Distribution of modified Circumpolar Deep Water and its threat in Vincennes Bay,East Antarctica

The Antarctic Bottom Water formation site Vincennes Bay,East Antarctica is experiencing a substantial intrusion of modified Circumpolar Deep Water(mCDW),which may inhibit the formation of Dense Shelf Water(DSW)and drive basal melting of the ice shelves.Based on hydrographic data obtained from March to November in 2012,we evaluated the spatial spread of mCDW over the continental shelf region of Vincennes Bay and the associated temporal evolution of water properties,as well as the sea ice formation effect on water column in the coastal polynya.Results show that two branches of mCDW occupied the deep layers of the continental shelf,distinguished by the potential density(smaller than 27.8 kg/m^(3) or not)when potential temperatureθ=0.5°C in theθ-salinity space.The warmer and less dense branch observed on the east plateau,accessed the eastern ice shelves in the coastal polynya to drive basal melting of ice shelves.In contrast,the other colder and denser branch in the mid-depression reached the western Underwood Ice Shelf.DSW formation was detectable in the coastal polynya during September-November,proving the occurrence of deep convection.Surface heat loss and brine rejection during the intensive sea ice formation contributed to the destratification of the water column in the coastal polynya.It was estimated that at least 1.11±0.79 TW heat carried by mCDW into the inner part of the polynya.

Dissolution mechanism of a deep-buried sandstone reservoir in a deep water area:A case study from Baiyun Sag,Zhujiang River(Pearl River)Mouth Basin

Dissolution mechanism and favorable reservoir distribution prediction are the key problems restricting oil and gas exploration in deep-buried layers.In this paper,the Enping Formation and Zhuhai Formation in Baiyun Sag of South China Sea was taken as a target.Based on the thin section,scanning electron microscopy,X-ray diffraction,porosity/permeability measurement,and mercury injection,influencing factors of dissolution were examined,and a dissolution model was established.Further,high-quality reservoirs were predicted temporally and spatially.The results show that dissolved pores constituted the main space of the Paleogene sandstone reservoir.Dissolution primarily occurred in the coarse-and medium-grained sandstones in the subaerial and subaqueous distributary channels,while dissolution was limited in fine-grained sandstones and inequigranular sandstones.The main dissolved minerals were feldspar,tuffaceous matrix,and diagenetic cement.Kaolinization of feldspar and illitization of kaolinite are the main dissolution pathways,but they occur at various depths and temperatures with different geothermal gradients.Dissolution is controlled by four factors,in terms of depositional facies,source rock evolution,overpressure,and fault activities,which co-acted at the period of 23.8–13.8 Ma,and resulted into strong dissolution.Additionally,based on these factors,high-quality reservoirs of the Enping and Zhuhai formations are predicted in the northern slope,southwestern step zone,and Liuhua uplift in the Baiyun Sag.

Modified Circumpolar Deep Water inflow to the Dotson-Getz Trough in the summers of 2020 and 2022

The melting of the West Antarctic Ice Shelf has increased since the 1990s,driven by the relatively warm Circumpolar Deep Water(CDW)that penetrates into the West Antarctic Ice Shelf cavities through submarine glacial troughs across the continental shelf.In this study,temperature,salinity,and current velocity data obtained by the Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition in the Dotson-Getz Trough(DGT)shows clear differences in distribution of modified Circumpolar Deep Water(mCDW)in the summers of 2020 and 2022.Combined with contemporaneous wind data and additional temperature and salinity data from instrumented seals,the processes and mechanisms responsible for this variation are discussed.Compared with 2020,there is a significant increase in mCDW thickness in 2022,with a doubling of total heat content as the mCDW inflow path across the DGT shifts towards the eastern bank.We propose that a southward shift in the westerly winds in the summer of 2022 moved the upper oceanic divergence zone southward towards the continental slope,promoting the upwelling of mCDW above 500 m.Concurrently,stronger westerly winds over the continental slope strengthened the eastward undercurrent,increasing the transport of this mCDW and its associated heat content to the DGT through Ekman dynamics.These observations show there is strong interannual variability in the strength,path and extent of mCDW inflows to the DGT and that care must be taken when planning observation programs for long-term monitoring of the oceanic heat input to the ice shelves of this globally significant region.

