– Volume Authorship
– Publisher’s Notes
– Volume Reference and DOI
– Expedition Report Prospectus
– Expedition Report Chapters
– Expedition Research Results
– Synthesis
– Data Directory
– Acknowledgements
Proceedings of the UT-GOM2-1 Hydrate Pressure Coring Expedition
Expedition UT-GOM2-1 of the vessel Helix Q-4000 from Brownsville, TX (USA), to Port Fourchon, LA (USA)
Sites GC 955 H002 (API # 608114068600) and GC 955 H005 (API # 608114068700)
2-May-2017 to 24-May-2017
Volume Authorship
Flemings, P.B., Phillips, S.C, Collett, T., Cook, A., Boswell, R., and the UT-GOM2-1 Expedition Scientists1
Publisher’s Notes
This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract No. DE-FE0023919
“This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof.”
The bulk of the shipboard-collected core data from this expedition is accessible from the Institute for Geophysics, Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas at Austin (UT), at https://ig.utexas.edu/energy/genesis-of-methane-hydrate-in-coarse-grained-systems/expedition-ut-gom2-1/. Instruction on how to access the data are provided there.
Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction are permitted, provided the original author and source are credited.
Volume Reference and DOI
Flemings, P.B., Phillips, S.C, Collett, T., Cook, A., Boswell, R., and the UT-GOM2-1 Expedition Scientists, Proceedings of the UT-GOM2-1 Hydrate Pressure Coring Expedition, Austin, TX (University of Texas Institute for Geophysics, TX), https://dx.doi.org/10.2172/1646019
Expedition Report Prospectus
Scientific Prospectus
Flemings, P.B., Boswell, R., Collett, T.S., Cook, A. E., Divins, D., Frye, M., Guerin, G., Goldberg, D.S., Malinverno, A., Meazell, K., Morrison, J., Pettigrew, T., Philips, S.C., Santra, M., Sawyer, D., Shedd, W., Thomas, C., You, K. GOM2: Prospecting, Drilling and Sampling Coarse-Grained Hydrate Reservoirs in the Deepwater Gulf of Mexico. Proceeding of ICGH-9. Denver, Colorado: ICGH, 2017. http://www-udc.ig.utexas.edu/gom2/UT-GOM2-1%20Prospectus.pdf
Expedition Report Chapters
Expedition Summary
Flemings, P.B., Phillips, S.C, Collett, T., Cook, A., Boswell, R., and the UT-GOM2-1 Expedition Scientists, 2018. UT-GOM2-1 Hydrate Pressure Coring Expedition Summary. In Flemings, P.B., Phillips, S.C, Collett, T., Cook, A., Boswell, R., and the UT-GOM2-1 Expedition Scientists, Proceedings of the UT-GOM2-1 Hydrate Pressure Coring Expedition, Austin, TX (University of Texas Institute for Geophysics, TX). https://dx.doi.org/10.2172/1647223
Methods
Flemings, P.B., Phillips, S.C, Collett, T., Cook, A., Boswell, R., and the UT-GOM2-1 Expedition Scientists, 2018. UT-GOM2-1 Hydrate Pressure Coring Expedition Methods. In Flemings, P.B., Phillips, S.C, Collett, T., Cook, A., Boswell, R., and the UT-GOM2-1 Expedition Scientists, Proceedings of the UT-GOM2-1 Hydrate Pressure Coring Expedition: Austin, TX (University of Texas Institute for Geophysics, TX). https://dx.doi.org/10.2172/1647226
H002
Flemings, P.B., Phillips, S.C, Collett, T., Cook, A., Boswell, R., and the UT-GOM2-1 Expedition Scientists, 2018. UT-GOM2-1 Hydrate Pressure Coring Expedition Hole GC 955 H002. In Flemings, P.B., Phillips, S.C, Collett, T., Cook, A., Boswell, R., and the UT-GOM2-1 Expedition Scientists, Proceedings of the UT-GOM2-1 Hydrate Pressure Coring Expedition: Austin, TX (University of Texas Institute for Geophysics, TX). https://dx.doi.org/10.2172/1648313
H005
Flemings, P.B., Phillips, S.C, Collett, T., Cook, A., Boswell, R., and the UT-GOM2-1 Expedition Scientists, 2018. UT-GOM2-1 Hydrate Pressure Coring Expedition Hole GC 955 H005. In Flemings, P.B., Phillips, S.C, Collett, T., Cook, A., Boswell, R., and the UT-GOM2-1 Expedition Scientists, Proceedings of the UT-GOM2-1 Hydrate Pressure Coring Expedition: Austin, TX (University of Texas Institute for Geophysics, TX). https://dx.doi.org/10.2172/1648318
Expedition Research Results
Data Report: High-Resolution Microscopy Images of Sediments from Green Canyon Block 955, Gulf of Mexico
Heber, R., Cook, A., Sheets, J., Sawyer, 2020. Data Report: High-Resolution Microscopy Images of Sediments from Green Canyon Block 955, Gulf of Mexico. In Flemings, P.B., Phillips, S.C, Collett, T., Cook, A., Boswell, R., and the UT-GOM2-1 Expedition Scientists, Proceedings of the UT-GOM2-1 Hydrate Pressure Coring Expedition: Austin, TX (University of Texas Institute for Geophysics, TX). https://dx.doi.org/10.2172/1648312, 6 p.
