To Develop Shear Strength Maps of Shallow Sediments in the
Gulf of Mexico
Performing Activity
Texas A&M University,
Offshore Technology Research Center (OTRC)
Principal Investigator
Dr. Wayne Dunlap
Contracting Agency
Minerals Management Service
Estimated Completion
Completed
Description
This project developed contour maps of shear
strength for the Central and Western Gulf of Mexico shallow sediments for
depths of 0, 5 and 10 feet below mud-line and from shoreline to ~300
ft water depths. Present regulations require that offshore pipelines be
buried to a depth of 3 ft. below the mud-line in water depths of 200 ft. or
less. An alternative in soft sediments is to allow pipelines to self-bury by
virtue of their mass. MMS has developed a criterion based on near-surface
sediment shear strength to determine whether these pipelines will self-bury
however available maps developed in the 1970’s have become less reliable in
areas due to erosion and deposition of shallow sediments by storms and
currents. The purpose of this project is to develop new shear strength maps
based on more recent soil boring information. The purpose of this project is
to develop new shear strength maps based on the most recent soil boring data
at that time.
Shear Strength maps of Shallow Sediments in the
Gulf of Mexico, Final Report, Wayne Dunlap and others, Texas A&M University,
College Station, Texas, August 2004.