Development of study on the dynamic characteristics of deep water mooring system

To meet the needs of those exploiting deepwater resources, TLP and SPAR platforms are used in some areas and are considered excellent platforms in deep water. However, many problems remain to be resolved. The design of mooring systems is a key issue for deep water platforms. Environmental loads in deep water effect the physical characteristics of mooring line materials. The configuration and analysis of mooring systems involve nonlinearity due to this fluid-solid coupling, nonlinear hydrodynamic forces, and their effects on stability of motion. In this paper, some pivotal theories and technical questions are presented, including modeling of mooring lines, the theory and method of coupled dynamics analysis on the mooring system, and the development of methodologies for the study of nonlinear dynamics of mooring systems. Further study on mooring systems in deep water are recommended based on current knowledge, particularly dynamic parameters of different materials and cable configuration, interactions between seabed and cable, mechanisms of mooring system response induced by taut/slack mooring cables, discontinuous stiffness due to system materials, mooring construction, and motion instability, etc.

Bearing splitting and near-surface source ranging in the direct zone of deep water

Sound multipath propagation is very important for target localization and identification in different acoustical zones of deep water. In order to distinguish the multipath characteristics in deep water, the Northwest Pacific Acoustic Experiment was conducted in 2015. A low-frequency horizontal line array towed at the depth of around 150 m on a receiving ship was used to receive the noise radiated by the source ship. During this experiment, a beating-splitting phenomenon in the direct zone was observed through conventional beamforming of the horizontal line array within the frequency band 160 Hz- 360 Hz. In this paper, this phenomenon is explained based on ray theory. In principle, the received signal in the direct zone of deep water arrives from two general paths including a direct one and bottom bounced one, which vary considerably in arrival angles. The split bearings correspond to the contributions of these two paths. The beating-splitting phenomenon is demonstrated by numerical simulations of the bearing-time records and experimental results, and they are well consistent with each other. Then a near-surface source ranging approach based on the arrival angles of direct path and bottom bounced path in the direct zone is presented as an application of bearing splitting and is verified by experimental results. Finally, the applicability of the proposed ranging approach for an underwater source within several hundred meters in depth in the direct zone is also analyzed and demonstrated by simulations.

A new species of the genus Arcoscalpellum(Cirripedia,Thoracica,Scalpellidae) from deep waters in the South China Sea

A new species of deep-water barnacle that belongs to the family Scalpellidae is described from the South China Sea. A rcoscalpellum liui sp. nov. is morphologically similar to A rcoscalpellum gryllum Zevina,but differs from the latter by the absence of longitudinal striae on the capitular plates and the presence of caudal appendages with few terminal setae.

Hydrodynamic characteristics of the double-winged otter board in the deep waters of the Mauritanian Sea

In this paper, we tested the hydrodynamic characteristics of a new, double-winged otter board that consists of a forewing, a leading edge slat and a trailing edge flap. Flume experiments were conducted in a circulating flume tank by using a model with an aspect ratio(AR) of 0.85 and a horizontal planform area( S) of 0.09 m^2. The results indicated that the critical angle( α_(cr)) of the model was 44°, whereas the maximum lift coefficient( C_(Lmax)) was up to 1.715, and the door efficiency( K) was 1.122. The attack angle( α) ranged from 30° to 48° and from 10° to 46° when the lift coefficient( C_L) and door efficiency( K) were greater than 1.2 and 1.0, respectively. To compare the difference between double-winged otter board and traditional Morgere Polyvalent Ovale, same model of Morgere Polyvalent Ovale was also tested under the same experimental conditions. The critical angle( α_(cr)) and maximum of lift coefficient( C_(Lmax)) of the doublewinged otter board were 37.5% and 14.6% larger than those of the Morgere Polyvalent Ovale. Therefore, we concluded that the novel, double-winged otter board was more suitable for bottom trawling fisheries in the deep water of the Mauretania Sea due to its better hydrodynamic characteristics and stability.