Data Report: X-Ray Diffraction of Sediments from Green Canyon Block 955, Gulf of Mexico
Heber, R., Cook, A., Sheets, J., and Sawyer, D., 2020. Data Report: X-Ray Diffraction of Sediments from Green Canyon Block 955, Gulf of Mexico. In Flemings, P.B., Phillips, S.C, Collett, T., Cook, A., Boswell, R., and the UT-GOM2-1 Expedition Scientists, Proceedings of the UT-GOM2-1 Hydrate Pressure Coring Expedition: Austin, TX (University of Texas Institute for Geophysics, TX). https://dx.doi.org/10.2172/1648308, 27 p.
Data Report: X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Phillips, I.M., 2018. Data Report: X-Ray Powder Diffraction. In Flemings, P.B., Phillips, S.C, Collett, T., Cook, A., Boswell, R., and the UT-GOM2-1 Expedition Scientists, Proceedings of the UT-GOM2-1 Hydrate Pressure Coring Expedition: Austin, TX (University of Texas Institute for Geophysics, TX). https://dx.doi.org/10.2172/1648320 14 p.
Data Report: Prestack Waveform Inversion at GC 955: Trials and sensitivity of PWI to high-resolution seismic data
Fortin, W.F.J., Goldberg, D.S., Küçük, H.M., 2020, Data Report: Prestack Waveform Inversion at GC 955: Trials and sensitivity of PWI to high-resolution seismic data, In Flemings, P.B., Phillips, S.C, Collett, T., Cook, A., Boswell, R., and the UT-GOM2-1 Expedition Scientists, Proceedings of the UT-GOM2-1 Hydrate Pressure Coring Expedition: Austin, TX (University of Texas Institute for Geophysics, TX). http://dx.doi.org/10.2172/1647733, 7 p.
Data Report: Pore Water Geochemistry
Reference coming soon (Sept. 2020)
Data report: Surface area and pore size measurements of two hydrate-bearing sediment samples from Green Canyon Block 955 (GC955), Gulf of Mexico
Reference coming soon (Sept. 2020)
Data Report: UT-GOM2-1 Biostratigraphy Report Green Canyon Block 955, Gulf of Mexico
Reference coming soon (Sept. 2020)
Data Report: UT-GOM2-1 Lithostratigraphic Core Description Logs at Site GC 955, Holes H002 and H005
Reference coming soon (Sept. 2020)
Data Report: UT-GOM2-1 Sediment Grain Size Measurements at Site GC 955, Holes H002 and H005
Reference coming soon (Sept. 2020)
Synthesis
Pressure coring a Gulf of Mexico deep-water turbidite gas hydrate reservoir: Initial results from The University of Texas–Gulf of Mexico 2-1 (UT-GOM2-1) Hydrate Pressure Coring Expedition
Flemings, P. B., S. C. Phillips, R. Boswell, T. S. Collett, A. E. Cook, T. Dong, and M. Frye, et al., 2020, Pressure coring a Gulf of Mexico deep-water turbidite gas hydrate reservoir: Initial results from The University of Texas-Gulf of Mexico 2-1 (UT-GOM2-1) Hydrate Pressure Coring Expedition: AAPG Bulletin, v. 104, no. 9, p. 1847-1876, https://dx.doi.org/10.1306/05212019052.
Salt-driven evolution of a gas hydrate reservoir in Green Canyon, Gulf of Mexico
Portnov, A., A. E. Cook, M. Heidari, D. E. Sawyer, M. Santra, and M. Nikolinakou, 2020, Salt-driven evolution of a gas hydrate reservoir in Green Canyon, Gulf of Mexico: AAPG Bulletin, v. 104, no. 9, p. 1903–1919, doi:10.1306/10151818125.
Evolution of gas hydrate–bearing deep-water channel-levee system in abyssal Gulf of Mexico: Levee growth and deformation
Santra, M., P. B. Flemings, E. Scott, and P. K. Meazell, 2020, Evolution of gas hydrate-bearing deep-water channel-levee system in abyssal Gulf of Mexico: Levee growth and deformation: AAPG Bulletin, v. 104, no. 9, p. 1921–1944, doi:10.1306/04251918177.
Sedimentology and stratigraphy of a deep-water gas hydrate reservoir in the northern Gulf of Mexico
Meazell, K., P. Flemings, M. Santra, and J. E. Johnson, 2020, Sedimentology and stratigraphy of a deep-water gas hydrate reservoir in the northern Gulf of Mexico: AAPG Bulletin, v. 104, no. 9, p. 1945–1969, doi:10.1306/05212019027.
