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By R. H. T. Garnett

Offshore mining of placer diamond deposits along the coast of South Africa and Namibia has become a multi-scale activity. It is a successful offshoot of a land-based mining industry that has operated along the coastline for more than 80 years. Onshore diamond deposits have been worked by several methods from the foreshore to some kilometers inland (Hodgen). These deposits are the foundation of an ongoing industry along the coastline. The offshore diamond industry began in the late 1950s and has now come of age. Diamonds are produced along 800 km (500 miles) of coastline in water 200 m (660 ft) deep. About half of the coastline is in Namibia, north of the Orange River that defines the border with South Africa. The other half is in South Africa.

Jan 1, 1995

By Robert Goodden

It is well known that diamonds are found in Kimberlite pipes within the earth’s crust and are also discovered where erosion has released them to be concentrated by rivers in trap sites within alluvial gravels. Few people are aware however, that diamonds are now being found in significant quantities at sea. And that the rugged marine environment has ensured that the quality of diamonds in the sea is predominantly gem quality. Shortly after intrusion of Kimberlites into the host rocks of the karoo in the Cretaceous period massive erosion occurred when torrential rivers carried diamonds from their Kimberlitic source rocks down the rivers and into the sea. In the sea they have been subject to a transporting and concentrating dynamic, which has deposited them in trap sites along the West Coast of Africa for hundreds of kilometers. In the last 60 million years the sea level along the West Coast has varied in steps from the current sea level to – 300m. With time at each beach level the sea has reconcentrated the diamonds previously carried down. These old beach levels exist at roughly 10 meter intervals. Each previous sea level now provides a target for marine miners. Marine diamond mining was started 46 years ago by the first pioneer, a Texan, Sammy Collins. Collins brought the potential of marine diamonds to the attention of major mining companies. With now outmoded technology Collins had days when he recovered pockets of high grade gems worth several million dollars; an excitement hard to equal in any walk of life. Amongst marine miners there is still a strong pioneering spirit but the industry has matured and now aims to consistently produce over two million carats of gems a year. The potential resource is huge stretching up to 30 kilometers offshore along the West Coast of Africa from South Africa to Angola.

Sep 24, 2006

By Jan Stenlokk

The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate, which is the Government agency for the management of offshore geo-resources including seabed minerals, is about to finish this year’s marine data acquisition cruise in the Norwegian Sea. We would very much like to present the preliminary results of that cruise, including the discovery of a new black smoker and surrounding sulphide deposits.

Jan 1, 2018

By J. Robert Woolsey

This paper provides certain Southeastern coal-burning utilities with an economic strategy for complying with the sulfur dioxide emission standards set firth by the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. The strategy takes advantage of the occurrence of vast quantities of manganese nodules on the Blake Plateau offshore Georgia and the Carolinas, a commodity which as been proven to be a highly effective dry sorbent of sulfur dioxide. Using existing technology, manganese nodules could be mined and transported via barge directly to power plant sites, where they would be used as filter material for cleaning sulfur dioxide from the effluents of coal-fired power plants. Completely sulfated filter material could be treated for the extraction of by-product metals such as cobalt, copper, nickel, and manganese. The strategy may well be enhanced by the occurrence of ore grade phosphate rock in the same area of the Blake Plateau. This phosphate rock could be simultaneously mined to effect a reduction in production costs if it is found to be suitable for use as either a direct application fertilizer or as an acidulated superphosphate fertilizer. The manganese nodule-based strategy offers a retrofitting solution for existing power plants that would minimize the capital costs for compliance with the Clean Air Act Amendments and has the added advantage of providing a number of other metal or fertilizer by-products.

Jan 1, 1992

By Graham A. Brown

Activities in offshore mineral exploration In Australia are increasing almost daily, at such a rate that this report will rapidly become out of date. At the time of writing, February 1967, there were no commercial discoveries of offshore minerals reported in Australia, although there has been definite encouragement in many fields. While this initial encouragement has not revealed any commercial mineral deposits offshore hopes are running high in Australia for success in 1967. Why should mineral deposits be expected offshore in Australia in the first place? The reasons are many. The minerals to be discovered also are many. The reasons are based on the history of alluvial and beach mining activities in Australia's past and at the present time, and on the physical environment of the vast Continental Shelf which surrounds the continent. A brief examination of the two primary features which are necessary before offshore mineral exploration can be contemplated should be, undertaken. Two favourable environments are necessary; firstly a Continental- Shelf to form a physical environment for the accumulation of the mineral deposits, and secondly a favourable political-legal environment to give the exploration companies adequate protection during exploration, and suitable long term arrangements for the exploitation of the deposits after discoveries have been made. Australia is well endowed with both of these.