Deep waters warming in the Nordic seas from 1972 to 2013

The warming of deep waters in the Nordic seas is identified based on observations during Chinese 5th Arctic Expedition in 2012 and historical hydrographic data. The most obvious and earliest warming occurrs in the Greenland Basin （GB） and shows a coincident accelerated trend between depths 2000 and 3500 m. The ob-servations at a depth of 3000 m in the GB reveal that the potential temperature had increased from ？1.30°C in the early 1970s to ？0.93°C in 2013, with an increase of about 0.37°C （the maximum spatial deviation is 0.06°C） in the past more than 40 years. This remarkable change results in that deep waters in the center of the Lofton Basin （LB） has been colder than that in the GB since the year 2007. As for the Norwegian Basin （NB）, only a slight trend of warming have been shown at a depth around 2000 m since the early 1980s, and the warming amplitude at deeper waters is just slightly above the maximum spatial deviation, implying no obvious trend of warming near the bottom. The water exchange rate of the Greenland Basin is estimated to be 86% for the period from 1982 to 2013, meaning that the residence time of the Greenland Sea deep water （GSDW） is about 35 years. As the weakening of deep-reaching convection is going on, the abyssal Nordic seas are playing a role of heat reservoir in the subarctic region and this may cause a positive feedback on the deep-sea warming in both the Arctic Ocean and the Nordic seas.

The Effects of Seamounts on Sound Propagation in Deep Water

A propagation experiment was conducted in the South China Sea in 2014 with a flat bottom and seamounts respectively by using explosive sources. The effects of seamounts on sound propagation are analyzed by using the broadband signals. It is observed that the transmission loss （TL） decreases up to 7 dB for the signals in the first shadow zone due to the seamount reflection. Moreover, the TL might increase more than 30 dB in the converge zone due to the shadowing by seamounts. Abnormal TLs and pulse arrival structures at different ranges are explained by using the ray and wave theory. The experimental TLs and arrival pulses are compared with the numerical results and found to be in good agreement.

Horizontal-Longitudinal Correlations of Acoustic Field in Deep Water

The horizontal-longitudinal correlations of the acoustic field in deep water are investigated based on the experi- mental data obtained in the South China Sea. It is shown that the horizontal-longitudinal correlation coefficients in the convergence zone are high, and the correlation length is consistent with the convergence zone width, which depends on the receiver depth and range. The horizontal-longitudinal correlation coefficients in the convergence zone also have a division structure for the deeper receiver. The signals from the second part of the convergence zone are still correlated with the reference signal in the first part. The horizontal-longitudinal correlation coeffi- cients in the shadow zone are lower than that in the convergence zone, and the correlation length in the shadow zone is also much shorter than that in the convergence zone. The numerical simulation results by using the normal modes theory are qualitatively consistent with the experimental results.

Optimum Design and Global Analysis of Flexible Jumper for An Innovative Subsurface Production System in Ultra-Deep Water

The study focuses on the flexible jumper issue of Subsurface Tension Leg Production （STLP） system concept, which is considered as a competing alternative system to support well completion devices and rigid risers in ultra-deep water for offshore petroleum production. The paper presents analytical and numerical approaches for the optimum design and global analysis of the flexible jumper. Criteria using catenary concept are developed to define the critical length for optimum design. Based on the criteria, detailed hydrodynamic analyses including quasi-static analysis, modal analysis, and dynamic analysis are performed. Modal analysis with respect to the quasi-static analysis shows that the existence of resonant modes requires special consideration. The results of dynamic analysis confirm the effectiveness of the de-coupled effect from the jumper on STLP system. The approaches developed in the study also have wide application prospect in reference to the optimum design and analysis of any Hybrid Riser （HR） concept.

Parametric Study on the Behavior of An Innovative Subsurface Tension Leg Platform in Ultra-Deep Water

This study focuses on a new technology of Subsurface Tension Leg Platform （STLP）, which utilizes the shallow- water rated well completion equipment and technology for the development of large oil and gas fields in ultra-deep water （UDW）. Thus, the STLP concept offers attractive advantages over conventional field development concepts. STLP is basically a pre-installed Subsurface Sea-star Platform （SSP）, which supports rigid risers and shallow-water rated well completion equipment. The paper details the results of the parametric study on the behavior of STLP at a water depth of 3000 m. At first, a general description of the STLP configuration and working principle is introduced. Then, the numerical models for the global analysis of the STLP in waves and current are presented. After that, extensive parametric studies are carried out with regarding to SSP/tethers system analysis, global dynamic analysis and riser interference analysis. Critical points are addressed on the mooring pattern and riser arrangement under the influence of ocean current, to ensure that the requirements on SSP stability and riser interference are well satisfied. Finally, conclusions and discussions are made. The results indicate that STLP is a competitive well and riser solution in up to 3000 m water depth for offshore petroleum production.

