Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Ship Time

The marine exploration group at the University of Toronto concentrates on the development of novel techniques for seafloor exploration to depths of several kilometers using electrical antennas and receivers at low audio frequencies. Since 1978, the group has published a series of seminal papers on controlled-source electromagnetic methods (CSEM), particularly those capable of detecting targets whose resistivity is larger than that of the surrounding host rock. The application is the detection and assessment of natural gas, petroleum and particularly methane clathrate hydrate, the clean hydrocarbon and fuel of the 21st century. Over the last 10 years, the petroleum industry industry has recognized the advantages of supplementing seismic surveys with complementary electromagnetic surveys. The principal method they use has not changed significantly since the early 1970s. The method is to drop autonomous electromagnetic receivers from a vessel and tow a long wire transmitter near the sea floor. The method has significant limitations both in data analysis and quality of navigation. Our alternative was to develop a towed array consisting of a transmitter and a series of in line receivers. The apparatus was successful in mapping offshore hydrate deposits in water depths of over a kilometer. The work was identified by Shell as worthy of major funding from its Game Changer Program. The result is a new system which is in the process of being patented by the University of Toronto. All new systems, particularly one of this complexity, require testing at sea. No amount of laboratory work can substitute for this crucial step. We request one week of ship-time aboard the CCGS Vector to deploy and debug the array in shallow, weather protected, inland waters.