Jan 1, 1967

The coastline is. an incomparable stretch of sea coast known as Ninety Mile Beach. Two gas pipelines and two oil pipelines carrying hydrocarbons from thb'Bass Strait fields to the markets of Australia cross this beach. They cannot be seen as they are laid in trenching stretch- ing many miles out to sea and the beach was restored to its natural state. Even where the dunes were disturbed, suitable grass was sown thus consolidating the sand and preventing erosion. Ninety Mile Beach is but one of the many key.wildlife and recreational areas that our operations must be concerned with. Others include Westernport and Corner Inlet, but the one discussed in this paper in particular is the platform area of the Bass Strait itself. Never was the old adage "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" more meaningful than in offshore oil production. All are well aware of some of the events of the past several years that resulted in large and costly oil spills. Far less is known, seen or publicised about the measures and developments that are undertaken to ensure that such events do not occur. We also have well developed plans for response in the event of an emergency situation, which can be initiated with great rapidity. Our responsibility is to ensure that with the best of engineering technology and operating procedures, spills do not occur.

Jan 1, 1971

By C. P. Besse, G. W. Osborne

Drilling operations on the Gulf of Mexico continental shelf are following two general plans. The first plan placed all buildings. equipment, and materials on a large platform while the second copies Lake Maracaibo drilling methods by placing a minimum of equipment on the platform and using a floating drilling tender or drill barge anchored adjacent to the platform in an attempt to take maximum advantage of flotation in an effort to reduce costs. A complete power rig, mud pits, pipe racks, and small auxiliaries have been placed on the platform as shown in Figure 1, to assure proper handling of drilling operations under the most adverse weather. This has the economic advantages of eliminating the fabrication of a large structure, a material reduction of rigging up time on each structure. and elimination of delay time on equipment while quarters and equipment placed on the tender are being rigged up. These factors have certainly proved their economic value in drill barge operations in the Louisiana and Texas coastal area. Naturally the heart of such an operation is the anchorage. This anchorage, to permit taking advantage of maximum economies. must hold the ship in a relatively fixed position under the following weather conditions: (1) Winter northwesters (2) Southeasterly gales (3) Severe rain squalls In hurricane weather all operations must be suspended regardless of method of operation and the floating tender will, if possible, be moved to a protected location. However, in case of an emergency the floating tender should be prepared to swing with the wind and seas on a single anchor as there is considerable doubt that either ship or anchorage could withstand the severe strains imposed by fixed anchorage in hurricane weather. Northwesters are reported to have developed wind gust velocities as high as sixty miles per hour and steady winds of approximately forty-five miles per hour. Fortunately these winds do not travel a great distance over water before arriving at our location, and, while they can possibly develop seas approximately eight feet high, the waves are short, and if taken on the bow or stern of a ship 250 feet or more in length they should not present a difficult problem. On the other hand southeast gales having a long fetch and maximum steady wind velocities of approximately thirty miles per hour can possibly develop long swells approximately twelve feet in height. These should develop the most severe anchorage problem. To combat these waves any workable anchorage plan should permit maneuvering the ship in such a manner as to head the bow or the stern into the seas and still maintain contact with the structure. Rain squalls develop wind gust velocities as great as sixty miles per hour. However, they are local and the seas have not been a source of great trouble. To permit continuous operation the anchorage must be able to withstand these winds broadside to the ship as the wind direction often changes radically in a very sliort time. All of these weather conditions are dangerous to small craft, deck cargoes,