Dynamic Characteristics and Simplified Numerical Methods of An All-Vertical-Piled Wharf in Offshore Deep Water

There has been a growing trend in the development of offshore deep-water ports in China. For such deep sea projects, all-vertical-piled wharves are suitable structures and generally located in open waters, greatly affected by wave action. Currently, no systematic studies or simplified numerical methods are available for deriving the dynamic characteristics and dynamic responses of all-vertical-piled wharves under wave cyclic loads. In this article, we compare the dynamic characteristics of an all-vertical-piled wharf with those of a traditional inshore high-piled wharf through numerical analysis; our research reveals that the vibration period of an all-vertical-piled wharf under cyclic loading is longer than that of an inshore high-piled wharf and is much closer to the period of the loading wave. Therefore, dynamic calculation and analysis should be conducted when designing and calculating the characteristics of an all-vertical-piled wharf. We establish a dynamic finite element model to examine the dynamic response of an all-vertical-piled wharf under wave cyclic loads and compare the results with those under wave equivalent static load; the comparison indicates that dynamic amplification of the structure is evident when the wave dynamic load effect is taken into account. Furthermore, a simplified dynamic numerical method for calculating the dynamic response of an all-vertical-piled wharf is established based on the P-Y curve. Compared with finite element analysis, the simplified method is more convenient to use and applicable to large structural deformation while considering the soil non-linearity. We confirmed that the simplified method has acceptable accuracy and can be used in engineering applications.

Parametric Dimensional Analysis on the Structural Response of An Innovative Subsurface Tension Leg Platform in Ultra-Deep Water

The innovative Subsurface Tension Leg Platform(STLP), which is designed to be located below Mean Water Level(M.W.L) to minimize direct wave loading and mitigate the effect of strong surface currents, is considered as a competitive alternative system to support shallow-water rated well completion equipment and rigid risers for large ultra-deep water oil field development. A detailed description of the design philosophy of STLP has been published in the series of papers and patents. Nonetheless, design uncertainties arise as limited understanding of various parameters effects on the structural response of STLP, pertaining to the environmental loading, structural properties and hydrodynamic characteristics. This paper focuses on providing quantitative methodology on how each parameter affects the structural response of STLP, which will facilitate establishing the unique design criteria as regards to STLP. Firstly, the entire list of dimensionless groups of input and output parameters is proposed based on VaschyBuckingham theory. Then, numerical models are built and a series of numerical tests are carried out for validating the obtained dimensionless groups. On this basis, the calculation results of a great quantity of parametric studies on the structural response of STLP are presented and discussed in detail. Further, empirical formulae for predicting STLP response are derived through nonlinear regression analysis. Finally, conclusions and discussions are made. It has been demonstrated that the study provides a methodology for better control of key parameters and lays the foundation for optimal design of STLP. The obtained conclusions also have wide ranging applicability in reference to the engineering design and design analysis aspects of deepwater buoy supporting installations, such as Grouped SLOR or TLR system.

Acoustic multipath structure in direct zone of deep water and bearing estimation of tow ship noise of towed line array

In the towed line array sonar system,the tow ship noise is the main factor that affects the sonar performance.Conventional noise cancelling methods assume that the noise is towards the endfire direction of the array.An acoustic experiment employing a towed line array is conducted in the western Pacific Ocean,and a strange bearing-splitting phenomenon of the tow ship noise is observed in the array.The tow ship noise is split into multiple noise signals whose bearings are distributed between 10°and 90°deviating from the endfire direction.The multiple interferences increase the difficulty in recognizing the target for the sonar operator and noise cancellation.Therefore,making the mechanism clear and putting forward the tow ship noise splitting bearing estimation method are imperative.In this paper,the acoustic multi-path structure of the tow ship in deep water is analyzed.Then it is pointed out that the bearing-splitting phenomenon is caused by the main lobe of direct rays and bottom-reflected rays,as well as several side lobes of direct rays.Meanwhile,the indistinguishability between the elevation angle and the bearing angle due to the axial symmetry of a strict horizontal line array causes the bearing to deviate from the endfire direction.Based on the theory above,a method of estimating bearing of the tow ship noise in deep water is proposed.The theoretical analysis results accord with the experimental results,which helps to identify the target and provide correct initial bearing guidance for noise cancelation methods.

