Lophelia II 2012: Deepwater Platform Corals

Lophelia II 2012: Deepwater Platform Corals

Image Gallery

This page contains photos associated with the Lophelia II 2012: Deepwater Platform Corals expedition. Click on any image or video to view a larger version and for additional information.

Lophelia pertusa growing on a tendon at Jolliet platform, a tension leg platform.

Jolliet Platform

Lophelia pertusa growing on a tendon at Jolliet platform, a tension leg platform.

Colonies of Lophelia pertusa growing on a test piling at the subsea well installation in Mississippi Canyon. Flytrap anemones and Eumunida picta squat lobsters are also present.

Colonies of Lophelia pertusa grow on a test piling at a subsea well installation in Mississippi Canyon.

Tendon at Ram Powell platform showing numerous Lophelia pertusa colonies and flytrap anemones.

Ram Powell Platform

Tendon at Ram Powell platform showing numerous Lophelia pertusa colonies and flytrap anemones.

TIn 2008, Jay got his sea legs by helping launch the CTD device on the Lophelia II 2008 expedition in the Gulf of Mexico.

Launching the CTD

In 2008, Jay got his sea legs by helping launch the CTD device on the Lophelia II 2008 expedition in the Gulf of Mexico.

During the Lophelia II 2012 expedition, Jay guiding the scientists in the search for deepwater corals on oil and gas platforms, such as this Lophelia imaged on the Zinc subsea installation in the Gulf of Mexico.

Guiding the Scientists

During the Lophelia II 2012 expedition, Jay guiding the scientists in the search for deepwater corals.

As chief scientist, Jay oversaw science operations to investigate deepwater corals on oil and gas platforms during the Lophelia II 2012 expedition in the Gulf of Mexico.

As chief scientist, Jay oversaw science operations to investigate deepwater corals on oil and gas platforms.

Adam and Miles prepare to launch the box core at the site.

Launching the Box Core

Adam and Miles prepare to launch the box core at the site.

Jennie and Janessy document the box core after it is brought to the surface, filled with Gulf of Mexico deep-sea sediment.

Deep-sea Sediment

Jennie and Janessy document the box core after it is brought to the surface, filled with Gulf of Mexico deep-sea sediment.

Samples are collected from the box core after it is retrieved.

Box Core Samples

Samples are collected from the box core after it is retrieved.

Some of the sediment samples collected from the corer are sieved, leaving behind fauna for isotopic analysis.

Isotopic Analysis

Some of the sediment samples collected from the corer are sieved, leaving behind fauna for isotopic analysis.

Syllidae from collected sediments at the Viosca Knoll826 site in the Gulf of Mexico.

Syllidae from collected sediments at the Viosca Knoll826 site in the Gulf of Mexico.

This Lophelia sample was collected during the first remotely operated vehicle dive at the Joilet platform.

Lophelia Sample

This Lophelia sample was collected during the first remotely operated vehicle dive at the Joilet platform.

Lophelia coral growing on the Zinc subsea installation at a depth of 457 meters.

Zinc Subsea Installation

Lophelia coral growing on the Zinc subsea installation at a depth of 457 meters.

Coral seen at the Ram Powell oil platform at a depth of 995 meters.

Ram Powell Oil Platform

Coral seen at the Ram Powell oil platform at a depth of 995 meters.

Sample bathymetry data mapping the features of the seafloor. Warmer colors indicate shallower regions.

Sample bathymetry data mapping the features of the seafloor. Warmer colors indicate shallower regions.

Lophelia pertusa thickets discovered growing on an oil platform during this cruise.

Lophelia pertusa thickets discovered growing on an oil platform during this cruise.

White Lophelia colonies imaged by the Kraken2 remotely operated vehicle while diving near the Joilet platform in the Gulf of Mexico.

White Lophelia

White Lophelia colonies imaged by the Kraken2 remotely operated vehicle while diving near the Joilet platform.

A possible rare (for the Gulf of Mexico) orange Lophelia colony seen during a remotely operated vehicle dive near the Joliet platform.

Orange Lophelia

A possible rare (for the Gulf of Mexico) orange Lophelia colony seen during a ROV dive near the Joliet platform.

Marine bacteria growing on an agar plate.

Joliet Platform

Greg takes stock of the Joliet platform, prior to the launch of the remotely operated vehicle.

