CORK servicing and experiments, Summer 2012

Ship

R/V Atlantis

Vehicles

ROV Jason

Cruise Party

Keir Becker: Principal Investigator
Univ. Miami, RSMAS USA
+1 305 421 4661
Becker Keir

Jordan Clark: Principal Investigator
Univ. California, Santa Barbara USA
+1 805 450 1824
jfclark@geol.ucsb.edu

Sharon Cooper: Principal Investigator
Consortium for Ocean Leadership 1201 New York Ave, NW, 4th Floor Washington DC, Washington DC USA 20005
+1 412 421 4240
sCooper@oceanleadership.org

James Cowen: Principal Investigator
1000 Pope Road Honolulu, HI USA 96822
+1 808 956 7124
jcowen@soest.hawaii.edu

Katrina Edwards: Principal Investigator
Organization Name USA
+1 213 821 4390
kje@usc.edu

Andrew Fisher: Chief Scientist, Principal Investigator
UCSC 1156 High Street Santa Cruz, CA USA 95064
+1 831 459 5598


Charles Wheat: Principal Investigator
Univ. Alaska Fairbanks USA
+1 831 633 7033
Wheat Geoff

Departure: Seattle WA

Arrival: Seattle WA

Mobilization Date: Jul 26, 2012

Demobilization Date: Aug 12, 2012

Supporting documentation:

»Summer2012_StationInfo120328.pdf

Operations Area: Cascadia Basin, NE Pacific

Lat/Lon: 47° 45.3′ S / 127° 45.5′ W

Depth Range: 2600 / 2700

Will the vessel be operating within 200 NM of a foreign country? Canada
Are visas or special travel documents required? no

Science objectives

OCE 1031808 (Lead co-PI: A. T. Fisher) supports multidisciplinary borehole experiments in oceanic crust, to assess hydrogeologic, solute and colloid transport, biogeochemical, and microbiological processes and properties at multiple spatial and temporal scales (meters to kilometers, minutes to years). Results of these experiments will comprise a major advance in our understanding of hydrogeologic properties and fluid processes within the volcanic oceanic crust. This work follows completion of Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 327, which operated in Summer 2010, and earlier drilling and submersible/ROV expeditions.

The primary work area for Expedition 327, and for the Summer 2012 Thompson/Jason expedition, is on 3.5-3.6 Ma seafloor on the eastern flank of the Juan de Fuca Ridge. Six long-term borehole observatories (CORKs) in a 2.5 square kilometer area are separated by distances of 40 to 2460 m, five aligned along a trend of N20E (Holes 1026B, 1301A, 1301B, 1362A, 1362B) and one is located 2.2 km to the east (Hole 1027C). All of these holes were drilled, cased, cored, and tested, then instrumented with CORKs using the drillship JOIDES Resolution.

This network of instrumented sites allows continuous monitoring of pressure and temperature at depth, and sampling fluids and microbiological material using autonomous instrumentation. These CORK systems require servicing with a submersible or ROV to download data, recover samples, and replace a variety of experimental systems. This is a primary goal of the Summer 2012 expedition with the ROV Jason II and the R/V Thomas G. Thompson. In addition, we will recover a flow meter currently installed on one of the CORK observatories, and close a large-diameter ball valve, shutting off the discharge of hydrothermal fluid that was initiated in Summer 2011. Data from this flowmeter will be downloaded, and the instrument will be redeployed on another wellhead, and a large-diameter ball valve on that wellhead will be opened, initiating flow from the CORK. These free flow experiments create pressure perturbations at surrounding CORKs. Free flow also provides fluid and microbiological sampling opportunities. By monitoring the formation pressure response at the different observatories, located at different distances, depths, and directions from the CORK that will be allowed to discharge fluid, researchers will be able to assess the nature of crustal hydrologic properties. Wellhead instruments deployed in Summer 2011 (fluid samplers, microbial growth incubators) will be recovered and replaced. A GeoMicrobiology sampling sled deployed on one wellhead will be recovered, and additional (active) fluid sampling will occur at various wellheads.

