gas Manifold with the Pressure Core Sampler (PCS) tool on ODP Legs 201 and 204 (Task 2.0) are evaluated. The ODP Pressure Core System (PCS) was deployed 17 times during ODP Leg 201 and 39 times during ODP Leg 204. It successfully retrieved cores from a broad range of lithologies and sediment depths along both the Peru margin and on Hydrate Ridge. The PCS gas manifold was used in conjunction with the PCS throughout ODP Legs 201 and 204 to measure the total volume and composition of gases recovered in sediment cores. The DVTP, DVTP-P, APC-methane, and APC-Temperature tools (ODP memory tools) were used extensively during ODP Legs 201 and 204 aboard the D/V JOIDES Resolution (Task 3.0). The data obtained from the successful deployments of these tools has been evaluated by the scientists and engineers involved in this testing. Infrared-thermal imaging systems (IR-TIS) were deployed on ODP Legs 201 and 204. These systems were used to identify methane hydrate intervals in the recovered cores (Task 4.0) through systematic measurements followed by discrete sampling and preservation of these samples. Leg 204 scientists and LDEO logging engineers conducted LWD and VSP experiments during ODP Leg 204 and evaluated the results (Task 5.0). Tool modifications were made to create a LWD Resistivity-at-the-Bit with Coring (RAB-C) tool, which resulted from the integration of the ODP motor-driven core barrel (MDCB) inner core tube with the Schlumberger/Anadrill RAB landing sub. ODP and FUGRO engineers deployed the modified FUGRO Piezoprobe tool for use with the ODP APC/XCB bottom hole assembly (BHA) on ODP Leg 204 (Task 6.0). This required changes to the lay out, space out, and completion of crossover subs for the piezoprobe deployment and the establishment of operational protocols for tool use. Finally, a series of additional holes were cored at the crest of Hydrate Ridge (Site 1249) to accomplish the rapid recovery and preservation of hydrate samples as part of a hydrate geriatric study. This report will present an overview of the results obtained from tool and instrument deployments on ODP Legs 201 and 204 as part of this project. DE-FC26-01NT41329 Joint Oceanographic Institutions In-Situ Sampling and Characterization of Naturally Occurring Marine Methane Hydrate Using the D/V JOIDES Resolution. 4