OceanGate Inc. (OGI), a global provider of deep-sea manned submersible solutions, has completed a series of dives in the Gulf of Mexico to observe the ecological impact of decommissioned oil platforms on ocean life using the 5-person manned submersible Antipodes. This expedition was part of an initial study related to the "Rigs to Reefs" program, a critical issue in the decommissioning of platforms in the Gulf of Mexico and around the world, and highlighted the unique ability of manned submersibles to collect a wide range of data, environmental information, and assessments around oil platforms. OGI's ability to work alone or in tandem with AUVs and ROVs facilitates work in offshore environments for a variety of operations including structural surveys, pipeline inspections, bottom debris surveys, and subsea facility inspections.
OceanGate's expert crew took leading researcher and coral expert Dr. Paul W. Sammarco and CBS news reporter Chip Reid to South Timbalier 185 B, owned by Black Elk Energy Offshore Operations LLC ("Black Elk Energy"). Black Elk Energy CEO John Hoffman was also onboard with his team to help guide the effort and ensure data observation efforts were aligned with inspection and safety requirements.
Dr. Sammarco remarked that the ability to conduct visual reconnaissance on the platform and its environment was unparalleled and far surpassed the capabilities of scuba diving or even remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). The 180-degree hemispherical viewport offered a broad perspective on the plants and animals present – including, corals, soft corals, algae, bottom fish, and open-water organisms such as dolphins, cobia, sharks and other fish. The potential to run ecological surveys for long periods of time in a one-atmosphere environment, and to collect specimens at depth, represents a tremendous asset, particularly for researchers working sites such as decommissioned oil platforms.
Known as "Idle Iron," retired platforms in many sites across the Gulf of Mexico have evolved into the perfect hosts for a complex and diverse set of species that are thriving and reestablishing underwater footprints, much as they do around artificial reefs. Along with collecting data, the expedition allowed stakeholders, including researchers, media, and engineers, the chance to see the environment first-hand and in real time with the flexibility to change mission operations on the fly.
"The Black Elk dive clearly establishes the viability of manned submersibles in the oil and gas industry, especially in the application of environmental assessments and inspections," states Stockton Rush, founder and CEO of OceanGate.
"The opportunity to dive on the platform with media and industry stakeholders adds a new level of impact for our efforts on this issue and was significant," says John Hoffman, CEO of Black Elk Energy. "The flexibility, practicality and affordability of working with OceanGate was exceptional. Not only was the process of using a manned submersible well organized and fast, but the research we conducted and information we gathered was far greater than anything I expected. We see the applications in the future for manned submersibles for use related to oil and gas efforts. I look forward to working with OceanGate again very soon on a variety of opportunities."
The Gulf of Mexico dive was also a first for OGI in another regard: it was one of three expeditions conducted in less than 30 days in three separate bodies of water, something never done before by a manned research submersible. In addition, the variety of clients served was equally impressive.