BP
DEEP SEA FIELD GUIDE BP joined with HRI to better understand the mysterious world that exists far below the surface of the Gulf of Mexico. Deepwater oil and gas exploration has introduced new opportunities and challenges. Just because this exploration is taking place underwater doesn’t mean that environmental considerations can be overlooked. Before an exploratory underwater well is drilled, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) requires an environmental assessment study. Due to the depth of these wells, the only tool up to the task is a remotely-operated underwater vehicle (ROV). The ROVs, operated by highly trained pilots, are outfitted with video and still cameras to capture images. This information is vitally important to understand the habitat that exists almost a mile beneath the surface of the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf of Mexico’s sea floor features sensitive habitats such as natural hydrocarbon seeps containing specialized chemosynthetic autotrophic biota. Without the information gathered through ROV exploration, BP might not be aware of the importance of avoiding these areas and relocating their drilling. However, ROV pilots are not normally biologists. To assist in the identification, HRI scientists have taken on the task of researching and compiling a list of environmentally sensitive deep-sea species of macrofauna. This research will be compiled for use as a resource for BP’s ROV pilots. Once the key species have been identified, HRI will source images -- photographs, video capture, or museum species -- and develop visual tools for reference. These will be compiled into a deep sea “field guide” with a miniposter and a flip book with images, taxonomic identification, and other information including habitat, depth, body shape, color, etc. This important tool will provide the ROV pilots with a key resource when completing BOEM’s required ROV Survey Report. Quality information and identification will have significant long-term benefit on the sustainability of the Gulf of Mexico.
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