Reporting on 30 Years of Social 

Research in the Land 

of the Midnight Sun

The Elusive Architeuthis

In Pursuit of Prey: 

The Sperm Whale Acoustic 

Prey Study

Learning from Experience: 

Assessing Hurricanes 

Gustav and Ike’s Damage to 

Offshore Structures and Pipelines

Studying Potential Conservatism 

in Foundation Design for Offshore 

Platform Assessment

MMS Shares Expertise 

with the West African 

Gas Pipeline Authority

In Memoriam: 

Dr. Rezneat M. Darnell, Jr.

The Science & Technology Journal of the 

OCEAN

Minerals Management SErvice

Volume 7 Issue 1 

JANUARY/FEBRUARY/MARCH 2010

SCIENCE

MMS
JANUARY/FEBRUARY/MARCH 2010

Volume 7 Issue 1

mms OCEAN SCIENCE is published 

quarterly by the Minerals Management 

Service to communicate recent ocean 

science and technological information 

and issues of interest related to 

offshore energy recovery, ocean 

stewardship, and mineral revenues.

Please address all questions, 

comments, suggestions, and changes 

of address to:

Dr. Deborah Epperson

mms OCEAN SCIENCE Editor

Minerals Management Service 

1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard 

New Orleans, LA 70123

deborah.epperson@mms.gov

(504) 736-3257

ON THE COVER

Top left: A sidescan-sonar image of a 

destroyed platform on the Gulf seabed.

Top right: Squid and other prey caught 

during the SWAPS pilot cruise aboard 

the NOAA research ship Gordon Gunter.

Bottom: The first taste of the whale, 

the uunalik, is being prepared by a 

crew member to feed all who assisted. 

Photo by M. Galginaitis used with 

permission of the Nuiqsut Whaling 

Captains’ Association (NWCA); not to 

be reproduced without permission from 

the NWCA.

All photos courtesy of 

Minerals Management Service 

unless otherwise noted.

Publication services provided by 

Schatz Publishing Group.

OCEAN SCIENCE The Science & Technology Journal of the 

Minerals Management SErvice

JANUARY/FEBRUARY /MARCH 2010

Volume 7 Issue 1

A New Year, Continued Commitment................................. 3

Reporting on 30 Years of Social 

Research in the Land of the Midnight Sun.......................... 4

The Elusive Architeuthis........................................................ 6

Protected Species Marine Biologist: 

Carol Roden........................................................................ 7

In Pursuit of Prey: 

The Sperm Whale Acoustic Prey Study............................... 9

Learning from Experience: 

Assessing Hurricanes Gustav and Ike’s 

Damage to Offshore Structures and Pipelines....................11

Studying Potential Conservatism in Foundation 

Design for Offshore Platform Assessment......................... 12

MMS Shares Expertise with the 

West African Gas Pipeline Authority.................................14

In Memoriam: Dr. Rezneat M. Darnell, Jr........................ 15

New Waves: Late-Breaking News & Information.............. 16

For more information

Check out the Minerals Management Service website at www.mms.gov.

SUBSCRI BE

To receive MMS OCEAN SCIENCE, sign up at www.gomr.mms.gov, then click on 

email subscriptions in the left-hand column, and check the box marked Environmental 

Studies or email deborah.epperson@mms.gov or call (504) 736-3257.
MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE JANUARY/FEBRUARY/MARCH 2010 3

 ‹‹ INTRODUCTION

The Minerals Management Service (MMS) owes

itssuccessto the people it hiresto carry out its work.

These people range from administrative assistantsto

petroleum engineers, and from biologiststo leasing

specialists, and contractors, as well.

Balanced, responsible decisionmaking is possible

only when it is based on the best available science

and information. In the management of the Outer

Continental Shelf (OCS) energy resources, MMS is

proud of the experts and specialists that ensure the

soundness—and the advance—of needed scientific

and technical information.

Two key programs bringing about this rigorous

research are the Environmental Studies Program

(ESP) and the Technology Assessment & Research

(TA&R) Program.

Environmentalstudiesinclude studying not only

the potential effects of energy activities on the

natural environment but also those on the human

environment. This includes economic, social, and

other measures that could be easily overlooked.

The MMS’s sociocultural work has sometimes

been under-reported, though it has made substantial

contributions to the field itself. In fact, in Alaska,

MMS has been involved with sociocultural

research for over 30 years (even before its OCS

responsibilities were moved from theBureau ofLand

Management to MMS). Numerousstudies on such

topics assubsistence,social organization, and social

indicators—among the first to be conducted in the

U.S.—have illuminated the sociocultural systems

of rural Alaskan coastal peoples. The MMS was

also on the forefront of conducting sociocultural

studies on the effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill.

The ESP works closely with other agencies at

the State and Federal levels, pooling resources and complementing strengths. A logical result of the Sperm Whale

Seismic Survey has recently begun; the Sperm Whale

Acoustic Prey Study is underway in the Gulf of Mexico,

gathering data that will help MMS and others better protect

endangered sperm whales and the prey upon which they rely.

The TA&R Program helps to better protect people and

the environment, as well as offshore infrastructure. People

who live and work in the Gulf of Mexico area prepare for

hurricane season year-round, and so does MMS. Analyzing

damages caused by hurricanes leads to new technologies

and practices that make the offshore environment safer.

