LSU Science in Support of DWH Oil Spill Minerals Management - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Minerals Management Services June 3, 2010

DWH Science Summit LSU Science in Support of DWH Oil Spill

Immediate Science Actions (since incident)

 MMS is providing scientific experts and technical direction in

the development and participation in Response Teams and the Unified Command for DWH oil spill with multiple agencies.

 MMS is providing extensive data and model results for the

prediction of the spilled oil to aid response and clean up planning and response.

 Collection of reports and data from MMS Gulf of Mexico Studies

for baseline assessment and extensions of ongoing projects

• Lophelia II Project with NOAA – 2008-2009 Deep Water Corals for

baseline data.

• Deep water circulation and Loop Current Studies

Immediate Science Actions (since incident)

 Oceanographic Models and Measurements

 MMS participated in an interagency oil spill model review team to

ensure the highest confidence in the results.

 Dispersant Studies

 MMS provided information and references from funded TAR and

ESP studies including two NRC books.

 Passive tracer modeling at the surface and 800 m depth; conducted

sub-surface sampling to detect the fate and concentration of DWH

• il and dispersants

 Magnitude of the DWH Spill

 MMS is participating in the Flow Rate Technical Group (FRTG)

which will provide scientifically validated information to determine the volume of DWH oil flow and spill.

MMS - NOAA/AOML Airborne Survey of Loop Current using airdrop probes

 MMS - NOAA/AOML

• ngoing airborne surveys
• f Loop Current (LC) for

use in oceanographic models and hurricane study.

 MMS provided an

additional $100K for spill response and deployed 180 AXBT and 60 AXCTD since DWH spill.

Deployment of bathythermographs http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/

Recent survey

(5/21) reveal that LC may be in the process of shedding Loop Current Eddy (LCE); surveys will continue.

MMS - NOAA/AMOL Airborne Survey Flight Patterns over Loop Current

SSH Image from University of Miami

Near-Term Science Actions (1-6 months)

 Modification of MMS ongoing contracts to target DWH

spill issues have been initiated

 Socio-economic Studies

 MMS/LSU conference (5/26-28, 2010) in Gulf of Mexico

Region to discuss baseline socio-economic data and planning for study design

 Dispersant Studies (providing technical direction)

 Exposure studies to better understand the impacts if

dispersants on biota

Near-Term Science Actions (1-6 months)

 MMS Loop Current Study

(contract with SAIC)

 Extensive mooring arrays have

been deployed in the center of the LC to investigate its dynamics; first year data will be available for hindcast modeling

 Water samples will be

collected and analyzed at the mooring sites during the rotation to track the extend of DWH spilled oil

Near-Term Science Actions (1-6 months)

 Ongoing interagency MMS/NOAA OER/USGS study

(NOPP) of deep-water coral habitats (Lophelia II) identified as invaluable source of pre- post-spill data

 Existing photomosaic images acquired at sites near and

distant to DWH oil spill location

 Currently operating sediment/larval traps near and

distant to DWH oil spill location

 MMS/NOAA OER/USGS Lophelia II study contractor

has been identified for NRDA proposal on deep coral habitats to include rapid response field sampling cruise

Photomosaic of deep-water coral Madrepora Block GC 852, 4,625 ft depth. Operating time-series sediment traps, one located directly under DWH oil spill and one located

• utside: both at deep coral sites

Study sites for ongoing MMS/NOAA OER/USGS Lophelia II project

Lophelia deep-water coral

Near-Term Science Actions (1-6 months)

MMS Environmental Studies Program Gulf of Mexico Projects

 LSU Coastal Marine Institute Partnership

 Effects of Loop Current and Loop Current Eddies -

Analysis Using the Real-time MMS ADCPs from Oil Platforms

 Multiple Deep Water Studies concluding through 2010.

MMS contractors – SAIC, LSU, TAMU, CICESE, Evan- Hamilton, Inc, Princeton University

 Climatological, Bio-Physical and Deep water Models in

development with multiple partners and contractors.

Effects of Loop Current and Loop Current Eddies - Analysis Using the Real-time MMS ADCPs from Oil Platforms – Coastal Marine Institute, Louisiana State University

http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/maps/ADCP_WestGulf.shtml

Long-Term Science Actions (2 mos. to decades)

MMS Studies Plan Development

 Coastal and At-Sea Gulf Coast Spill Impacts

 Impacts of the DWH spill on sea turtles  Impacts of the DWH spill on productivity, nutrient

cycling and species composition of Gulf Coast marshes

 Long-term Monitoring

 Hydrocarbon monitoring studies at the surface and in

the deep sea communities

 Residual effects of dispersants and dispersed oil in the

environment and target species

Long-Term Science Actions (2 mos. to decades)

 Contract modification to existing MMS/NOAA

OER/USGS Lophelia II project to address DWH spill impacts

 Additional field sampling 2010 and adding 2011  NOAA OER expected additional contribution of ROV in

2011

 Continued improvements of ocean models and oil spill

trajectory methods

 AMAPPS –Marine mammal, sea turtle and sea bird

mapping program, utilizing historic and new data for species mapping expanded to Gulf since DWH spill.

Long-Term Science Actions (2 mos. to decades)

PARTNERSHIPS Research, Coordination, Information & Dissemination*

 MMS/LSU Coastal Marine Institute  NOAA, USGS, Navy  IOOS, GCOOS, SECOORA  National Ocean Partnership Program  Cooperative Ecosystem Study Units

*MMS uses Cooperative Agreements and Contracts to facilitate the timely delivery of information.