The Kraken2 remotely operated vehicle makes its way towards the Joilet platform, appearing as a small yellow object on the surface of the water.

Approaching the Platform

The Kraken2 remotely operated vehicle makes its way towards the Joilet platform, appearing as a small yellow object on the surface.

Marine bacteria growing on an agar plate.

Marine Bacteria

Marine bacteria growing on an agar plate.

Flying fish cut tracks in the ocean surface as the Brooks McCall makes it way towards the first dive site.

Flying Fish Tracks

Flying fish cut tracks in the ocean surface as the Brooks McCall makes it way towards the first dive site.

Sunset over the Gulf signals the end of Matt and Danielle’s first full day at sea.

Sunset over the Gulf

Sunset over the Gulf signals the end of Matt and Danielle’s first full day at sea.

The R/V Brooks McCall dockside in Freeport, Texas.

Brooks McCall

The R/V Brooks McCall dockside in Freeport, Texas.

The crew prepares to load the Kraken2 ROV onto the ship.

The crew prepares to load the Kraken2 ROV onto the ship.

The science party and ship crew don their life vests during an abandon ship drill.

The science party and ship crew don their life vests during an abandon ship drill.

Freeport, Texas, grows ever smaller as we are finally underway, heading towards our first platform in the Gulf of Mexico.

Freeport, Texas, grows ever smaller as we are finally underway, heading towards our first platform in the Gulf of Mexico.

Map displaying Gulf of Mexico deepwater oil and gas platforms targeted for study during the expedition.

Map displaying Gulf of Mexico deepwater oil and gas platforms targeted for study during the expedition.

Remotely operated vehicle manipulators are used to collect specimens of corals for use in numerous studies.

Remotely operated vehicle manipulators are used to collect specimens of corals for use in numerous studies.

A close-up image of a single Eumunida picta squat lobster perched on a live Lophelia pertusa thicket.

Cold-water Corals

A close-up image of a single Eumunida picta squat lobster perched on a live Lophelia pertusa thicket.

An outcrop containing a large white Leiopathes colony and several small fragments of Lophelia pertusa.

An outcrop containing a large white Leiopathes colony and several small fragments of Lophelia pertusa.

A large number of ophiuroid associates colonize a patch of large Callogorgia colonies.

A large number of ophiuroid associates colonize a patch of large Callogorgia colonies.

This map shows the Viosca Knoll area of the Gulf, where the most developed natural Lophelia reefs exist

This map shows the Viosca Knoll area of the Gulf, where the most developed natural Lophelia reefs exist.

The Lophelia colonies at the Gulfpenn Wreck site exhibit 4.6 m (15 ft) of vertical relief along the superstructure.

Gulfpenn Wreck

The Lophelia colonies at the Gulfpenn Wreck site exhibit 4.6 m (15 ft) of vertical relief along the superstructure.

This image illustrates how scientist measure a coral for size and growth rate.

This image illustrates how scientist measure a coral for size and growth rate.

Another type of human-made structure that can be used to date and therefore provide maximum ages for corals are shipwrecks

Dating Coral with Shipwrecks

Another type of human-made structure that can be used to date and therefore provide maximum ages for corals are shipwrecks.

Examples of meiofauna present in the sediment.

Examples of meiofauna present in the sediment.

Example of a tanaid discovered in a sediment sample.

Example of a tanaid discovered in a sediment sample.

Sieving push core material through a sieve to remove excess sediment before examining what fauna are present under the microscope.

Sieving push core material through a sieve to remove excess sediment before examining what fauna are present under the microscope.

A successfully collected push core that has different sediment layers present.

A successfully collected push core that has different sediment layers present.

Industry inspection video images of corals on the Pompano platform in 2008 at depths of over 300 m.

Pompano Platform

Industry inspection video images of corals on the Pompano platform in 2008 at depths of over 300 m.

This image shows how much Lophelia corals first identified in 2003 grew since installation of the structure in 1994.

Minimum Growth Rate

This image shows how much Lophelia corals first identified in 2003 grew since installation of the structure in 1994.

This illustration shows the variety of major platform types.

Major Platform Types

This illustration shows the variety of major platform types.

Example of a solid bottom-founded platform in the Gulf of Mexico.

Solid Bottom-founded Platform

Example of a solid bottom-founded platform in the Gulf of Mexico.

A solid bottom-founded platform enroute to its final destination.

A solid bottom-founded platform enroute to its final destination.