The data that we gather, analyze, evaluate, and share is

not only valuable for MMS’s mission but also for moving

forward the fields of study themselves.

A New Year, Continued Commitment

A brown pelican and the sunset from the NOAA research vessel Gordon Gunter

in the Gulf of Mexico during the Sperm Whale Prey Study pilot cruise, 2009.

MMS Mission Statement

The MMS’s mission is to manage the ocean energy

and mineral resources on the Outer Continental Shelf

and Federal and Indian mineral revenues to enhance

public and trust benefits, promote responsible use, and

realize fair value.
4 mms OCEAN SCIENCE Science & Technology Journal

STUDIES ››

Reporting on 30 Years of Social Research 

in the Land of the Midnight Sun

To some people, 30 years is a long time. To others,

what matters is not the number of years but how wisely

the time is spent.

From 1975 through 2004, the Department of the Interior

funded more than $768 million nationwide through the

Environmental Studies Program (ESP) to produce environmental studies in support of sound decisionmaking about

oil and gas leasing on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).

In that time, approximately $286 million was directed

into the ESP in the Alaska OCS Region, with $24.5 million

to social science research efforts.

The social component of the ESP was initiated in 1976

by the Bureau of Land Management. When the Minerals

Management Service (MMS) assumed responsibilities for

OCS planning and development from the Bureau of Land

Management in 1982, it also took on responsibility for

managing the ESP.

Since 1975, the social research component of the Alaska

OCS Region’s ESP has produced more than 200 scientific

reports, including 167 technicalreports and 9 specialreports,

and at least 30 multivolume titles.

The Alaska OCS Region’s ESP socialresearch is a distinctive aggregation of social science literature, and its value

for monitoring social change will extend far into the future.

But as more studies are conducted, the

sheer volume of the material has made

it more difficult to use.

To improve access to three decades of

social research, MMS commissioned

a peer-reviewed report to synthesize

the highlights of its research efforts

in Alaska. Experts in Alaskan socioeconomic and sociocultural research

studied and evaluated the vast body of

work. They summarized key findings

and highlights within various categories

of research topics.

The result was recently released:

Synthesis: Three Decades of Research on 

Socioeconomic Effects Related to Offshore 

Petroleum Development in Coastal Alaska 

(OCS Study MMS 2009-006), edited

by Stephen R. Braund and Jack Kruse.

(The report includes, on DVD-ROM, 167

technical reports and 9 special reports.)

The synthesis repor t captures the

breadth and range ofsocioeconomic work

conducted in Alaska from 1975 to 2004.

More than a collection of findings, the report is an index

of historical efforts.

The repor t is especially valuable for its reflective

assessment of the design, development, and execution

of a 30-year social research program. The report also

documents the evolution of the Federal Government’s

management of the OCS.

The report not only provides evaluative summaries of

key research during this crucial period in Alaska but also

evaluates the work as applied research.

As a synthesis of applied research findings and a chronicle

of a social research program, the report offers a view of

Alaska and the Alaskan Native communities during a

period of tremendous change.

Uncharted Territory

Sociocultural and socioeconomic research is crucial to

understanding how possible energy development activities

may impactlocal communities.The NationalEnvironmental

PolicyAct of 1969 and amendmentsto theOuter Continental

Shelf Lands Act passed in 1978 mandated the Federal

Government to prepare an environmental impact statement before any offshore lease sale if the action could have

significant environmental effects. These Acts also mandate

Native Peoples of Alaska.

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A r c t i c O c e a n

P a c i f i c O c e a n

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B e r i n g S e a

I n u p i a t

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Stephen R. Braund & Associates P.O. Box 1480 Anchorage, Alaska 99510 907-276-8222 907-276-6117 (fax) srba@alaska.net
MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE JANUARY/FEBRUARY/MARCH 2010 5

 STUDIES

that the Federal Government consider the effects of major

Federal actions on the human environment.

In Alaska, 1975-2004 was a time of significant social,

economic, and environmental change: the discovery of a

large onshore oil field at Prudhoe Bay in 1967, the energy

crisis of the 1970’s, and the development of the TransAlaskan Pipeline.In the mid-1970s, the Federal Government

accelerated its leasing program. The Exxon Valdez oil spill

in 1989—though it did not involve the OCS—had effects

that are still felt.

Where and how to start in fulfilling its mandate to assess

potential effects of offshore oil development in Alaska

was a challenge. Conducting social research of effects on

coastal communities in Alaska was uncharted territory.

Alaska’s coastline is immense; weather severely restricts

travel. Little current information was available, such as

who lived in coastal communities, how they earned their

living, and the communities’social and politicalstructures.

Alaska’s Native communities were the focus of the

social research component of the ESP. Because they were

not a part of mainstream U.S., the range of potential

effects and the research needed to understand them

called for multiple disciplines and innovative applications

of research methods and tools.

Building a social component to the

ESP began almost from scratch.

The Synthesis Report

Each of the synthesis report’s 11

chapters focus on a research topic

For More Information

“Synthesis: Three Decades of Research on Socioeconomic Effects Related to Offshore 

Petroleum Development in Coastal Alaska,” OCS Study MMS 2009-006

www.mms.gov/alaska/reports/2009rpts/2009_006/2009_006.pdf

or subject addressed by the studies over

the 30-year period.