Features and spatial distribution of circumpolar deep water in the southern Indian Ocean and the effects of Antarctic circum polar current

The data from the Southern Ocean observations of World Ocean Circulation Experiment （WOCE） are used for analysis and illustration of the features and spatial distributions of Circumpolar Deep Water （CDW） in the southern Indian Ocean. It is learnt from the comparison among the vertical distributions of temperature/ salinity/oxygen along the 30°E, 90°E and 145°E sections respectively that some different features of CDW and the fronts can be found at those longitudes, and those differences can be attributed to the zonal transoceanic flow and the merizonal movement in the Circumpolar Deep Water. In fact, the zonal transoceanic flow is the main dynamic factor for the water exchange between the Pacific Ocean and the /ndian Ocean or between the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean, and for the effects on the spatial distributions of the physical properties in CDW.

A method for detecting the breaking of wind-generated waves in deep water

The breaking of wind-generated waves is an important phenomenon in the ocean, having close relation to many aspects of the ocean, such as air-sea interaction, ocean wave dynamics, oceanic remote sensing and ocean engineering. The first problem encountered in both its theoretical study and practical measurement is how to detect the breaking of waves.

Multi-Objective Optimization of A Semisubmersible for Ultra-Deep Water

Semisubmersible will work well when oil exploitation goes to ultra-deep water because of its variable load capacities, and good motion performance in extreme waves. It is considered to be a main type of platform while the water depth is more than 3000 meters. This paper establishes a multi-objective optimization model of semisubmersible for ultra-deep water, and it is solved by a multi-objective genetic algorithm--NSGA-Ⅱ. The model is applied to a practical design, and Pareto results are obtained. The effectiveness of the method is verified by hydrodynamic analysis.

Horizontal-Longitudinal Spatial Correlation of Acoustic Field with Deep Receiver in the Direct Zone in Deep Water

The horizontal-longitudinal correlation of acoustic field for the receiver near the bottom is analyzed by using nu- merical modeling. An approximate analytical solution of horizontal-longitudinal correlation coefficient is derived based on the ray method. Combining the characteristic of Lloyd＇s mirror interference pattern, the variability of acoustic field and its effect on horizontal-longitudinal spatial correlation are discussed. The theoretical pre- diction agrees well with the numerical results. Experimental results confirm the validity of analytical solution. Finally, the applicability of the analytical solution is summarized. The conclusion is beneficial for the design of bottom-moored array and the estimation of integral time for moving source localization.

The bimodality of the Luzon Strait deep water

Combined conductivity-temperature-depth （CTD） casts and Argo profiles, 3 086 historical hydrocasts were used to quantify the water column characteristics in the northern South China Sea （SCS） and its adjacent waters. Based on a two-dimensional ＂gravest empirical mode＂ （GEM）, a gravitational potential （4, a vertically integrated variable） was used as proxy for the vertical temperature profiles TG（P, φ）. φ integrated from 8 MPa to the surface shows a close relationship with the temperature, except in the deep layer greater than 15 MPa, which was caused by the bimodal deep water in the region. The GEM temperature profiles successfully revealed the bimodality of the Luzon Strait deep water, that disparate hydrophic vertical profiles can produce distinct specific volume anomaly （δ） in the SCS and the western Philippine Sea （WPS）, but failed in the Luzon Strait, where different temperature profiles may produce a same 6. A significant temperature divergence between the SCS water and the WPS water confirmed that the bimodal structure is strong. The deepwater bifurcation starts at about 15 MPa, and gets stronger with increasing depth. As the only deep channel connecting the bimodal-structure waters, water column characteristics in the Luzon Strait is in between, but much closer to the SCS water because of its better connectivity with the SCS. A bimodal temperature structure below 15 MPa reveals that there was a persistent baroclinic pressure gradient driving flow through the Luzon Strait. A volume flux predicted through the Bashi Channel with the hydraulic theory yields a value of 5.62×10^6 m^3/s using all available profiles upstream and downstream of the overflow region, and 4.03×10^6 and 2.70×10^6 m^3/s by exclusively using the profiles collected during spring and summer, respectively. No volume flux was calculated during autumn and winter because profiles are only available for the upstream of the Bashi Channel during the corresponding period.