High concentration methane hydrate in a silt reservoir from the deep-water Gulf of Mexico
Phillips, S. C., P. B. Flemings, M. E. Holland, P. J. Schulthiss, W. F. Waite, J. Jan, E. G. Petrou, and H. Hammon, 2020, High concentration methane hydrate in a silt reservoir from the deep-water Gulf of Mexico: AAPG Bulletin, v. 104, no. 9, p. 1971–1995, doi:10.1306/01062018280.
Pressure coring operations during The University of Texas-Gulf of Mexico 2-1 (UT-GOM2-1) Hydrate Pressure Coring Expedition in Green Canyon Block 955, northern Gulf of Mexico
Thomas, C., S. C. Phillips, P. B. Flemings, M. Santra, H. Hammon, T. S. Collett, and A. Cook, et al., 2020, Pressure-coring operations during The University of Texas-Gulf of Mexico 2-1 (UT-GOM2-1) Hydrate Pressure Coring Expedition in Green Canyon Block 955, northern Gulf of Mexico: AAPG Bulletin, v. 104, no. 9, p. 1877–1901, doi:10.1306/02262019036.
Petrophysical properties of the Green Canyon Block 955 hydrate reservoir inferred from reconstituted sediments: Implications for hydrate formation and production
Fang, Y., P. B. Flemings, H. Daigle, S. C. Phillips, P. K. Meazell, and K. You, 2020, Petrophysical properties of the Green Canyon Block 955 hydrate reservoir inferred from reconstituted sediments: Implications for hydrate formation and production: AAPG Bulletin, v. 104, no. 9, p. 1997–2028, doi:10.1306/01062019165.
Data Directory
UT-GOM2-1 Hydrate Pressure Coring Data Directory
Acknowledgements
The UT-GOM2-1 Expedition was conceived in the spring of 2014. Three years of scientific, engineering, and logistical planning culminated in its execution in spring 2017. Hundreds of individuals and many institutions created UT-GOM2-1: we thank you all.
The United States Department of Energy – Office of Fossil Energy funded this initiative and provided enormous logistical and technical support. DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (Rick Baker, Ray Boswell, Jared Ciferno, and Maria Vargas) provided careful counsel and technical guidance throughout the effort. The USGS was instrumental to the success of the expedition. Timothy Collett provided technical advice at all hours; he was (and is) a never-ending font of information on the details of exploring, drilling, coring, and logging methane hydrates. Bill Waite provided insight into methods of pressure core analysis and was a vital part of our pressure core analysis effort.
There were enormous logistical, technical and bureaucratic challenges to overcome to achieve the expedition. We acknowledge the enormous contributions of the leadership at the University of Texas: Dan Jaffe, Eric Agnew, Linda Shaunessy, and Steve Rosen played a pivotal role in contracting, insuring, and permitting this expedition with help from Judy Sansom (Senior Financial Analyst) and Jess Houghton (Project Manager). As a result of their efforts, UT is proud to be the only University ‘Qualified Operator’ conducting operations in deepwater Gulf of Mexico, United States.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) supported us through the complicated pathways necessary to drill in the Gulf of Mexico. At each new twist in the road, they helped determine the path and expedited the journey. We thank Michelle Picou, Michelle Evans, Teree Campbell, Bernadette Thomas, Jack Orion, and Jaron Ming (BOEM) and Bobby Nelson (BSEE). We also thank Sharon Angove (EPA), Jeff Harris (Louisiana Department of Natural Resources). Bill Shedd (BOEM), Stephen Palmes (BOEM), and Matt Frye (BOEM) were wonderful sources of insight into both technical challenges and regulatory processes.
Our drilling operations required the synergistic efforts of UT, Helix Well Ops, Schlumberger, Weatherford, MI-Swaco, VES Survey International, and Geotek Ltd, UK. All of the shipboard operational and technical staff of the Helix Q-4000 provided outstanding support and maintained a positive “can do” attitude throughout the expedition. Dhananjay Dhorje (DD) (Helix Well Ops Senior Project Engineer), Vish Subramani (Helix Well Ops Project Manager), Callum Cook (Helix Well Ops Senior Project Manager), Jamie Morrison (UT Marine Test Project Manager), Tessa Green (UT Project Manager), Peter Polito (UT Research Associate), Xander Ricardo Rodriguez (Senior Administrative Associate,) and Carla Thomas (UT Project Manager) successfully orchestrated the complex permitting, operational planning, and logistics and were on hand each step of the way as challenges arose. Darin Hilton (Helix Well Ops Commercial Manager) was a steady hand that supported this project from its initiation. Tom Pettigrew (Pettigrew Engineering) mixed his oilfield skills, mechanical engineering degree, and ocean drilling experience to serve ably as Company man. Geotek Coring, USA, and Geotek limited led the coring program and core analysis. The Geotek, Ltd. team was led by Peter Schultheiss, Mike Mimitz, and Melanie Holland.