A brief economic history of Alaska

includes a history of petroleum exploration

and development in Alaska. Examining

effects of petroleum development on the

Alaska economy, one chapterreviewsESP’s

work to design developmentscenarios and

technology assessments. It also describes

the development of statewide economic,

demographic, and fiscal models. The

models that formed the basis of economic

and demographic impact projections have

broader applications, beyond theESP itself.

A review of community effects of OCS

developmenttracesthe conceptual approach

to modeling, development of the models,

and the results of modeling efforts and

baseline studies.

A chapter on sociocultural studies

addresses social indicators, institutional

monitoring,subsistence-based economies,

subsistence harvests, harvest disruptions,

bowhead whaling, and traditional knowledge. The chapter

also evaluates the ESP’s record as applied social science.

The effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill (EVOS) on subsistence activities and on coastal communities are the focus of

two chapters. A discussion of the long-term consequences

of EVOS focuses on harvest and use levels, harvest areas,

sharing, and traditional knowledge. The chapter also

reviews sociocultural core studies and harvest disruption

studies. Community and individual impacts of the EVOS

are the focus of another chapter, which includes data on

the chronic community impacts of the EVOS.

An examination of relationships between petroleum

development and subsistence uses the North Slope as a

case study. It describes traditional subsistence patterns,

the history of petroleum development on the North

Slope, contemporary settlement patterns, land status, and

regional economy. The chapter also examines planning

and mitigation activities.

The MMS recognizes that Alaska’s coastal communities are special places. As the 30 years summarized in

the synthesis report indicate, through its ESP, MMS

will continue to learn and share knowledge in support

of sound decisionmaking.

Barrow

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Nuiqsut

Kaktovik

Point Lay

Anaktuvuk Pass

Point Hope

Wainwright

A L A S K A

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Stephen R. Braund & Associates P.O. Box 1480 Anchorage, Alaska 99510 907-276-8222 907-276-6117 (fax) srba@alaska.net

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Other Traditional Subsistence Land Use

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6 mms OCEAN SCIENCE Science & Technology Journal

FEATURED SPECIES ››

The Elusive Architeuthis

The elusive giant squid (Architeuthis spp.) has fed the

imagination for thousands of years. They are described

by Pliny the Elder and by Aristotle. In Herman Melville’s

Moby-Dick (1851), Ishmael’s description of a giant squid

notesthe squid’srelationship with sperm whales. The giant

squid in Jules Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the 

Sea (1870) is an aggressive man-eater.

Architeuthis is the largest known cephalopod and the

largest known mollusk. Except for the Colosssal squid, it

is probably the largest invertebrate ever to exist.

These deep-ocean dwellers are found around the world,

usually near continental and island slopes, where they feed

on deep-sea fishes and other squid species. Sperm whales

and some sharks are the only known predators of adults.

The little that we know about Architeuthis is based on

stranded animals, animals caught in trawling nets, or from

sperm whale stomach contents.With fewcomplete specimens

for comparisons, the taxonomy of Architeuthis is as vague

as the animal. Some species were

named based only on body parts.

Twentynominalspecieshavebeen

described. With only incomplete

specimens for comparison, eight

genera were created; all considered

synonyms for Architeuthis. Some

scientists believe that there are three

valid species: A. dux in the North

Atlantic Ocean, A. martensi in the

North Pacific, and A. sanctipauli in

the Southern Ocean.

Like all squid, Architeuthis has

a mantle (torso), eight arms, and

two tentacles. Adults are believed

to average 11-14 meters (m) (36-46

feet [ft]) long. Males are smaller

than females.

Giant squid have a sophisticated

nervous system and a complex

brain. To better detect light in the

deep, the brain has two large optic

lobes; 80 percent of the brain is

given to processing visual information. Architeuthis has the largest

eyes of any living creature: over

1 ft (30 centimeters) in diameter

(volleyball size).

Like other cephalopods, giant

squid are jet-propelled: they push

waterthrough their mantle cavity

through the funnel.

Arc h i t e u th i s s h a r e s a n

unusual feature with some

other squid species: the fluid

in their flesh is ammonium

chloride. To maintain neutral

buoyancy, they rely on the

low density of ammonia in

relation to seawater (fish have

gas-filled swim bladders that

serve this purpose).

Hundreds of suction cups

line the inside surfaces of the

arms and tentacles. These suckers are lined with sharp,

finely-serrated rings of chitin. The perforation of these

teeth and the suction of the cups attach the squid to its

prey. Sperm whales often bear circular scars from their

encounters with giant squid.

In the Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of Louisiana, in July

2009, a giant squid was caught during a research cruise

for the Minerals Management Service’s (MMS) “Sperm

Whale Acoustic Prey Study.” Scientists from MMS and

the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s

National Marine Fisheries Service caught a 19.5 ft (6 m)

long, 103-pound (47-kilogram) giant squid while trawling

in waters over 1,500 ft (457 m) deep. The squid was sent to

the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural

History forstudy. Thisfind, and continued study, will help

MMS better protect thisspecies and the endangered sperm

whales that rely on squid for food.

For More Information

“MMS Study Positively Identifies Giant Squid Presence in 

Gulf of Mexico,” MMS press release

www.gomr.mms.gov/homepg/whatsnew/

newsreal/2009/090921.pdf

“Search for the Giant Squid,” Smithsonian Institution

www.mnh.si.edu/natural_partners/squid4/ Steve O'Shea holding the tentacle 

of an Architeuthis sp. ©1996 Martin 

Hunter, New Zealand Herald.

