An Example of Technologies and Methodology Applied to Deep-Water Geo-Hazard Assessment, Offshore Nigeria

1 Abstract Improving our understanding of deep-water geo-hazards requires a long-term effort, which TOTAL has sustained over the last 20 years, in particular by carrying out joint R&D projects with "IFREMER", the French Marine Sciences Institute. The successful avenue has, consistently over time, yielded significant technical advances, in terms of data acquisition and data analysis. The involvement of a wide range of specialists remains central to a properly robust analytical investigation of the processes governing the deep-water geo-hazards. The multi-disciplinary approach is also paramount to the technical specification of the acquisition program, for a campaign at sea where non-conventional instruments are deployed. The paper presents geo-hazards targeted by the latest joint R&D project carried out by TOTAL and IFREMER, and the set of dedicated instruments deployed during the 2008 campaign, offshore Nigeria. Some significant improvements of the technology are introduced, as well as their impact in terms of geo-hazard evaluation. 2 Introduction This paper presents an innovative approach to conducting an intensive deep-water geo-hazard study, offshore Nigeria, during the ERIG 3D joint 3-year R&D project (2007–2009). This project was directed and carried out by TOTAL and IFREMER. ERIG 3D is the last in a series of R&D projects aiming at identifying and understanding deep-water geo-hazards, namely projects GUINESS (1992–1995), ZAIANGO (1998–2002), and NERIS (2003–2005). Those projects were all conducted in collaboration by TOTAL and IFREMER. During the course of ERIG 3D, a complex campaign at sea was conducted in 2008 with the oceanographic vessel "Pourquoi pas???, involving a wide variety of instruments, and allowing (1) the evaluation of some new equipments, only partly available in the industry, and (2) subsequent multidisciplinary studies of the deep-water geo-hazards that were targeted by the program of ERIG 3D (depth range 600–1,200 m). The ultimate objective of the program was to validate (or invalidate) proposed new methodologies for the identification and better understanding of the deep-water geo-hazards. Two avenues of investigation were identified:technology improvements to enhance data quality, andmethodology upgrades, addressing both the offshore acquisition phase, and the assessment process.