Geotechnical Borings Research Articles

Geological and technological assessment of artificial reef sites, Louisiana outer continental shelf

This paper describes the general procedures used to select sites for obsolete oil and gas platforms as artificial reefs on the Louisiana outer continental shelf (OCS). The methods employed incorporate six basic steps designed to resolve multiple-use conflicts that might otherwise arise with daily industry and commercial fishery operations, and to identify and assess both geological and technological constraints that could affect placement of the structures. These steps include: (1) exclusion mapping; (2) establishment of artificial reef planning areas; (3) database compilation; (4) assessment and interpretation of database; (5) mapping of geological and man-made features within each proposed reef site; and (6) site selection. Nautical charts, bathymetric maps, and offshore oil and gas maps were used for exclusion mapping, and to select nine regional planning areas. Pipeline maps were acquired from federal agencies and private industry to determine their general locations within each planning area, and to establish exclusion fairways along each pipeline route. Approximately 1600 line kilometers of high-resolution geophysical data collected by federal agencies and private industry was acquired for the nine planning areas. These data were interpreted to determine the nature and extent of near-surface geologic features that could affect placement of the structures. Seismic reflection patterns were also characterized to evaluate near-bottom sedimentation processes in the vicinity of each reef site. Geotechnical borings were used to determine the lithological and physical properties of the sediment, and for correlation with the geophysical data. Since 1987, five sites containing 10 obsolete production platforms have been selected on the Louisiana OCS using these procedures. Industry participants have realized a total savings of approximately US $1 500 000 in salvaging costs by converting these structures into artificial reefs.

Subsidence Related Horizontal Earth Movements in the Tia Juana Field, State of Zulia, Venezuela: ABSTRACT

Subsidence due to oil exploitation in the Bolivar Coast fields in western Venezuela has been monitored since 1926. Related horizontal earth movements have been measured by geodetic methods during the last 10 yr in the northern Tia Juana field area in and around the Ule tank farm and the GLP gas liquefaction plant. Damage to storage tanks and increasing appearance of fractures in the ground in the vicinity of the coastal dyke protection system warranted a detailed study. A surface geologic survey of the Ule area, based initially on aerophotographic interpretation of infrared photographs, flown, on a 1:5,000 scale, showed the area to be divided into blocks by several major faults. These faults were confirmed on the ground by visual inspection, shallow seismic refraction, geoelectric surveys and correlation of geotechnical borings. A geodetic survey of the area with a precision of 5 mm + 2 mm/km for distances, showed significant horizontal displacements of ground markers during an eight-year period. Accordingly, a measuring plan of high-precision (0.015 mm) electromechanic extensometer lines was designed for critical zones across known fault traces and fracture zones. A conceptual model integrates geodetic and extensometer measurements of horizontal movements in the Ule area with the geologicmore » and neotectonic frame of subsurface faults, joining systems, and tensional surface cracks. Rates of Holocene postglacial isostatic adjustments and natural, pre-industry subsidence due to degassing of reservoirs determined by C{sup 14} radiocarbon dating, were used to calculate subsidence rates due to oil exploitation. It was found that the subsidence occurs in the area, not as previously mapped continuous function of compaction, but as discrete, fault and crack limited blocks, governed as much by reactivation of fault slippage as by subsurface compaction.« less