EK60 Water Column Sonar Data Collected During PC1003

2010 ME70 Workshop (PC1003, EK60). The third leg of the 2010 SEAMAP Reeffish Survey, PC 1003, was originally scheduled as an experimental multibeam sonar workshop. However, on July 12, 2010, FSV Pisces was directed to participate in the response to the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill by monitoring the area around the well head using Simrad EK60 echo sounders while pressure testing of the cap installed on the well was conducted. This testing period was expected to last for 24 to 48 hours, after which the scheduled workshop would commence. Pisces monitoring effort was later extended and continued through July 20, precluding completion of almost all of the multibeam sonar workshop objectives.

Pisces departed Pascagoula at about 1800 CDT on July 14 and proceeded toward DWH. Clearance to begin operations near DWH was received at 2230 on July 15 and survey operations began at 0000 on July 16 and continued until 0000 on July 20 after which Pisces returned to Pascagoula. Acoustic surveys using Simrad EK60 split beam echo sounders at 18, 38, 120, and 200 kHz and ME70 multibeam echo sounder at 70-120 kHz were conducted along transects spaced 0.1 run apart in the area around DWH. The survey was completed in rectangular areas using north-south and east-west transects at ranges from 1500 m to 2.5 run from DWH. At ranges within 1500 meters of DWH, a free-form survey was conducted to maneuver around other ship traffic and stationary platforms and cover as much of the space around the well head as possible including a large number of passes directly over the well. Data were also collected along transects running from southwest to northeast in an area northwest of DWH where earlier seismic measurements had shown fault lines below the VERTICAL LOCATION > SEA FLOOR running in generally that same direction.

During the survey, the echo sounder systems were used to observe a number of sonar targets that are assumed to be locations where methane or other gas bubbles are being released from the seabed. These are known to occur naturally in this area and most of the observations can be attributed to natural seeps. Similar observations were made intermittently directly over the DWH well head and appear to indicate gas that was escaping from the well. Other sonar targets observed are believed to be riser pipes, ROV tethers, and other equipment associated with the DWH response activity as well as sunken wreckage of the DWH platform on the VERTICAL LOCATION > SEA FLOOR.
  • Cite as: Southeast Fisheries Science Center. 2010. 'EK60 Water Column Sonar Data Collected During PC1003'. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. doi:10.7289/V5HT2MC5 [access date]
gov.noaa.ngdc.mgg.wcd:PC1003_EK60
Search Data
Distribution Formats
  • Simrad EK60 raw (.raw) format (Version:1)
    • File Specification: Kongsberg/Simrad .raw files are generated by ME70, EK60 or ES60 instruments. They contain power and optionally angular position data with each beam/frequency identified by an independent channel. See the Simrad interface specification manual for further information. The .wcd files are generated by Kongsberg EM302 or EM122 instruments. See Kongsberg documentation for more information.
Ordering Instructions Contact the NCEI Water Column Sonar Data Manager to order data.
Distributor NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact Water Column Sonar Data Manager
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
(303) 497-4742
wcd.info@noaa.gov
Time Period 2010-07-15T03:55:29 to 2010-07-21T06:10:50
Spatial Reference System urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::4326Vertical Datum: Unknown
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West:-88.49971
East:-88.00415
South:28.06667
North:29.90066
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Associated Resources
    Publication Dates
    • creation: 2010-07-15
    • publication: 2016-08-01
    Dataset Progress Status Complete - production of the data has been completed
    Data Update Frequency Not planned
    Purpose To monitor the area around the Deepwater Horizon well head using Simrad EK60 and ME70 echosounders during and after pressure testing was conducted on the newly installed well cap.
    Use Limitations
    • These data are considered raw and have not been subjected to the NOAA's quality control or quality assurance procedures. They are released for limited public use as preliminary data to be used only with appropriate caution. NOAA cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in the data, nor as a result of the failure of the data to function on a particular system. NOAA makes no warranty, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty.
    • Not subject to copyright protection within the United States.
    Dataset Citation
    • Cite as: Southeast Fisheries Science Center. 2010. 'EK60 Water Column Sonar Data Collected During PC1003'. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. doi:10.7289/V5HT2MC5 [access date]
    Cited Authors
    • NOAA NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science Center
    Principal Investigators
    • Charles H. Thompson
      National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
    • David Demer
      NMFS/SWFSC
    • Michael Jech
      DOC/NOAA/NMFS/NEFSC> Northeast Fisheries Science Center
    • Sarah Stienessen
      NMFS/AFSC/RACED
    • Reka Domokos
      PIFSC
    • Tom Weber
      UNH/CCOM-JHC
    Custodians
    • NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
    Publishers
    • NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
    Theme keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
    • Earth Science > Oceans > Ocean Acoustics > Acoustic Scattering
    • Earth Science > Oceans > Aquatic Sciences > Fisheries
    • Earth Science > Oceans > Ocean Acoustics
    • Earth Science > Biosphere > Ecosystems > Marine Ecosystems > Pelagic
    • Earth Science > Biosphere > Ecosystems > Marine Ecosystems
    • Earth Science > Biosphere > Ecosystems > Marine Ecosystems > Benthic
    • Earth Science > Biosphere > Ecosystems > Aquatic Ecosystems
    • Earth Science > Oceans > Bathymetry/Seafloor Topography > Bathymetry
    • Earth Science > Oceans > Bathymetry/Seafloor Topography > Seafloor Topography
    Data Center keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
    • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
    • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NGDC > National Geophysical Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
    • DOC/NOAA/NMFS > National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
    Instrument keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords
    • In Situ/Laboratory Instruments > Profilers/Sounders > Acoustic Sounders > WCMS > Water Column Mapping System
    Place keywords International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) Sea Area ("Limits of Oceans and Seas" publication S-23)
    • Gulf of Mexico
    Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
    • Vertical Location > Water Column
    Use Constraints
    • Cite as: Southeast Fisheries Science Center. 2010. 'EK60 Water Column Sonar Data Collected During PC1003'. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. doi:10.7289/V5HT2MC5 [access date]
    • Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
    Access Constraints
    • Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.
    • Resource may not be available for up to one year after initial collection.
    Fees
    • Free
    Lineage information for:series
    Processor
    • National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
    Acquisition Information (collection)
    Instrument
    • Simrad EK60
    • Simrad ME70
    • Simrad EK60
    • Simrad ES60
    • Furuno FE700
    • Sea-Bird SBE 9
    • POS/MV 320
    • Eppley PIR
    • SBE SeaCat 21
    • RM Young 61202V
    • RM Young 41382VC
    • RM Young 05106
    Platform
    • Pisces (PC)
    Operation
    • PC1003_EK60
    Last Modified: 2020-06-03
    For questions about the information on this page, please email:ncei.info@noaa.gov