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June 2004

TDI-Brooks conducts Neptune geotechnical core acquisition for BHP Billiton

TDI-Brooks was awarded and conducted a geotechnical coring project for BHPBilliton around their Neptune Development Project. BHP Billiton Petroleum and partners are in the pre-feasibility assessment phase of studies for the development of the Neptune Field in a far western portion of the Atwater Valley protraction area of the Gulf of Mexico. The field development area straddles the Sigsbee Escarpment in water depths ranging from approximately 4200 to 6300 feet. The geotechnical samples were taken to assist in the design options for placement and type of facilities, as well as flowline and pipeline routes. The geotechnical coring was necessary for design purposes and for geohazard risk assessment. This sampling conducted by TDI-Brooks represents the second phase of a phased approach to the geohazard assessment of the field development area.

Picture 1. The R/V JW POWELL as it deploys from its homebase in Freeport,
Texas to the Neptune Development in the Central Gulf of Mexico.

TDI-Brooks conducted the core acquisition portion of the Phase II study using its research vessel, the R/V JW POWELL (Picture 1) which was outfitted for 60-ft, 6,000-lb., 4-inch Jumbo Piston Coring equipped Ultra Short Baseline (USBL) navigation (Picture 2). The R/V JW POWELL is a 147-ft multi-use oceanographic research vessel outfitted specifically for deep water piston coring. The project included the acquisition of ten (10) Jumbo Piston Cores and about twenty (20) 6-meter, 2000-lb piston and 50-cm x 50-cm box cores.

Picture 2. A 60' Jumbo Piston core (with USBL beacon attached below
trigger arm) being deployed during the Neptune program.

TDI-Brooks successfully completed the acquisition phase of the project in early June. The routine geotechnical measurements for Phase II of the project are being conducted by TDI-Brooks' geotechnical laboratory in College Station. TDI-Brooks is subcontracting the engineering analysis component of the programs to Geoscience, Earth & Marine Services, Inc. (GEMS) in Houston.

Additional details on the R/V JW POWELL or TDI-Brooks Int'l Inc. can be found at www.tdi-bi.com or by contacting Dr. James M. Brooks at Drjmbrooks@aol.com.