Jan 1, 1949

By C. P. Besse, G. W. Osborne

Drilling operations on the Gulf of Mexico continental shelf are following two general plans. The first plan placed all buildings. equipment, and materials on a large platform while the second copies Lake Maracaibo drilling methods by placing a minimum of equipment on the platform and using a floating drilling tender or drill barge anchored adjacent to the platform in an attempt to take maximum advantage of flotation in an effort to reduce costs. A complete power rig, mud pits, pipe racks, and small auxiliaries have been placed on the platform as shown in Figure 1, to assure proper handling of drilling operations under the most adverse weather. This has the economic advantages of eliminating the fabrication of a large structure, a material reduction of rigging up time on each structure. and elimination of delay time on equipment while quarters and equipment placed on the tender are being rigged up. These factors have certainly proved their economic value in drill barge operations in the Louisiana and Texas coastal area. Naturally the heart of such an operation is the anchorage. This anchorage, to permit taking advantage of maximum economies. must hold the ship in a relatively fixed position under the following weather conditions: (1) Winter northwesters (2) Southeasterly gales (3) Severe rain squalls In hurricane weather all operations must be suspended regardless of method of operation and the floating tender will, if possible, be moved to a protected location. However, in case of an emergency the floating tender should be prepared to swing with the wind and seas on a single anchor as there is considerable doubt that either ship or anchorage could withstand the severe strains imposed by fixed anchorage in hurricane weather. Northwesters are reported to have developed wind gust velocities as high as sixty miles per hour and steady winds of approximately forty-five miles per hour. Fortunately these winds do not travel a great distance over water before arriving at our location, and, while they can possibly develop seas approximately eight feet high, the waves are short, and if taken on the bow or stern of a ship 250 feet or more in length they should not present a difficult problem. On the other hand southeast gales having a long fetch and maximum steady wind velocities of approximately thirty miles per hour can possibly develop long swells approximately twelve feet in height. These should develop the most severe anchorage problem. To combat these waves any workable anchorage plan should permit maneuvering the ship in such a manner as to head the bow or the stern into the seas and still maintain contact with the structure. Rain squalls develop wind gust velocities as great as sixty miles per hour. However, they are local and the seas have not been a source of great trouble. To permit continuous operation the anchorage must be able to withstand these winds broadside to the ship as the wind direction often changes radically in a very sliort time. All of these weather conditions are dangerous to small craft, deck cargoes,

Jan 1, 1949

By J. E. Graham, A. H. Glenn

Oil operators engaged in drilling on the Continental Shelf of Louisiana and Texas are in agreement that adverse weather and wave action are two of the greatest hazards to the safety and efficiency of their work. It was ami-pated when the offshore operations commenced that such would be the case, and experience to date has verified this assumption. Because atmospheric conditions and wave action involve tremendous amounts of energy it is highly unlikely that it will be possible to control any but the most localized weather and wave phenomena within the foreseeable future. Thus. as long as the offshore operations involve the movement of small craft and barges over exposed waters, and the transfer of personnel and heavy equipment from these craft to either fixed structures or larger craft at close quarters, the weather and wave problem will remain. Taking into consideration the persistence of the wave and weather problem and the improbability of achieving a direct solution, the Humble Oil & Refining Company, in planning its offshore campaign investigated the possibility of forecasting wave and weather conditions in order to provide warnings of dangerous conditions and increase efficiency in day-to-day planning of work. It was recognized that predictions of wave and weather conditions based on meteorology and oceanography, both geophysical sciences, are not 100 per cent accurate and application of forecasts in the offshore work was dependent on whether they provided information which was sufficiently greater in accuracy than the layman's guess to be worth the expenditure involved. During World War 11. meteorology and oceanography were used with success in reducing danger resulting from environmental conditions and increasing efficiency of operations exposed to the elements. This success was partially the result. of improvement in the scientific techniques involved and the procurement and distribution of observational data, and partially due to the large scope of the military operations which meant that a reduction of losses of a relatively small percentage of the total cost amounted to a large figure expressed in terms of dollars. Since the offshore drilling involves an extremely large financial investment, it was considered that the experience of the Armed Services in successfully employing meteorology and oceanography might be duplicated in the oil industry. In addition. the oil industry's successful experience in utilizing seismology, geology, and terrestrial magnetism; all geophysical sciences, indicated that meteorology and oceanography, also of the family of geophysical sciences and sharing their scientific assets and liabilities, might be profitably put to use. Since the immediate problem involving the sciences of meteorology and oceanography in the offshore campaign is wave action, a program was inaugurated within the Humble Oil & Refining Company during June 1947. the purpose of which was to ascertain the applicability and limitations of wave forecasting in the offshore campaign. A summary of the effective wave forecasting techniques developed during the war was prepared in the form of a forecasting manual for the Continental Shelf off Grand Isle, Louisiana, by Bates and Glenn. After completion of this manual, experimental forecasts were prepared daily over a two-month period by Graham and Thompson to determine the accuracy of the forecasts. It was considered that the accuracy of the experimental forecasts justified a more extensive test under actual operating conditions in the offshore work and the firm of A. H. Glenn and Associates was set up under the sponsorship of the Humble Oil & Refining Company to work with the Humble Grand Isle District in providing forecasts of wave and weather conditions over a one-year period. This paper discusses the service now provided to the Grand Isle District, its applicability and limitations. TYPE OF FORECASTS REQUIRED It was apparent before the commence-mence of the forecasting service that a specialized type of forecast was required. Many of the weather elements of interest to the general public, such as rain and temperature, are of minor concern to offshore operators. On the other hand, such elements as wave height and wind speed and direction are of great concern in the offshore operations since variations in wave height of a few feet in the critical range divide safe from hazardous working conditions. To be of utility. a forecasting service for the offshore work must provide detailed forecasts of the elements which affect the operation. With this in mind, it was decided that forecasts would include the following information: average wave heights to the nearest foot, wind speeds within a range of approximately 5 miles per hour, and wind directions within 221 degrees. Since the procedure for forecasting these elements involves thorough analysis of weather data, it was decided to include a generalized forecast of weather conditions such as rain and cloud cover, although these are of secondary importance.