"Architeuthis princeps," 

modified from Verrill, A.E. 

1879. The cephalopods of 

the north-eastern coast of 

America. Part I. 

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Mollusca

Class: Cephalopoda

Order: Teuthida

Family: Architeuthidae

Genus: Architeuthis
MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE JANUARY/FEBRUARY/MARCH 2010 7

‹‹ PEOPLE

Protected Species Marine Biologist:

Carol Roden

The employees of the Minerals Management Service

(MMS) are central to itssuccess.In each issue of Ocean 

Science, we talk with a specialist orscientist about their

work. Thisissue’sfocusis on Carol Roden, a protected

species marine biologist with the Environmental

Sciences Section in the Gulf of Mexico OCS Region.

1. How did you come to work for MMS? 

My love of studying marine mammals was firmly

established at an early age. Growing up on the Indian

River in Florida, I often skipped out of kindergarten

and rode my bike to the local park to count bottlenose

dolphins swimming into the Eau Gallie Harbor. I got

caught, eventually.

I started working for MMS in 2002 after spending

17 years with the National Marine Fisheries Service

(NMFS) in Pascagoula, Mississippi.

The MMS and NMFS have a long history of

par tnering on protected species research. That

collaboration led to GulfCet I and II, the first

comprehensive offshore aerial and shipboard marine

mammal study program in the Gulf of Mexico. I was

involved in the joint effort from the beginning in the

early 1990’s and spent several years doing aerial and

shipboard marine mammal and sea turtle surveys in the

Gulf, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Caribbean Sea.

I enjoyed being a field biologist, but the regulatory process

of using the best information to protect the environment was

also of interest to me. When a job at MMS was announced

that would afford me that opportunity, I applied for it.

My MMS career has been particularly rewarding because

the knowledge and experience I gained during my earlier

field yearsis extremely helpful in my regulatory duties. That

field perspective isinvaluable in developing mitigation and

monitoring programs that are both effective and practical.

I also get to combine my office duties with field time, so I

spend time at sea studying marine mammals.

2.What makes the work you do interesting to you?

My work allows me to be a part of an important and

meaningful effort. Protection and preservation of the marine

environment is a must; many laws mandate this. The MMS

strives to allow and support offshore industrial activities

while implementing mitigation and monitoring needed to

minimize impacts to the environment and to ensure the

continued existence of endangered and protected species.

My job is to help find and maintain the balance between

environmental preservation and the use of offshore energy

resources. I’m very proud of the work that we have done.

3.What do you do, specifically?

My duties and responsibilities are in two areas, and they

support each other. First is my participation in National

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) activities. I’m a subject

matter expert for protected species, primarily marine

mammals and sea turtles. It is my responsibility to stay

current on matters affecting these resources and to write

portions of required environmental documentsthat pertain

to them. I also initiate Endangered Species Act (ESA)

consultations with NMFS and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service for actions proposed by MMS, and participate

in the petitioning process with NMFS under the Marine

Mammal Protection Act.

My other primary responsibility is to support the MMS

Environmental Studies Program. The MMS funds a range

of projects, and MMS scientists suggest study ideas and

review project proposals. Findings from these studies

contribute to our environmental documents. My two

responsibilities are linked toward a common goal. I am

also a Contracting Officer’s Representative and currently

have two studies in progress.

Carol Roden at work during the Bowhead Whale Aerial Survey, 2006.
8 mms OCEAN SCIENCE Science & Technology Journal

It’s my participation in research projects that gets me out

on the ships. So, I have the best of both worlds!

4.What project or projects are most exciting to you?

We’ve been doing field research on the sperm whale

in the Gulf of Mexico since 2000 and, hands down,

this is my favorite project! The sperm whale is the only

commonly occurring, offshore marine mammal listed as

endangered in the Gulf of Mexico. Working with these

whales for several years, I have come to realize how truly

spectacular and interesting they are. There are several

variations between the Gulf sperm whales and those

around the globe, so we have some very special whales

right here in our own backyard!

This winter I participated in an MMS/NMFS sperm

whale acoustic prey survey (SWAPS) research cruise to

determine what the sperm whale eats. We were pulling a

huge net in very deep water and then taking tissue samples

from the variousspeciesthat were caught. Analyses of these

samples and comparisons with sperm whale tissue samples

will tell us what the sperm whales prey on. In other areas

they’re known to eat primarily squid and we suspect that’s

their food in the Gulf, too. But little is known about squid

in the areas where the Gulf sperm whales are found.

The reason to do this work is to better protect the sperm

whales. We need to know what they eat in order to make

sure that the activitiesthat MMS regulates are not adversely

impacting their prey.

During the 2 weeks I was on this cruise, we had several

rough days, which made spotting whales difficult. We

heard their “clicks” on the acoustic array that we towed.

In fact, in those 2 weeks we had only one marine mammal

sighting . . . but it was incredible: about 20 orcas (killer

whales)! Seeing those beautiful, powerful animals is

always a thrill and it’s not common in the Gulf. Though

the quantity of sightings was small, the quality was

excellent!We also caught dozens ofspecies of deepwater

creatures, generating hundreds ofsamplesfor analyses.

5. You probably work with some interesting people. True?

Very, very true! That may be the very best part of

my job . . . working with and learning from such a

broad range of scientists. I certainly have contact

with numerous people from many disciplines in my

office work.

