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May 2005

TDI-Brooks' R/V GEOEXPLORER Completes Pre-Drill Environmental Baseline Surveys in Nigeria for ESSO and SHELL

During March and April 2005, TDI-Brooks using the R/V GEOEXPLORER completed two pre-drill environmental baseline survey (EBS) cruises for ESSO and SHELL in OPL-209 and OPL-322, respectively. Figure 1 shows an updated map of all the pre- and post-drill EBSs that TDI-Brooks has conducted offshore Nigeria using the R/V GEOEXPLORER. The GEOEXPLORER has conducted virtually all the deep water EBSs in Nigeria over the two years.

Figure 1: 2003 - 2005 Deep Water Pre- and Post-Drill Environmental Baseline Surveys (EBS)
Conducted by TDI-Brooks' R/V GEOEXPLORER (click for larger image)

The pre- and post-drill EBSs involve the following sampling techniques:

• Grab sampling or box coring for infauna, chemical contaminants and ancillary parameters (Figure 2);
• Water column sampling with a CTD / Rosette for water column measurements (dissolved oxygen, nutrients, TSS, chlorophyll, etc.) (Figure 3);
• Phyto and zooplankton tows (Figure 4); and
• Air sampling.

Figure 2: A. Grab sampler being deployed from the starboard A-Frame on the R/V GEOEXPLORER.
B. Sampling of the sediment from the grab sampler.

Figure 3: Deployment of the CTD / Rosette package for water column studies.

Figure 4:Plankton tow being processed on the back deck.