Australia Cretaceous Climate and Tectonics: International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 369
Lead Research Organisation:
Durham University
Department Name: Earth Sciences
Abstract
The seismic reflection method is the primary tool for investigating the buried structure of the Earth. The method is the same as used to image a fetus in the womb by ultra-sound, but on a much larger scale. A sound pulse is generated at the surface and the time is recorded for this pulse to be echoed from some buried change in geology back to a receiver at the surface. By repeating the experiment along a profile, an image of the subsurface can be generated that maps the layers of rock. However, there is a problem. The image is recorded as a function of time for the echoes to return to the surface whereas geologists require to know the depths. The key is to obtain a map of the sound-speed so time can be converted to depth. By using multiple receivers it is possible to obtain an estimate of this sound-speed map but the information is incomplete and prone to errors and uncertainty. By careful analysis of the seismic data, we have obtained quantified estimates of these uncertainties for profiles that cross the sites that are to be drilled by the International Ocean Discovery Program during leg 369. So once these sites are drilled we will have ground truth at a point on the seismic image so we can see how good our estimates are and whether the expected geological layers are at the depth and time that we have predicted. We can then use the well information to label the each layer and extrapolate this labeling away from the well using the seismic data and compare this with a manual interpretation of the seismic image. What we hope to learn is what level of confidence can we place in our predictions of the structure of the subsurface based on seismic data. This has major implications in Earth Sciences as the seismic reflection method is the primary tool used by the hydrocarbons industry to locate oil and gas, equally it is used by the carbon sequestration industry to bury and monitor CO2 to try to mitigate global warming. Further, the understanding developed here can be used across a wide-range of non-destructive imaging methods in the medical, construction and engineering industries.
Planned Impact
For IODP Leg 369 there will be a major outreach impact through engagement with one of the education officers assigned to this drilling leg through a series of publicly accessible science articles that will be delivered through major museums and respected news websites.
The key deliverable of this project will be a statistically robust workflow for the estimation of drilling depths and risk, with an option for history matching post-drill to improve extraction of the down-hole physical parameters and hence to add value to site-survey seismic data. If proven successful, this workflow could be adopted by IODP for future drilling projects. The workflow and results will be presented through scientific channels (IODP Proceedings, journal publication and conference talks) to bring the research to the attention of both industry and academia. Further, the understanding developed here could be used across a wide-range of non-destructive imaging methods in the medical, construction and engineering industries.
The key deliverable of this project will be a statistically robust workflow for the estimation of drilling depths and risk, with an option for history matching post-drill to improve extraction of the down-hole physical parameters and hence to add value to site-survey seismic data. If proven successful, this workflow could be adopted by IODP for future drilling projects. The workflow and results will be presented through scientific channels (IODP Proceedings, journal publication and conference talks) to bring the research to the attention of both industry and academia. Further, the understanding developed here could be used across a wide-range of non-destructive imaging methods in the medical, construction and engineering industries.
People |
ORCID iD |
Richard Hobbs (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Jones M
(2023)
Abrupt episode of mid-Cretaceous ocean acidification triggered by massive volcanism
in Nature Geoscience
White L
(2021)
Age of magmatism and alteration of basaltic rocks cored at the base of IODP Site U1513, Naturaliste Plateau, southwestern Australia
in Australian Journal of Earth Sciences
Lee E
(2020)
Early Cretaceous subsidence of the Naturaliste Plateau defined by a new record of volcaniclastic-rich sequence at IODP Site U1513
in Gondwana Research
Harry D
(2020)
Evolution of the Southwest Australian Rifted Continental Margin During Breakup of East Gondwana: Results From International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 369
in Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
Vahlenkamp M
(2020)
A lower to middle Eocene astrochronology for the Mentelle Basin (Australia) and its implications for the geologic time scale
in Earth and Planetary Science Letters
MacLeod K
(2020)
Late Cretaceous stratigraphy and paleoceanographic evolution in the Great Australian Bight Basin based on results from IODP Site U1512
in Gondwana Research
Huber B
(2019)
Volume 369: Australia Cretaceous Climate and Tectonics
Huber B
(2019)
Volume 369: Australia Cretaceous Climate and Tectonics
Huber B
(2019)