But when I think of the “people” aspect of my job,

I think of my ship time. I have had the privilege of

sailing with scientists and top experts from the U.S.

and abroad in the fields of marine mammal biology,

acoustics, and oceanography, and also brilliant young

people on their first cruises who have wonderful ideas,

great enthusiasm, and bright futures. The unique shipboard

environment allows so much sharing of knowledge,

experience, humor, and friendship!

For me, very few things match the satisfaction of working

with a group of deeply respected colleagues toward the

shared pride of a successfully completed project. I’ve been

very lucky to know that great feeling many times!

6. What's coming up next? 

My next step is a gigantic leap but one that I’m looking

very forward to! I am retiring this spring. I’m looking

forward to developing skills in the glass arts. But I do hope

to participate on research cruises from time to time. I can’t

imagine not being “out there” every now and then!

PEOPLE 

Carol, reflecting during the Sperm Whale Seismic Study.

Bringing in the trawl catch, SWAPS pilot cruise, June 2009.
MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE JANUARY/FEBRUARY/MARCH 2010 9

The northern Gulf of Mexico is home to a resident, and

genetically unique, population of about 1,665 sperm whales

(Physeter macrocephalus), an endangered species.

The Gulf is also one of the most heavily industrialized

waterbodies in the world. Intensive energy operations

carried out in the Gulf—increasingly in deepwater

areas—typically include seismic airgun arrays. These highintensity, low-frequency sounds may result in behavioral

or physiological impacts to marine animals, including

sperm whales and their prey.

Since the 1990’s, the Minerals Management Service

(MMS) has been sponsoring and participating in studies

of sperm whales in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Previous

MMS studies have gathered much-needed data on

sperm whale and marine mammal abundance, spatial

distribution, and habitat.

In 2008, the synthesisreport forthe SpermWhale Seismic

Study (SWSS) was released. The 6-year project provided

new and important information about the northern Gulf’s

resident sperm whale population. It developed baseline

information on the whales’ behavior and biology, social

organization, physiology, and how they respond to some

underwater sounds.

But SWSS findings also raised new questions, such as

“What does this genetically unique population of sperm

whales eat?,” “What are the connections among the whales’

distribution, their prey, and the Gulf’s physical features?,”

and “Is there a relation between this population’s smaller

size and the abundance of their prey?”

We know that mostsperm whalesfeed on squid and small

fish, but we aren’t certain what this unique population

eats. We also don’t know ifsquid, which live in deep water,

may be affected by anthropogenic sounds associated with

energy activities.

Studies have shown a strong correlation between the sperm

whales’ location and the physical features of the Gulf, such

as Loop Current eddies and high concentrations of surface

chlorophyll. That connection suggests that the whales feed

on prey that feed in certain areas. But what are those prey

and what conditions do they favor?

The Sperm Whale Acoustic Prey Study

In Pursuit of Prey: 

Trawl net in use during SWAPS pilot cruise aboard the NOAA research vessel Gordon Gunter.

 ‹‹ STUDIES
10 mms OCEAN SCIENCE Science & Technology Journal

The SpermWhale Acoustic Prey Study (SWAPS) will

begin answering these questions. Part of a cooperative

agreementbetweenMMSandtheNationalOceanographic

and Atmospheric Adminstration’s (NOAA) National

Marine Fisheries Service-Southeast Fisheries Science

Center (NMFS-SFSC), SWAPS began in the summer

of 2009 with a pilot study to test methodology.

The goal of the $550,000 MMS-funded study is to

characterize the forage base for sperm whales in the

Gulf of Mexico.

During the 2009 pilot cruise, an unexpected event

took place off the coast of Louisiana. A special trawl

net captured a giant squid (Architeuthis sp.) at a water

depth of more than 1,500 ft (457 meters[m]). Deepwater

dwellers, giant squid are rarely caught, but they are

known to be a preferred food source of sperm whales.

The 19.5 ft (6 m) long, 103-pound (47-kilogram) squid

was sent to the Smithsonian Institution’s National

Museum of Natural History.

On January 27, 2010,scientistsfromMMS and NOAA

set out on the first of the SWAPS survey’s three legs.

The primary objectives of SWAPS are

• to conduct quantitative sampling of the mid-water

pelagic community within the foraging depths of

sperm whales;

• to examine the relationships between acoustic

backscatter and prey taxonomic composition; and

• to compare sperm whale distribution and prey

composition across habitats of the northern Gulf

of Mexico.

Time permitting, researchers will also collect data

about a small, isolated population of Bryde’s whale

(Balaenoptera edeni). This is the Gulf’s only resident

baleen whale and, though it has been observed in the

northern Gulf for decades, little is known about it.

SWAPS is the first full-scale survey to be conducted

aboard NOAA’s new, state-of-the-art fisheries survey

vessel, Pisces. Featuring quiet-hull technology and

carrying a crew of 21 and up to 15

scientists, the 209-ft (64-m) Pisces is

the third of four sophisticated fisheries

survey vessels built for NOAA.

The whales are dependent on their

prey; changes in the prey’s habitat

and conditions may, in turn, affect the

whales. Understanding more about the

sperm whales’ prey species can help

MMS provide better stewardship and

protection through monitoring and

mitigation measures.