Science Activities

Functional goals for the Summer 2012 JdF Flank expedition are to service of network of six subseafloor observatories (CORKs), collect fluid and microbiological samples, recover and deploy autnonomous instruments, and run cross-hole hydrogeologic, geochemical, and microbiological experiments. Because of the close spacing between the primary CORK systems, it should be possible to combine operations at multiple wellheads during a single Jason dive, but this will depend on payload, electrical connection, elevator and other operational requirements.
    Active pressure measurement and logging systems are currently installed in all six CORKs. Data from Hole 1026B are being downloaded automatically using the Neptune Canada cable network. Data from the other CORKs will be downloaded with Jason. All of these downloads will be accomplished using the same ODI underwater mateable connector. Pressure download operations will include manipulation of valves to check the hydrostatic pressure offset and evaluate potential gauge drift. The CORK in Hole 1027C was retrofitted in Summer 2011 with a modern data logger system currently located on the ROV platform around the wellhead.
    An autonomous flowmeter system was deployed in Summer 2011 on the top of a ball valve in the wellhead the CORK in Hole 1362B. This flowmeter uses an electro-magnetic induction sensor to determine the rate of fluid outflow from the CORK over time, with measurements made every 60 minutes. This flowmeter is held in place with a rotating clamp built onto the top of the ball valve. Opening that valve started a long-term flow experiment, with overpressured formation fluids discharging at an estimated rate of 5–10 L/s, and pressure monitoring is ongoing in this hole and in nearby CORKs to determine the nature of the cross-hole response. A vertical PVC pipe with a diameter of 4 inches extends upward from the flowmeter sensor by about 1 m. Four autonomous thermal loggers are installed along the length of this pipe, to provide an independent estimate of the upward fluid flow rate (using heat as a tracer). In addition, this pipe is providing fluid and microbiological sampling opportunities, with inlets to samplers "hung" over the top of the pipe, allowing fluids to be sampled during discharge from the hole.
    OsmoSampler systems are currently installed on wellheads in five holes (all except Hole 1027C). OsmoSampler systems include Teflon coils, copper coils, and microbiological FLOCS incubation chambers. Existing systems will be recovered and new systems will be installed. The OsmoSamplers installed on the CORK in Hole 1362A will draw fluids from the discharge from the flowmeter system, rather than from lines on the wellhead.
    Additional fluid samples will be collected from wellheads using a variety of techniques. Active pumping systems use mechanical and hydraulic pumps and will be deployed and recovered on a short-term basis. These systems can be used to draw fluids from valves and fittings on CORK wellheads, and to sample from flow discharging from the flowmeter. NOTE: when actively sampling from CORK wellhead fittings using a mechanical/hydraulic pump system, we may need to close OsmoSampler and/or pressure monitoring valves so that we don't damage associated instruments.
    We also plan to bring to sea an Alvin-style heat flow probe (66 cm in length) and a prototype insertion frame that helps to keep the probe vertical during penetration. We may wish to use this tool near one of the CORK wellheads, during a dive of opportunity, or possibly at one of the secondary field sites to be explored if all primary CORK work is completed and time remains available during the expedition. We also may download pressure data from another CORK system located to the west at Sites 1024 or 1025.

Pre-cruise planning meeting: Teleconference

Media personnel on board: Video, Writer, Teachers, students, videographer
We are planning a significant education, outreach, and communication program, will have ~6 teachers, bloggers, and someone to help with making videos. Videographer will help to communicate with others on shore, and we want to have numerous web conferences with museums, summer camps, etc. Reliable, high-band-width internet connection will be important for this purpose.

Stations:

Funding Agency: C-DEBI #Education/Outreach grant, NSF #OCE 1031808

- added C-DEBI #Education/Outreach grant, added NSF #OCE 1031808 on Jul 13, 2017 2:10 PM by
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R/V Atlantis

Shipboard Equipment

Bathymetry System 12 kHz
Bathymetry System 3.5 kHz
Deionized Water System
Relay Transponder for Wire Use
Transponder Navigation - Sonardyne USBL
Navigation - Heading
Multibeam
Fume Hood
Navigation - Position

Shipboard Communication

Basic Internet access via HiSeasNet
Is there a need to receive data from shore on a regular basis?
Is there a need to transfer data to shore on a regular basis?
Is there an expectation to use Skype or any other real-time video conference program?