Jan 1, 1949

By A. H. Glenn, J. E. Graham

Oil operators engaged in drilling on the Continental Shelf of Louisiana and Texas are in agreement that adverse weather and wave action are two of the greatest hazards to the safety and efficiency of their work. It was ami-pated when the offshore operations commenced that such would be the case, and experience to date has verified this assumption. Because atmospheric conditions and wave action involve tremendous amounts of energy it is highly unlikely that it will be possible to control any but the most localized weather and wave phenomena within the foreseeable future. Thus. as long as the offshore operations involve the movement of small craft and barges over exposed waters, and the transfer of personnel and heavy equipment from these craft to either fixed structures or larger craft at close quarters, the weather and wave problem will remain. Taking into consideration the persistence of the wave and weather problem and the improbability of achieving a direct solution, the Humble Oil & Refining Company, in planning its offshore campaign investigated the possibility of forecasting wave and weather conditions in order to provide warnings of dangerous conditions and increase efficiency in day-to-day planning of work. It was recognized that predictions of wave and weather conditions based on meteorology and oceanography, both geophysical sciences, are not 100 per cent accurate and application of forecasts in the offshore work was dependent on whether they provided information which was sufficiently greater in accuracy than the layman's guess to be worth the expenditure involved. During World War 11. meteorology and oceanography were used with success in reducing danger resulting from environmental conditions and increasing efficiency of operations exposed to the elements. This success was partially the result. of improvement in the scientific techniques involved and the procurement and distribution of observational data, and partially due to the large scope of the military operations which meant that a reduction of losses of a relatively small percentage of the total cost amounted to a large figure expressed in terms of dollars. Since the offshore drilling involves an extremely large financial investment, it was considered that the experience of the Armed Services in successfully employing meteorology and oceanography might be duplicated in the oil industry. In addition. the oil industry's successful experience in utilizing seismology, geology, and terrestrial magnetism; all geophysical sciences, indicated that meteorology and oceanography, also of the family of geophysical sciences and sharing their scientific assets and liabilities, might be profitably put to use. Since the immediate problem involving the sciences of meteorology and oceanography in the offshore campaign is wave action, a program was inaugurated within the Humble Oil & Refining Company during June 1947. the purpose of which was to ascertain the applicability and limitations of wave forecasting in the offshore campaign. A summary of the effective wave forecasting techniques developed during the war was prepared in the form of a forecasting manual for the Continental Shelf off Grand Isle, Louisiana, by Bates and Glenn. After completion of this manual, experimental forecasts were prepared daily over a two-month period by Graham and Thompson to determine the accuracy of the forecasts. It was considered that the accuracy of the experimental forecasts justified a more extensive test under actual operating conditions in the offshore work and the firm of A. H. Glenn and Associates was set up under the sponsorship of the Humble Oil & Refining Company to work with the Humble Grand Isle District in providing forecasts of wave and weather conditions over a one-year period. This paper discusses the service now provided to the Grand Isle District, its applicability and limitations. TYPE OF FORECASTS REQUIRED It was apparent before the commence-mence of the forecasting service that a specialized type of forecast was required. Many of the weather elements of interest to the general public, such as rain and temperature, are of minor concern to offshore operators. On the other hand, such elements as wave height and wind speed and direction are of great concern in the offshore operations since variations in wave height of a few feet in the critical range divide safe from hazardous working conditions. To be of utility. a forecasting service for the offshore work must provide detailed forecasts of the elements which affect the operation. With this in mind, it was decided that forecasts would include the following information: average wave heights to the nearest foot, wind speeds within a range of approximately 5 miles per hour, and wind directions within 221 degrees. Since the procedure for forecasting these elements involves thorough analysis of weather data, it was decided to include a generalized forecast of weather conditions such as rain and cloud cover, although these are of secondary importance.

