Project Status - Complete
Start Year: 2000
End Year: 2003
Funding Body: EASSS III

Geographic Area: European Atlantic Margin
Local Study Area: Rockall Trough

Project Co-Ordinator: Douglas Masson, Southampton Oceanography Centre
CMRC Contact: Dr. Andy Wheeler

Abstract

This project was undertaken with financial support of the European Union (EASSS III program) and the Porcupine Studies Group (PSG) of the Irish Petroleum Infrastructure Programme Group 3. The PSG comprises: Agip Ireland BV, Chevron UK Ltd, Elf Petroleum Ireland BV, Enterprise Energy Ireland Ltd, Marathon International Hibernia Ltd, Phillips Petroleum Company United Kingdom Ltd, Statoil Exploration (Ireland).

A 30kHz regional side-scan sonar survey of selected areas of the Porcupine and Rockall Margin, NE Atlantic was performed in July 2002. The objective of this cruise was to map the regional context and extent of deep-water colonised carbonate mounds. Four principle study areas were chosen; the Belgica Mound Province including the Gollum Channel Heads (eastern PSB); Hovland and Megellan Mound Province (northern PSB);

Logachev Mound province (western Rockall Trough) and the Pelagia Mound province (eastern Rockall Trough). The collected imagery reveals carbonate mounds, canyon heads with slump structures, pockmarks, sediment waves and scarps. Interpretation of the dataset is ongoing with results expected to show the strong interaction and control of benthic current of carbonate mound development.