U.S. Geological Survey

To assess technology for improving safety and pollution prevention for Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas operations.

This was a laboratory study to determine the feasibility of gaining control of a blowing well by means of using a cryogen to freeze the oil downhole. This study used a patented pipe configuration where cooling by the cryogen actuates bimetallic fingers which project into the flow stream.

This study performed an evaluation of the current state-of-the-art and practices for predicting pile capacity and performance. This study also examined effective stress technology for offshore pile design.

This study will investigate deepwater structures technology and evaluate the use of 'coupon' gauges for detecting fatigue failures in structures.

To quantify the effects of whole drilling muds on corals and the extent and chemical make-up of mud plumes.

The goal of this project was to measure ocean currents generated by hurricanes. A set of digitized data tapes was purchased from Shell. Data and reports were sent to the U.S. Geological Survey, Marine Geology Division, to be studied and placed in their environmental data bank.

The objective was a technology assessment and identification of research needed to prevent, suppress, and fight enclosed and open fires on offshore platforms.

The development of a 'breadboard' portable data recording system which could be used by Government inspectors to obtain both digital and verbal data during periodic inspections of offshore installations.

To develop procedures for inspecting production systems.

Evaluated the ability of four designs of ultrasonic flowmeters to detect leaks in pipelines. Calibrated the meters at the Exxon clean crude facility at Baytown, Louisiana and then at the raw crude terminal at Grand Isle, Louisiana.