Jan 1, 1949

By J. R. Morison, M. P. O’Brein, J. W. Johnson, S. A. Schaaf

The force exerted by unbroken surface waves on a cylindrical object, such as a pile, which extends from the bottom upward above the wave crest, is made up of two components, namely: 1. A drag force proportional to the square of the velocity which may be represented by a drag coefficient having substantially the same value as for steady flow, and 2. A virtual mass force proportional to the horizontal component of the accelerative force exerted on the mass of water displaced by the pile. These relationships follow directly from wave theory and have been confirmed by measurements in the Fluid Mechanics Laboratory of the University of California, Berkeley. The maximum force exerted by breakers or incipient breakers is impulsive in nature, reaching a value much greater than that produced by unbroken waves but enduring for only a short time interval. This impulsive force represents the ultimate development of the accelerative force and is produced by the steep wave front and large horizontal acceleration at the front of a breaker. This impulsive force greatly exceed. the drag force computed from the particle velocities of the breaker. The reader is cautioned that these preliminary results are applicable only to single piles without bracing and are likely to be modified somewhat where multiple piles are driven, one within the influence of the other or where multiple piles are connected by submerged bracing. This paper is essentially a preliminary report submitted at this time because of the current importance of wave forces in the design of offshore structures. An extended series of additional experiments is planned for the near future. Theoretical Relationships For the sake of simplicity of treatment, the theory will be developed from the equations for waves of small amplitude. The horizontal displacement of a water particle is described by the equation 2p cosh — (d + z) H L 2pt X =----------------------sin ----- . , (1) 2 2pD T sinh------ L The horizontal component of the orbital velocity is obtained by differentiation with respect to time as 2p cosh — (d + z) pH L 2pt u = ------------------- cos— .... (2) sinh- L The acceleration of the water particles at any position is obtained by again differentiating with respect to time as 2p cosh — (d + z) 9 u -2vH L 2pt -----=----------------------------sin ----- . . (3) 3 t T2 2pd T sinh------ L where H = wave height — ft L = wave length — ft d = still water depth — ft z = depth below the still water measured negatively downward — ft. T = wave period — sec t = time — sec The force exerted on a differential section, dz, in length is pD2 s u pD 1 dF= [CM (p/4) st + Cn/2 u2] dz • • (4) where D = pile diameter — ft p = water mass density — slugs/ft3 C, = coefficient of mass C,, = coefficient of drag Substituting for a s u/s t arid u2 from Eqs. (3) and (2), the force per unit length at any position z is dF p2 pD H2 &apos; / = — [- fM sin ? ± fD cos2 ? ] . . . (5) dz 2T2 fM D fD 2pt Cm = pA/H:CD = A2;? = T [+ cos2 ? for 0 < ? < p/2 cosh— (d+z) 3p L — < o < 2p Sin L -cos2 ? for p/2 <? <3p/2 The sin 9 term (inertia) i- negative for 0 < 0 < p and positive for p < ? < 2p. Values of A and A&apos; appear in Fig. 1

