Archived Items

June 5 release in EOS, Transactions, American Geophysical Union

International Continental Scientific Drilling Program

Workshop Announcement

Mallik Gas Hydrate Research Well, Mackenzie Delta, Canada

It is planned to undertake a gas hydrate research well program in the Mackenzie Delta within the framework of the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP). The research program will include a main research well with provisions for open hole logging and advanced in situ testing of isolated gas hydrate intervals. Approximately 200 to 350 m of core will be collected within the main gas hydrate-bearing intervals from 890-1100m, and below the base of the hydrate stability zone to 1200m, which is the target depth for the well. Two observation wells will also be drilled approximately 50m offset from the main well to monitor formation response to gas hydrate dissociation and to allow completion of x-hole seismic experiments. The project is currently in the advanced planning stages with field work scheduled for December 2001 through April 2002.

The Principal Investigators (PIs) are seeking interest from the international community to join the Mallik science team. Scientists who can make a significant contribution to the project are invited to apply. In particular, proposals are invited in the following areas that complement the existing participant group:

• Core studies
  • Molecular chemistry of gas hydrate samples
  • Microbiological investigations of hydrate-bearing and non-hydrate bearing
  • sediments
  • Petrophysical studies
  • Multisensor analyses of physical/geophysical properties
• Down-hole studies
  • Geophysical measurements and experiments within the observation wells
  • Providing special sensors (except temperature) to be installed within or outside casing that fit the operational constraints of the project
• Regional studies
  • Surface geochemical surveys supporting deeper drilling goals (i.e., surface measurements of gas fluxes to the atmosphere)

All interested parties are encouraged to submit a short 3-4 page proposal to the lead PI for review outlining how they would like to participate in the project, their contributions to scientific goals, techniques and approaches to be used. Participants should also address their sources of funding for the proposed research. A brief 1-2 page resume of the primary investigator should be included.

On the basis of the recommendations of the Mallik Investigator Team, submitters of proposals that meet the goals of the project and complement the Science Team will be invited to a workshop in Ottawa, Canada July 17-18, 2001. Since the number of participants at the workshop is limited to 35 persons, the PIs reserve the right to select participants.

Principal Investigators: Mr. S.R. Dallimore, Geological Survey of Canada, P.O. Box 6000, Sidney, B.C. V8L 4B2, Canada- email sdallimo@nrcan.gc.ca (lead PI) ; Dr. M. Weber, GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam, Telegrafenberg, D-14473 Potsdam, e-mail: mhw@gfz-potsdam.de; Dr. T.S. Collett, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver Federal Center, Box 25046, MS-939, Denver, CO 80225 -email tcollett@usgs.gov; and Dr. T. Uchida, Japan Petroleum Exploration Co. Ltd., 1-2-1 Hamada, Mihama-ku, Chiba 261 Japan - email uchida@rc.japex.co.jp

Please forward your proposal to S.Dallimore. Deadline of proposal submission is June 22, 2001.