New industry consortia with novel laboratory facilities that forms a UK national centre of excellence in submarine geohazards research

我们建议利用这些“泵启动”资金发起一个雄心勃勃的新行业联盟和英国卓越中心，以研究海洋地质灾害。具体来说，资金是为了：1)建立一个实验实验室，用一套新颖的传感器对稠密的沉积物流动进行成像；2)与主要的行业利益攸关方(如辉固地质咨询有限公司)建立初步联系。国家海洋和大气委员会有一个强大的海底地质灾害小组，其工作主要基于实地观察；例如，它正在领导一个GB 230万NERC海啸-滑坡灾害联合会。它刚刚获得了GB 850k NERC拨款，用于监测加州蒙特利峡谷近海活跃的海底水流。在这里，我们寻求资金来开发一个新的实验实验室来检验现场观测提出的假设。现场的全尺度水流观测最近证实了一个较早的假设，即高含沙量的致密近床层通常构成浑浊流的关键部分。这些致密层是浑浊流中最鲜为人知的部分，因此也是最具争议的部分，因为大多数技术只能在浊流的稀释顶部成像。然而，致密的近层对于地质灾害分析是重要的，因为它们的高密度和底部位置可以对靠近底层的基础设施施加很大的力。它们施加的横向载荷可能会导致管道移位，严重时可能会导致全口径破裂。后果可能包括经济损失、环境影响和对运营商的声誉损害。我们现在需要了解这些致密的近床层是如何形成和演化的，以及它们对施加压力和力的影响是什么。尽管以前的实验已经成功地测量了致密的近床层中的速度，但由于这些层中的泥沙含量很高，到目前为止还不可能测量这些层中的含沙量。在这里，我们寻求资金来应用一种基于电阻率层析成像(ERT)的泥沙浓度测量新方法。ERT技术能够测量沉积物浓度对比，以描述地下沉积储层的特征。这项技术不受含沙量的限制，初步的数值模拟表明，该技术可以分辨稠密的近床浊流含沙量分布。我们将使用新型的ERT，结合速度测量，首次测量通过致密近床层的速度和泥沙浓度组合剖面。这种同步测量将有助于了解：i)这些致密层的最大厚度可以是多少，ii)它们能够将多少沉积物输送到海洋中，以及iii)这些层对海底管道的影响有多大。这项建议的第二个目标是与辉固地质咨询有限公司发展联系。辉固为许多石油和天然气公司进行海洋地质灾害风险评估。作为这项评估的一部分，数值模拟提供了对海底结构完整性可能产生的影响和后果的定量表达。在这些模型中，近床层的流动密度和速度构成了重要的输入。目前需要将推断出的密度和速度作为模型输入，但没有很好地进行校准，必须做出粗略的假设。因此，这项实验工作将为改进当前的模型假设提供有用的直接输入。西尼罗河三角洲将作为一个案例研究，展示实验对真实世界风险评估计算的直接影响。这笔赠款还将用于辉固和NOC之间的人员和知识转移。这一移交将在国家奥委会和辉固举行的一系列3次会议期间进行。此外，两名辉固顾问将在NOC工作3周，以确保将实验中的知识顺利转移到行业风险评估中。

We propose to use these 'pump priming' funds to initiate an ambitious new industry consortium and UK centre of excellence for research into marine geohazards. Funding is sought specifically to: 1) set up an experimental laboratory with a set of novel sensors for imaging dense sediment flows, and 2) develop initial links with key industry stakeholders (e.g. FUGRO GeoConsulting Ltd).NOC has a strong submarine geohazards group whose work is based mainly on field observations; for instance it is leading a £2.3M NERC Consortium of tsunami-landslide hazards. It has just been awarded a £850k NERC grant to monitor active submarine flows in Monterey Canyon offshore California. Here we seek funding to develop a new experimental laboratory to test hypotheses posed by field observations.Full-scale flow observations in the field have recently confirmed an earlier hypothesis, which suggest that dense near-bed layers with high sediment concentrations often form a key part of turbidity currents. These dense layers are the most poorly understood and hence contentious part of turbidity currents, because most techniques can only image within the dilute top part of the flows. Dense near-bed layers are, however, important for geohazard analysis because their high density and basal position can exert large forces on infrastructure located close to the bed. The lateral loads they impose may result in displacement of pipelines, or in severe cases result in full bore rupture. The consequences may include economic loss, environmental effects and reputational damage to the operator. We now need to understand how these dense near-bed layers form and evolve, and what their impact is to exerted pressures and forces.Although previous experiments have successfully measured velocities within dense near-bed layers, sediment concentration measurements have so far not been possible within these layers due to their high sediment content. Here we seek funds to apply a new method of sediment concentration measurements based on Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT). ERT techniques are able to measures sediment concentration contrasts to characterise sedimentary reservoirs in the subsurface. This technique is not limited by sediment concentration and preliminary numerical simulations have shown that this technique can resolve sediment concentration profiles in dense near-bed layers of turbidity currents. We will use the novel ERT, in combination with velocity measurements to measure for a first time a combined velocity and sediment concentration profile through dense near-bed layers. Such simultaneous measurements will help to understand: i) what the maximum thickness of these dense layers can be, ii) how much sediment they are able to transport into the ocean, and iii) how large the impact of these layers can be on submarine pipelines.The second aim of this proposal is to develop links with FUGRO GeoConsulting Ltd. FUGRO performs risk assessments on marine geohazards for numerous oil and gas companies. As part of this assessment, numerical modelling provides a quantitative expression of likely impact and consequence to the integrity of seafloor structures. Flow densities and velocities of near-bed layers form vital inputs in these models. Currently inferred densities and velocities are required as model input, which are not well calibrated, and gross assumptions must be made. Therefore, this experimental work will provide useful direct input to improve the current model assumptions. The West Nile Delta will be used as a case study to show the direct impact of the experiments on real-world risk assessment calculations.The grant will also be used to transfer people and knowledge between FUGRO and NOC. This transfer will take place during a series of 3 meeting both at NOC and at FUGRO. Additionally two FUGRO consultants will spend 3 weeks at NOC to ensure a smooth transfer of knowledge from the experiments into the industry risk assessments.