Jan 1, 1950

By Paul L. Horrer

Costly damage by severe wave attack to many engineering structures has illustrated the need for a consideration of the nature of wave action in plans for offshore drilling operations. Using wave data it is possible to answer questions pertaining to engineering problems such as platform elevation, structure orientation, and expected wave forces. For locations where wave records are not available a technique can be used to obtain information about wave characteristics from past meteorological data and near shore submarine topography. Forces exerted on structures by waves may be divided into four parts. A completed study is given in which frequencies of various wave heights and maximum frictional drag forces are computed for a typical offshore drilling site. INTRODUCTION Waves of tremendous proportions accompanying hurricane winds crash against breakwaters and other offshore structures causing untold damages. Wave forces exerted on structures at these times are enormous, as shown by past records of incidents where massive portions of breakwaters have been broken off and moved by waves. On other similar occasions, whole structure; have been unloosed and smashed or floated away. These incidents, which seem almost incredible, serve to illustrate the great amount of energy contained in large waves, and to show that this energy results in powerful forces destructive to offshore installation~ which are not designed sufficiently strong to withstand wave attack. In the past the expected frequencies of waves having various characteristic.% have rarely been considered in the design of structure affected by wave action. As a result, many structures have failed to accomplish the purpose for which they were designed or have collapsed under wave attack. Others have been constructed to withstand greater wave energy than is ever encountered, with resulting waste of material and construction time. In this study an analysis is made of the frequencies of waves having different characteristics which affect the plans for offshore drilling installations. After such an analysis the erection of these structures can proceed with less risk involved and with more efficiency and economy. ENGINEERING ASPECTS In the offshore drilling program wave forces play an extremely important part in design and construction of drilling rigs in shallow water. The design of a platform or other structure from which drilling equipment is operated is critical, becauze any damage to the platform may endanger personnel and result in complete loss of equipment. Since a platform built too close to the water would be battered by breakers, and one built unnecessarily high would involve undue expense, it is necessary to know the most desirable elevation at which the platform should be erected. This is only one of many questions about structural planning which can be answered using existing technique for determining wave characteristics. The purpose of efficient design for the portions of many types of offshore structures which are acted upon by wave forces is the same as that of all designs which deal with frictional forces of a fluid on a solid. For these structures the problem is comparable to that encountered by undersea craft moving through water, except that in the case of a fixed structure the force is produced by the water moving past the model. For off shore sructures which are extremely rigid the frictional forces may be nearly negligible compared with the impact or shock forces imparted by breaking waves. In all case; the better design is that which offers the least resistance to the opposing forces. From a consideration of wave forces, each drilling structure varies in efficiency depending upon the type and amount of superstructure in contact with the waves. For example, round piling and bracing offer less resistance to wave forces than do I-shaped ones. All network superstructure such as cross bracing should be kept to a minimum and at as low an elevation as possible, so that it will not expecience the pressure exerted at the tops of breaking waves. Models of proposed structures can be tested in wave tanks and in the field to ascertain the efficiency of specific designs. Past experience in beach and shoreline engineering has shown that, although changes in the topography of the bottom very near shore do not seem to be occurring, the natural forces involved may be in a delicate balance such that a static state exists. Interruptions of any of these natural forces by erecting offshore structures are likely to cause undesirable effects. Changes in beach profile result partly from sediment being brought into suspension by the orbital motion of waves and partly from the transport of sediment by longshore currents. With the erection of an offshore structure and consequent change in the combined effects of these two forces, unfavorable deposition upon, or erosion of, the bottom at the site may occur. Therefore, combination wave and current studies are essential for the solution of problems involved in the design of most marine structures. TECHNIQUE FOR OBTAINING WAVE INFORMATION In determining the probable effect of wave action on an offshore drilling structure, it is first necessary to know the usual frequencies of certain wave types for the given location. A technique has been developed which provides a means for obtaining information about wave characteristics in the