CTD/Water Sampling

911+ Rosette 24-position, 10-liter bottle Rosette with dual T/C sensors

Critical CTD Sensors: 

Sample Storage

Climate Controlled Walk-in
Freezer -70°C 3.2 cu. ft. ea.
Freezer -70°C 25 cu. ft.
Refrigerator 8.6 cu. ft.
Scientific Walk-in Freezer


Storage Notes:

Navigation

Will you be using Long Base Line (LBL) navigation? no

Will you be using Ultra-short baseline (USBL) navigation for other than Alvin operations? no

Navigation

GPS
LBL
USBL

Navigation Notes:

Winches

CTD Winch with .322" Electro-mechanical wire
Hydro Winch with .25" hydro wire

Winch Notes:

Wire use and application

Hydro Winch with .25" hydro wire
CTD Winch with .322" Electro-mechanical wire


Wire Notes:

Slip ring required? no	Number of conductors:
Non-standard wire required? no	Type:
Traction winch required? no	Describe:

Portable Vans

Chemical Storage Van
Isotope Van

Other Science Vans:

Specialized Deck Equipment

Mooring Deployment/Recovery Equipment Required: no	Type:
Cruise Specific Science Winch Required: no	Type:
Nets Required: no	Type:

Over the Side Equipment

Will you be bringing any equipment (winches, blocks, etc.) that lowers instruments over the side? no

Special Requirements

Elecrical Power: no	Identify:
Equipment Handling: no	Identify:
Inter/intraship Communications: no	Identify:
Science Stowage: no	Identify:
Water: no	Identify:

Additional Cruise Items/Activities

Explosive Devices: no Portable Air Compressors: no Flammable Gases: no

Small Boat Operations: no SCUBA Diving Operations: no

Hazardous Material

Will hazardous material be utilized? no

Radioactive Material

Radioiosotopes: no

Additional Information

Is night time work anticipated on this cruise? no

Specialized tech support (Seabeam, coring, other): 

Other required equipment and special needs: 

ROV Jason

Site Survey

Will you provide detailed charts of the work area(s)?  no
Current Chart(s):


If no, willl you need Jason to generate maps of the work area(s)?  no

Will you need post-dive maps of the work area generated?  no

Navigation

Will you be using Long Base Line (LBL) navigation? no

Will you be using Ultra-short baseline (USBL) navigation? yes

Will you be using Doppler/GPS navigation? yes

Sensors & Samplers

Large capacity slurp samplers (Single Chamber)
Major water sampler(s)
Push corers
What type of samples do you expect to collect?
Water samples from CORK wellheads, sediment samples from around CORK sites

Elevators

Will you be using elevators to transport samples to the surface?  yes

If yes, how many would you anticipate?  12

Cameras & Video

Video & Photo data

Science Supplied Equipment

Are you supplying equipment to be used on HOV Jason?
yes

Has this equipment been used on Jason before?  yes

Please give a brief description of the equipment, its intended purpose, the cruise # it was last used on if any and its deployment method.

Does this equipment use an external pressure housing?  no

If yes, what is the pressure rating? 
and test pressure? 

Or has the pressure case been tested per Alvin Pressure Test requirements?  no

Housing schematic with dimensions and include air and water weights.
»JasonEquipTN-284_120425.pdf

Does the equipment have an associated computer or control panel for remote operation from the personnel sphere?  no

Air weight of this equipment? 

Water weight of this equipment? 

Does the equipment require data or a power interface from the vehicle?  yes

Does this equipment require hydraulic inputs from the vehicle?  no
Hydraulic schematic of the equipment requirements.

Does this equipment require manipulation?  yes

If yes, please describe how the equipment is to be manipulated.
To be provided

Will this equipment be deployed off the vehicle?  yes

If yes, please describe how the equipment is intended for deployment.
To be provided

If yes, will the equipment be disconnected from the vehicle and left in situ?  yes

How long will the deployment be?  24  Months

Will the equipment be recovered by the same vehicle?  no

If recovering equipment deployed with another vehicle, provide pressure rating: 
and test pressure: 

Does this equipment use any glass spheres for either buoyancy or as pressure housings?  no

Hazardous Material

Will hazardous material be utilized? no

Describe deployment method and quantity:
To be provided by co-PIs Cowen, Edwards, Wheat

Additional Information

Brief operations description or comments:
To be provided by co-PIs Cowen, Edwards, Wheat
Date Submitted: Apr 25, 2012 4:51 PM