For More Information

“Sperm Whale Acoustic Prey Study,” MMS study profile

www.gomr.mms.gov/homepg/regulate/environ/ongoing_studies/gm/

GM-09-05.html

Sperm Whale Seismic Study website, Texas A&M University

http://seawater.tamu.edu/swss/

“MMS Study Positively Identifies Giant Squid Presence in Gulf of Mexico,” MMS 

press release 

www.gomr.mms.gov/homepg/whatsnew/newsreal/2009/090921.pdf

“NOAA Scientists Catch Rare Giant Squid,” NOAA press release

www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2009/20090921_giantsquid.html

NOAA researchers examine the Architeuthis caught in a trawl net 

during the SWAPS pilot cruise, July 2009. Photo courtesy of NOAA.

STUDIES 

The NOAA Ship Pisces, the third of four newly constructed fisheries 

survey vessels, is homeported in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Photo 

courtesy of NOAA.
MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE JANUARY/FEBRUARY/MARCH 2010 11

Learning from Experience:

Assessing Hurricanes Gustav and Ike’s Damage to Offshore 

Structures and Pipelines

Each year, from June to November, energy

operators in the Gulf of Mexico face hurricane

season. The Minerals Management Service’s

(MMS) Technology Assessment & Research

(TA&R) Program regularly conducts hurricane

research to continually learn from past experience

and studies and apply what we’ve learned to new

hurricane standards.

When they swept through the Gulf of Mexico in

August and September 2008, Hurricanes Gustav

and Ike affected approximately 3,000 platforms

and thousands of miles of pipelines. While most

platforms and pipelines performed adequately,

60 platforms were destroyed and 31 sustained

extensive damage. Gustav and Ike caused no loss

of life offshore.

To better protect personnel, structures, and the marine

environment—and to minimize disruptionsto production—

the MMS’s TA&R Program contracted an assessment of

the damages resulting from Gustav and Ike. Conducted by

Energo Engineering of Houston, Texas, and The University

of Texas at Austin, “Assessment of Damage and Failure

Mechanisms for Offshore Structures and Pipelines in

Hurricanes Gustav and Ike” catalogs details about the

damages that Gustav and Ike caused to platforms (fixed

and floating) and pipelines. It also evaluatesreasonsfor the

damage, identifies areas needing further investigation, and

suggests possible modifications to design codes to prevent

future problems on new structures.

Data collected fromMMS and offshore operatorsincluded

configuration data, inspection and engineering reports, and

hindcast data. Data from similar evaluations done after

previous hurricanes was, in some cases, used in comparisons.

Gustav and Ike presented differentstorm behaviors. Fastmoving Gustav caused little platform damage but resulted

in mudslides that damaged several pipelines. Slow-moving

Ike, on the other hand, damaged a number of platforms

and pipelines in its wide path.

A number of platforms were exposed to design level loads

or less and were destroyed orsustained substantial damage.

The study recommends consideration of additional platform

design analysesto afford engineers a better understanding of

the probable performance of these structures and analyzing

the platforms a second time. Deepwater floating structures

performed well in both hurricanes; only one sustained major

damage (because of a toppled drill rig).

Pipelines and risers sustained considerable damage.

In fact, more risers were damaged during Hurricane Ike

than during Hurricane Katrina, possibly because bottom

currents were larger than predicted. The most common

cause of riser damage was toppling of the platform. The

most prevalent cause of pipeline damage was movement

that can rupture pipelines, pull them from risers, and pull

risers from clamps. To improve riser load prediction and

potential damage estimates, the study recommends new

modeling and calibration.

Many leaning platforms were observed, several with

suspected pile foundation failures. The majority of the

observations were of recent vintage platforms. Certainty

of pile foundation failure is rare, as forensic examination

often requires removal of the platform. 

After carefully reviewing the report and itsrecommendations, MMS will update design guidelines or regulations, as

appropriate, to improve the safety of Gulf energy personnel

and production facilities.

For More Information

“Assessment of Damage and Failure Mechanisms for 

Offshore Structures and Pipelines in Hurricanes Gustav and 

Ike,” TA&R Project 642 report

www.mms.gov/tarprojects/642.htm

Technology Assessment & Research Program, MMS 

Offshore Structures

www.mms.gov/tarprojectcategories/structur.htm

‹‹ TECHNOLOGY

Paths of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike and destroyed platforms (red dots). All 

platforms were destroyed by Ike, except for one.
12 mms OCEAN SCIENCE Science & Technology Journal

TECHNOLOGY ››

The Gulf of Mexico holds significant natural resources

for domestic energy. But seasonal hurricanes are also a

natural feature of the Gulf; several have been especially

powerful and destructive. The Minerals Management

Service’s(MMS) ongoing, hurricane-related research helps

ensure the safety of offshore operators and structures, and

the marine environment.

A common thought in the oil and gasindustry isthat foundation failure in fixed platforms is rare. This may indicate

that foundation design methodology may be conservative.

In order to evaluate this hypothesis, the MMS’s Technology

Assessment&Research (TA&R)Program contracted a study

with the Offshore Technology Center at The University of

Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University.

The objectives of “Analysis of Potential Conservatism

in Foundation Design for Offshore Platform Assessment”

were to identify and analyze factors that may contribute

to perceived conservatism in foundation design and

assessment, and also to recommend how this information may be incorporated in the structural assessment of

existing platforms.