Jan 1, 1949

By Paul L. Horrer

Costly damage by severe wave attack to many engineering structures has illustrated the need for a consideration of the nature of wave action in plans for offshore drilling operations. Using wave data it is possible to answer questions pertaining to engineering problems such as platform elevation, structure orientation, and expected wave forces. For locations where wave records are not available a technique can be used to obtain information about wave characteristics from past meteorological data and near shore submarine topography. Forces exerted on structures by waves may be divided into four parts. A completed study is given in which frequencies of various wave heights and maximum frictional drag forces are computed for a typical offshore drilling site. INTRODUCTION Waves of tremendous proportions accompanying hurricane winds crash against breakwaters and other offshore structures causing untold damages. Wave forces exerted on structures at these times are enormous, as shown by past records of incidents where massive portions of breakwaters have been broken off and moved by waves. On other similar occasions, whole structure; have been unloosed and smashed or floated away. These incidents, which seem almost incredible, serve to illustrate the great amount of energy contained in large waves, and to show that this energy results in powerful forces destructive to offshore installation~ which are not designed sufficiently strong to withstand wave attack. In the past the expected frequencies of waves having various characteristic.% have rarely been considered in the design of structure affected by wave action. As a result, many structures have failed to accomplish the purpose for which they were designed or have collapsed under wave attack. Others have been constructed to withstand greater wave energy than is ever encountered, with resulting waste of material and construction time. In this study an analysis is made of the frequencies of waves having different characteristics which affect the plans for offshore drilling installations. After such an analysis the erection of these structures can proceed with less risk involved and with more efficiency and economy. ENGINEERING ASPECTS In the offshore drilling program wave forces play an extremely important part in design and construction of drilling rigs in shallow water. The design of a platform or other structure from which drilling equipment is operated is critical, becauze any damage to the platform may endanger personnel and result in complete loss of equipment. Since a platform built too close to the water would be battered by breakers, and one built unnecessarily high would involve undue expense, it is necessary to know the most desirable elevation at which the platform should be erected. This is only one of many questions about structural planning which can be answered using existing technique for determining wave characteristics. The purpose of efficient design for the portions of many types of offshore structures which are acted upon by wave forces is the same as that of all designs which deal with frictional forces of a fluid on a solid. For these structures the problem is comparable to that encountered by undersea craft moving through water, except that in the case of a fixed structure the force is produced by the water moving past the model. For off shore sructures which are extremely rigid the frictional forces may be nearly negligible compared with the impact or shock forces imparted by breaking waves. In all case; the better design is that which offers the least resistance to the opposing forces. From a consideration of wave forces, each drilling structure varies in efficiency depending upon the type and amount of superstructure in contact with the waves. For example, round piling and bracing offer less resistance to wave forces than do I-shaped ones. All network superstructure such as cross bracing should be kept to a minimum and at as low an elevation as possible, so that it will not expecience the pressure exerted at the tops of breaking waves. Models of proposed structures can be tested in wave tanks and in the field to ascertain the efficiency of specific designs. Past experience in beach and shoreline engineering has shown that, although changes in the topography of the bottom very near shore do not seem to be occurring, the natural forces involved may be in a delicate balance such that a static state exists. Interruptions of any of these natural forces by erecting offshore structures are likely to cause undesirable effects. Changes in beach profile result partly from sediment being brought into suspension by the orbital motion of waves and partly from the transport of sediment by longshore currents. With the erection of an offshore structure and consequent change in the combined effects of these two forces, unfavorable deposition upon, or erosion of, the bottom at the site may occur. Therefore, combination wave and current studies are essential for the solution of problems involved in the design of most marine structures. TECHNIQUE FOR OBTAINING WAVE INFORMATION In determining the probable effect of wave action on an offshore drilling structure, it is first necessary to know the usual frequencies of certain wave types for the given location. A technique has been developed which provides a means for obtaining information about wave characteristics in the

Jan 1, 1949

By W. C. Burnett

The land phosphate deposits of the U.S. southeastern coastal plain have long been a major factor in the world trade of phosphate rock (Fig. 1). As recently as 1979, deposits of North Carolina and Florida alone accounted for about 33 percent of the entire world&apos;s phosphate exports. This situation is changing, however. World production increased by ~9 %, yet the U.S. share was down to ~28% in 1984. A complex interaction of economic and political factors combined with increasing costs of raw materials, production, and transportation have led to this systematic erosion of the U.S. market share. Changing land-use patterns within the southeast, environmental pressures, exhaustion of shallow high-grade resources in Central Florida, and the increased pressure from expanding low-cost production in other countries throughout the world account for much of the present difficulty in the U.S. phosphate industry. Considering this depressed environment -- what are the prospects for development of offshore resources? A summary of new research on offshore phosphorite within the U.S. Exclusive Economic. Zone (EEZ), as well as an attempt to place possible development of these resources within the current economic setting, is the purpose of this presentation. We will emphasize work in progress on a major offshore deposit along the U.S. Atlantic Margin as well as new research on Pacific Ocean occurrences of phosphorite on seamounts and insular slopes within U.S. waters.

Jan 1, 1986

By M. A. Bronston

A drill system configuration capable of working in the arctic offshore environment was developed to evaluate the placer gold resources contained in the glacio-fluvial sediments offshore Nome, Alaska. This system is capable of working on the shore fast ice during the winter months and is deployed on a drill ship during the summer. Transfer of the drill between its summer and winter configurations is accomplished with a minimum of modification to the design. The system is designed around the Becker drill. This percussive, reverse circulation drill is capable of penetrating the indurated glacial sediments present in the offshore Nome environment. This drill has operated effectively to depths in excess of 50 m (164 ft) below sea level. Since early 1987, in excess of 2000 holes have been drilled using the system. The drill system often operates in extreme weather conditions. It has averaged approximately 10 holes a day of drill production. The ore reserves defined during these drilling programs have resulted in the recovery of more than 70,000 oz (2.18 t) of gold to date, by the mining vessel Bima.

