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Understanding Engineering Challenges Posed by Natural Hydrocarbon Infiltration and the Development of Authigenic Carbonate

Understanding Engineering Challenges Posed by Natural Hydrocarbon Infiltration and the Development of Authigenic Carbonate
Understanding Engineering Challenges Posed by Natural Hydrocarbon Infiltration and the Development of Authigenic Carbonate
Infiltration of shallow soils by naturally occurring hydrocarbons has been documented in several deepwater environments worldwide. The potential for significant soil modification, such as the development of authigenic carbonates and alteration of the generally expected background geotechnical properties may provide constraints to flowline routing, foundation installation and engineering lifetime performance. This paper presents a review of the current state of knowledge of the authors with special reference to recent investigations in deepwater offshore Angola, and a suggested method for identification, characterization and prediction.

Interpretation of 3D exploration seismic, enhanced by AUV (Chirp) data facilitates an initial identification of areas prone to hydrocarbon infiltration and the vertical and spatial extent of potential soil modification. A first pass geotechnical characterisation is developed by targeted seabed CPTs and soil sampling. The generation of an integrated predictive model requires a multidisciplinary advanced testing programme, including geophysical, geotechnical, geochemical and geological analyses.

Once the extent, nature, and formative processes of hydrocarbon-related soil modification are understood, an assessment can be made of the challenges posed to a field development. This provides the necessary input to foundation and /or routing feasibility and determines if there is requirement to mitigate, through avoidance or design.

Offshore Technology Conference
Clare, Michael
b26da858-9c08-4784-aaa9-7092efcd94bd
Thomas, Stephen
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Shreeve, James
a9dd7564-5c3c-4edd-b742-19b75a98f04b
Unterseh, Stephan
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Clare, Michael
b26da858-9c08-4784-aaa9-7092efcd94bd
Thomas, Stephen
f5a5bfe7-9f05-4f81-83d0-14a623c9c14d
Shreeve, James
a9dd7564-5c3c-4edd-b742-19b75a98f04b
Unterseh, Stephan
7b58b594-5476-48d1-a8e0-6ab321b97cca

Clare, Michael, Thomas, Stephen, Shreeve, James and Unterseh, Stephan (2011) Understanding Engineering Challenges Posed by Natural Hydrocarbon Infiltration and the Development of Authigenic Carbonate. In Proceedings of Offshore Technology Conference, 2-5 May 2011, Houston, Texas, USA. Offshore Technology Conference..

Record type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)

Abstract

Infiltration of shallow soils by naturally occurring hydrocarbons has been documented in several deepwater environments worldwide. The potential for significant soil modification, such as the development of authigenic carbonates and alteration of the generally expected background geotechnical properties may provide constraints to flowline routing, foundation installation and engineering lifetime performance. This paper presents a review of the current state of knowledge of the authors with special reference to recent investigations in deepwater offshore Angola, and a suggested method for identification, characterization and prediction.

Interpretation of 3D exploration seismic, enhanced by AUV (Chirp) data facilitates an initial identification of areas prone to hydrocarbon infiltration and the vertical and spatial extent of potential soil modification. A first pass geotechnical characterisation is developed by targeted seabed CPTs and soil sampling. The generation of an integrated predictive model requires a multidisciplinary advanced testing programme, including geophysical, geotechnical, geochemical and geological analyses.

Once the extent, nature, and formative processes of hydrocarbon-related soil modification are understood, an assessment can be made of the challenges posed to a field development. This provides the necessary input to foundation and /or routing feasibility and determines if there is requirement to mitigate, through avoidance or design.

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Published date: 2011
Venue - Dates: conference; us; 2011-05-02; 2011-05-05, Houston, United States, 2011-05-02 - 2011-05-05
Organisations: Geology & Geophysics

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Local EPrints ID: 340811
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/340811
PURE UUID: 1b3da7c2-582e-4f5a-950d-b7f5c18a4484

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Date deposited: 03 Jul 2012 13:42
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 11:30

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Contributors

Author: Michael Clare
Author: Stephen Thomas
Author: James Shreeve
Author: Stephan Unterseh

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