Many of the oil and gas platforms in the Gulf are fixed

structures; most are in relatively shallow water (typically

less than 500 feet [152 meters] deep). These structures are

usually supported by driven, open-ended steel pipes.

Reportedly, data from the performance of jacket platforms

in major hurricanesindicatesthat pile foundations performed

better than expected in major hurricanes: Andrew (1992),

Roxanne (1995), Lili (2002), Ivan (2004), and Katrina and

Rita (2005). Also, assessments of jacket platforms that

were subjected to environmental loads greater than their

original design loading showed that the pile foundation

often governs the structural system’s capacity.

The study included four tasks: (1) qualitative analysis

Studying Potential Conservatism in Foundation Design 

for Offshore Platform Assessment

The paths of Hurricanes Rita, Katrina, and Ivan, and northern Gulf platforms (grey dots).
MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE JANUARY/FEBRUARY/MARCH 2010 13

TECHNOLOGY

For More Information

“Analysis of Potential Conservatism in Foundation Design for 

Offshore Platform Assessment,” final report and project profile

www.mms.gov/tarprojects/612.htm

MMS’s Technology Assessment & Research Program

www.mms.gov/tarphome/

on the data from platforms whose foundations survived;

(2) quantitative analysis on selected foundations and the

forces to which they were subjected during hurricanes;

(3) design and assessment implications; and (4) review,

input, and suggestions from experts in industry, MMS,

and consultants.

The qualitative analysis of the platforms found considerable variations in foundation design, based on such factors

as the site’s water depth; the type, age, and location of the

structure; and the stresses it received during hurricanes.

The quantitative analysis was done on information from

12 of 30 platforms that had experienced hurricanes. Each

foundation was analyzed for such factors as hurricane

exposure, number and length of piles, age, the site’s water

depth, soil, ratio to maximum wave height, and expected

mode of failure. Using structural analysis software,

A buckled underwater brace of a platform. A platform with wave-in-deck damage.

The pancaked leg of a platform.

researchers subjected computer models of the foundations

to environmental loads and stresses. A plasticity model

was used to better understand the foundation’s behavior

and design sensitivity.

The study concluded that there is no quantifiable evidence

of conservatism in fixed platform pile foundation design.

The study providesrecommendations about modeling pile

foundations in platform assessments and general guidance

for improving the overall practice of platform assessment.

The MMS has neither approved the use of this study’s

recommended modifications to modeling procedure nor

its recommended adjustment to design guidance on sand

and clays.

Researchers found that studying only platforms that had

not been destroyed likely restricted the study’s conclusions.

Little information was available about platforms or foundations that had been completely or partially destroyed.

The researchersrecommended furtherstudies, including

partially destroyed foundations, to betteridentify potentially

conservative design elements.

Using structural analysis software, researchers 

subjected computer models of the foundations to 

environmental loads and stresses.
14 mms OCEAN SCIENCE Science & Technology Journal

PARTNERSHIPS ››

MMS Shares Expertise with the West African Gas 

Pipeline Authority

The Minerals Management Service (MMS) has cradleto-grave oversight of energy operations on the Outer

Continental Shelf (OCS) and has been managing and

regulating these resources since the 1950’s, when its functions were shared by the U.S. Geological Survey and the

Bureau of Land Management. This cumulative expertise

is especially valuable to other offshore energy producing

nationsthat are developing orrefining regulatory standards

and practices.

TheMMSwasinvited by the U.S.Agency forInternational

Development to share its expertise with the newly established

West African Gas Pipeline Company and its regulatory

body, the West African Gas Pipeline Authority (WAGPA).

The WAGPA includes state regulatory authorities from

Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria.

The aims of the conferences and MMS’s participation

were to help develop the regulatory capacity necessary for

managing the pipeline and also build the capacity of West

African law enforcement, maritime, and fisheries officials

to improve security and regulation of offshore resources.

The conferences, with support from several Federal

agencies, were held in Accra, Ghana, and Lomo, Togo,

September 23-30, 2009. The MMS discussed regulatory

practices and methods for enforcing regulations and

provided a comprehensive overview of its pipeline inspection program, the use of industry standards, a review of

current regulations, and pipeline research.

The MMS staff also conducted a needs assessment in the

area of offshore developmentregulations.TheMMS Deputy

Regional Director John Rodi and Field Operation’s Pipeline

Section Chief Alex Alvarado, both of the Gulf of Mexico

OCS Region, supported the MMS Office of International

Activities in the seminars and needs assessment.

The West African Gas Pipeline is the first regional

natural gas transmission system in sub-Saharan Africa.

The 421-mile-long (678 kilometers [km]) pipeline stretches

from Nigeria, where natural gas is sourced from the

Niger Delta, across Benin and Togo to Ghana. It has a

capacity of 177 billion cubic feet of natural gas per year.

The offshore portion is 354 miles (mi) (570 km) long and

about 9-12 mi (15-19 km) off the coast in waters 98-250

feet (30-76 meters) deep.

Interest in a West African regional gas pipeline began in

the 1980’s, with a proposal of the Economic Community

of West African States to stimulate the region’s economy

while lowering the cost of power.In 1998, a feasibility study

determined that the project was commercially and technically viable; the result was aMemorandum of Understanding

signed in 1999 by the governments of Ghana, Togo, Benin,

and Nigeria. The pipeline was commissioned in May 2008

and operations are expected to begin in 2010.