Volume 369: Australia Cretaceous Climate and Tectonics
Huber B
(2019)
Volume 369: Australia Cretaceous Climate and Tectonics
Description | By improving understanding of the onset and decay of the period of high global temperatures in the Cretaceous provides information for predictions on the impacts of current climate change. Results used by by those researching or determining policy around climate change eg IPCC. |
First Year Of Impact | 2021 |
Sector | Education,Environment |
Impact Types | Economic,Policy & public services |
Description | Australia Cretaceous Climate and Tectonics: International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 369 |
Amount | £37,701 (GBP) |
Funding ID | NE/R012261/1 |
Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 10/2017 |
End | 09/2019 |
Description | Drilling leg on the International Ocean Discovery Program |
Amount | $10,000,000 (USD) |
Funding ID | in-kind |
Organisation | International Ocean Discovery Programme (IODP) |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United States |
Start | 09/2017 |
End | 12/2017 |
Title | Core material |
Description | Part of the IODP data base of both core samples and well logs |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2019 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Provides core material over mainly Cretaceous period including the most complete record of Ocean Anoxic Event 2 at high latitude. |
URL | https://iodp.tamu.edu/scienceops/expeditions/australia_climate_tectonics.html |
Title | Data report: isotopic records for carbonate and organic fractions from IODP Expedition 369, Hole U1515A |
Description | Data report: isotopic records for carbonate and organic fractions from IODP Expedition 369, Hole U1515A |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2020 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Isotopic measurements of organic carbon (d13Corg), carbonate carbon (d13Ccarb), and oxygen (d18Ocarb) were made at low stratigraphic resolution on samples from International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Expedition 369, Hole U1515A (southeast Indian Ocean). |
URL | https://doi.org/10.14379/iodp.proc.369.201.2020 |
Title | Data report: moisture and density analysis and ultrasonic velocity, Hole U1513E, IODP Expedition 369 |
Description | Data report: moisture and density analysis and ultrasonic velocity, Hole U1513E, IODP Expedition 369 |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Ppostcruise petrophysical measurement results for Hole U1513E (International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Expedition 369),bulk (wet), dry, and grain density and porosity data, were performed on 25 core samples. |
URL | https://doi.org/10.14379/iodp.proc.369.204.2021 |
Title | Data report: petrology and volcanic stratigraphy at Site U1513, IODP Expedition 369 |
Description | Data report: petrology and volcanic stratigraphy at Site U1513, IODP Expedition 369 |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2020 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Expedition 369 recovered the first stratigraphically constrained volcanic sequence at Site U1513 on the eastern flank of the Naturaliste Plateau. |
URL | https://doi.org/10.14379/iodp.proc.369.202.2020 |
Title | Data report: radiolarians from the latest Cenomanian and Turonian, Holes U1512A and U1516C, IODP Expedition 369 |
Description | Data report: radiolarians from the latest Cenomanian and Turonian, Holes U1512A and U1516C, IODP Expedition 369 |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | A total of 47 samples from the Albian to Turonian at three sites from International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Expedition 369 were investigated for radiolarian faunas. |
URL | https://doi.org/10.14379/iodp.proc.369.203.2021 |
Description | IODP |
Organisation | International Ocean Discovery Programme (IODP) |
Country | United States |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Co-Chief on IODP leg 369 |
Collaborator Contribution | Provision of JOIDES Resolution drill ship for 3 months to core 5 sites off the south and south-west coast of Australia |
Impact | Drill core that samples the past 140 Ma. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Smithsonian |
Organisation | Smithsonian Institution |
Country | United States |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Co-Chief on IODP leg 369 |
Collaborator Contribution | Co-Chief on IODP leg 369 |
Impact | Multidisciplinary research through the International Ocean Discovery Program to understand the geochemistry, geology and geophysics of the subsurface, oceans and atmosphere over the past 140 Ma. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Second vedio for web and BBC release |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Public engagement with 'big' science as an overview of the objectives of the IODP expedition 369. Released through vimeo and also BBC |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://vimeo.com/252447663/8c51a80dd2 |
Description | Video filmed for BBC |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Video filmed on JOIDES Resolution to publicise 'big' earth science. Aimed to inform general public of the logistics behind a science expedition |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20180521-the-unique-challenges-of-living-at-sea-for-63-days |