Jan 1, 1990

By J. L. Goodier

The paper points up the hesitance of private capital to pursue development of offshore mineral mining endeavors due to the deterrent effect of the clouded legal status of such endeavors. Some states have no laws or regulations to protect the potential exploiter. Others have regulations which give no proprietary rights of exploration to mineral discoveries. The above factors and others are discussed and analyzed in some detail, covering, in turn, summations of the federal regulations and of each of the coastal states. Some comparative analyses are provided, and some recommendations for encouragement to capital investors are made.

Jan 1, 1968

By J. Leslie Goodier

The International Law of the Continental Shelf, so far ratified by 35 nations, extends the national boundary of any coastal nation to the edge of the continental shelf, this normally being at a continuous water depth of 200 m. The Law further extends this boundary to include the floor of the deep ocean to any depth that can be mined by advanced mining technology. In effect, proof of mining can constitute proof of ownership of the subaqueous land and the minerals on or below the sea floor. Irrespective of the fact that present technology is too limited to permit mineral exploitation in the high seas-and the law regarding the right to mine appears hazy-the U. S. Treasury Department&apos;s Bureau of Customs, has a ruling that would further deter mining operations on the high seas. This law contends that minerals mined on the continental shelf of the United States are actually mined within the continental United States and are free of tariff, but mined products or other articles obtained from the ocean or the sea floor beyond the continental shelf, if brought into this nation, must be considered as imported and are subject to such customs duties as are applicable under the tariff schedules of the United States.

Jan 7, 1968

A combined reflection seismic and magnetic survey off the south coast of New South Wales has revealed six distinct reflection horizons within the Lower Triassic-Upper Permian sequence, and has enabled the upper part of the lllawarra Coal Measures to be mapped in considerable detail. Large magnetic anomalies in the eastern half of the survey area appear to originate in the Gerringong Volcanic Sequence which forms the magnetic basement in the survey. Small residual anomalies in the western half of the area can be correlated with small scale faulting and folding in the upper part of the llawarra Coal Measures, as revealed by the seismic reflection survey.A synclinal axis striking at approximately 55&#176; has been mapped near the western margin of the survey area, and areas of faulting and folding have been outlined by combined analysis of seismic and magnetic results.

Jan 1, 1970

By J. N. Adamson

The Alcan Smelter project at Lynemouth on the Northumbrian coast draws cooling water for the power station through shafts and tunnels from the North Sea. The sea at this part of the coast is frequently very rough and even in calm weather the coastal currents are strong. The adjacent coal mine makes use of these currents to disperse colliery waste and discharges into the sea some thirty thousand tons each week. In consequence the sea bed is continuously shifting and the sea is black and turbid. Construction of sea shafts under these conditions presents difficulties as drilling from a floating vessel is hazardous and sea bed activity of divers is greatly hindered by the entire absence of visibility. After considering several alternatives a method of construction was agreed with the Consultants in which the drilling and also the lining of the shaft would be completed in sequence from an eight legged work barge (GEM 126). Each shaft would be drilled to full depth and a steel cylinder, with its ends closed temporarily, would be lowered into the hole and grouted into the formation to form a full-length permanent lining. The bell mouth for each shaft would be constructed in advance to form part of the cylindrical casing. On interception of the shaft by its appropriate tunnel the lower end of the cylindrical casing would be cut away and the internal walling of the shaft installed from below. After completion of construction the shafts and tunnels would be flooded and the bell mouth sealing covers removed by divers.

Jan 1, 1997

Ocean engineers and technologists will assemble in Houston, Texas, during May 3-6, 1976, for the Eighth Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) . More than 50,000 members of industry, government, and academia from 94 nations will participate in what is generally acknowledged as the offshore industry&apos;s show-of-shows. A well-diversified 280-paper technical program has been divided into 42 general sessions that range from seafloor surveying and offshore mining to navigation systems and environmental issues. In addition, the largest technical- educational exhibition in the conference&apos;s eight-year history will augment the OTC &apos;76 program.

Jan 4, 1976