The MMS continues to work with offshore energyproducing nations to promote international standards of

offshore development and safety. Enforcing these standards

helps countries benefit from lower costs, improved safety,

and better environmental protection.

For More Information

MMS International Activities Program Overview

www.mms.gov/international/InternationalBrochure.htm

L-R: Kevin Kunkel, International Programs, MMS; Immanuel 

Boah, Deputy Minister of Energy, Ghana; Cheri Hunter, Chief, 

International Programs, MMS; John Rodi, Deputy Regional 

Director, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, MMS; Alex Alvarado, Field 

Operations, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, MMS.

The MMS takes an active approach to identifying

and working with international initiativesthat promote

betterintegration ofsafety and environmental concerns

into offshore development decisionmaking. To do this

we focus on:

z monitoring, developing, and refining safety and

environmental standards;

z exchanging technical skills and information with

our international regulatory counterparts; and

z providing technical advice to the U.S.

Department of State.
MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE JANUARY/FEBRUARY/MARCH 2010 15

Dr. Rezneat M. Darnell, Jr.

In Memoriam:

On December 22, 2009, the community of ecologists

and marine biologists lost one of their most respected and

accomplished experts on the ecology of the Gulf of Mexico.

Dr. Rezneat Milton Darnell, Jr. died in Minneapolis,

Minnesota, after a brief illness.

“Rez” was Professor of Oceanography at Texas A&M

University from 1968 until 1995, when he retired as Professor

Emeritus. A favorite mentor of many graduate students and

a nationally recognized scientist, Rez was admired for his

seminal scientific research and publications.

Born inMemphis,Tennessee, in 1924, Rez graduated from

Southwestern College (now Rhodes College) in Memphis,

Tennessee, with a Bachelor’s degree in Zoology in 1946. He

received his Master’s degree in Biology and Genetics from

Rice University in 1948 and his Ph.D. in Ecology from the

University of Minnesota in 1953. Before his move to Texas

A&M University, Darnell was an instructor at Tulane

University in New Orleans, Louisiana, and an assistant

professor atMarquette University inMilwaukee,Wisconsin.

Rez’s areas of expertise included Gulf of Mexico estuarine

and continental shelf ecology, Gulf of Mexico fish and

crustacean life history and ecology, and food relations and

the trophic structure of marine ecosystems. His research

included studies of blue crab populations, the effects of

dimethoate on small mammal populations, the ecological

history of Lake Pontchartrain, and mapping the biological

resources of the continental shelf.

A friend and colleague of Dr. Darnell, Dr. Linda H.

Pequegnat, co-editor of Biota of the West Flower Garden Bank,

said, “Rez has been called ‘The Great Synthesizer’ because

of his ability to take detached scientific information and

organize it into meaningful overviews that explain the ‘big

picture’ of ecological relationshipsin the natural world. He

was also a ‘Renaissance Man’ with extensive knowledge

and experiences in such diverse areas as music, languages,

and history—in addition to his vast scientific knowledge.”

Hisforthcoming book, The American Sea: A Natural History 

of the Gulf of Mexico “pulls together more information about

the Gulf than has ever before been amassed in one volume.”

It will be published by Texas A&M University Press.

Dr. Darnell’s works remain key resources for biologists.

Among the most cited are

z Darnell, R.M. and R.E. Defenbaugh. 1990. Gulf of

Mexico: Environmental overview and history of environmental research. American Zoologist. 30(1):3-6.

z Giammona, C.P. and R.M. Darnell. 1990.

Environmental effects of the strategic petroleum

reserve program on Louisiana shelf communities.

American Zoologist. 30(1):37-43.

z Darnell, R.M. and T.M. Soniatt. 1979. The estuary/

continental shelf as an interactive system. Pages

489-525 In: R.J. Livingston (ed.), Ecological Processes in 

Coastal and Marine Systems. Plenum Press. New York,

New York.

‹‹ PEOPLE

Dr. Rezneat “Rez” Milton Darnell, Jr. 

Sunset over the Gulf of Mexico, from Padre Island, Texas.
mms OCEAN SCIENCE

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1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard

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MMS: A steward of the ocean environment

New Waves

Late-Breaking News & Information

Atlantic Renewable Energy Office Plans Announced

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced

in December 2009 that the Minerals Management

Service (MMS) will establish a new regional office

in 2010 to support renewable energy development

on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) off the

Atlantic seaboard.

The Atlantic OCS Region will be responsible for

evaluating permitsfor renewable energy activities

in an effective, efficient, and consistent manner,

while being responsive to the States, developers,

and other stakeholders.

The new office will implement and manage the

offshore renewable energy program, including

leasing, environmental programs, the formation

of task forces, State consultation, and postlease

permitting in Federal waters off the East Coast.

The MMS’s Renewable Energy Program is

administered by the Office of Offshore Alternative

Energy Programs, within the Offshore Energy

and Minerals Management.

The first-everregulatory framework for offshore

renewable energy development was released in

April 2009 by the Department of the Interior.

The MMS also worked with the Federal Energy

Regulatory Commission to clarify their role in

offshore hydrokinetic renewable energy projects.

The first leases for offshore wind data collection

on the OCS offshore New Jersey and Delaware

were recently awarded by the Secretary.

For More Information

Renewable Energy Program, MMS

www.mms.gov/offshore/

RenewableEnergy/index.htm