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seawater
ABSTRACT Unexploded ordnance (UXO) lies on the bottom of many of the world's seas, often near the shore. When installing or operating a submarine pipeline, a safe distance should be maintained from any UXO that is left in place. This paper presents the results of a recent study on the impact of an underwater explosion (UNDEX) on a near-shore submarine pipeline. The response has been assessed for two pipeline configurations: lying on the seabed and suspended in a free span. Moreover, the influence of internal pressure was studied. A purpose-built finite-element model has been used to predict the local response and assess the associated integrity of the pipeline. This coupled structural-acoustic model simulates the evolution of a shock wave generated by an underwater explosion and the subsequent impact on the pipeline structure. It must be safeguarded that the pipeline can remain in service and the ultimate strength is not exceeded. The result is a quantitative estimate of the minimum distance between the explosive charge and the pipeline system that ensures that the system can be installed and operated safely and responsibly. INTRODUCTION UXO found in and on the floor of the world's seas stems from military exercise, disposal, accidents or conflicts. The most straightforward way of ensuring safe installation and operation of a pipeline is avoiding such areas; however, this is not always practical and economical. A possible solution is relocating or defusing the explosives; however, this can also be problematic. Alternatively, a more sensible solution is to maintain a safe distance between the pipeline and the recorded position of the UXO. The remaining question is then how far a distance this should be. If too short, the safety of the pipeline cannot be guaranteed; however, when too long, pipeline installation and operation may become difficult or economically unattractive. The target is to strike a fair balance and to obtain a reasonable safe distance. The answer to how much the minimum safe distance should be depends on many aspects. It depends on, for instance, the type of explosive, its shape, its charge mass, the pipeline's properties, its configuration, its coatings, the seawater characteristics, the water depth, the loads acting on the pipeline, and the seabed properties and morphology.
- North America > United States (0.47)
- North America > Canada (0.28)
Study on the Plugging Inside the Riser Pipe During the Transfer of the Low-Temperature Substances Such as Methane Hydrate
Yamamoto, Joji (National Maritime Research Institute) | Nakajima, Yasuharu (National Maritime Research Institute) | Takano, Satoru (National Maritime Research Institute) | Yamamoto, Marcio (National Maritime Research Institute) | Ono, Masao (National Maritime Research Institute) | Kanada, Shigeo (National Maritime Research Institute)
ABSTRACT We carried out two preliminary experiments (under the atmospheric pressure and high-pressure conditions) to estimate the inside situation of the riser pipe and the risk due to freezing of the methane hydrate slurry during the transfer process, which are aiming to construct a numerical model to simulate these phenomena. This paper shows some considerations for the construction of an evaluation model, including the formation and dissociation processes of the hydrate in a riser pipe under dynamic conditions during the transfer of low-temperature substances based on the results of these preliminary experiments. INTRODUCTION The exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Japan has a vast area due to a lot of islands in the Japanese Archipelago (Fig. 1) (Chujo et al., 2010). Methane hydrate has been found below the seafloor off the coasts of Japan in large amounts, so that it is expected to be exploited as one of the future energy resources in Japan (Matsumoto, 2009). In Japan, several methods for the exploitation of methane hydrate from the sediment have been studied in appropriate ways suitable for (i) stratigraphic-type deposits or (ii) shallow hydrate accumulation. First, the stratigraphic-type has fine methane hydrate particles dispersed in the sandy reservoirs. In the second type, the massive methane hydrate accumulation is buried below the seafloor with a mud layer with a thickness of less than 100m. For the stratigraphic-type deposits, methane hydrate is dissociated to methane gas and water by heating or de-pressurizing the reservoir. After that, only methane gas is recovered subsequently (The Cabinet Office, 2018; AIST, 2019). On the other hand, massive or granular methane hydrate shall be excavated on the seafloor for shallow accumulation. Then, the excavated material is sent up to the platform as a slurry, a mixture of methane hydrate particles soil particles and seawater (Fig. 2) (AIST, 2019). In this second case, the initial two-phase flow (methane hydrate, soil particles and seawater) can be developed into a three-phase flow consisted of methane hydrate, soil particles, methane gas, and seawater by partial dissociation of the hydrate due to a change in temperature-pressure conditions in the risers or flowlines. Moreover, methane hydrate could be re-formed due to changes in pressure and temperature in the pipes (Nicholas et al., 2009; Zerpa et al., 2011; Sum et al., 2021; Creek, 2012; Charlton et al., 2018).
Experimental Investigation of Deicing with Seawater
Sรฆterdal, Ane (Energy and Material Technology, The Arctic University of Norway) | Visich, Aleksandra (Energy and Material Technology, The Arctic University of Norway) | Deshpande, Sujay (Energy and Material Technology, The Arctic University of Norway) | Sundsbรธ, Per-Arne (Energy and Material Technology, The Arctic University of Norway)
ABSTRACT Increased traffic and interest in arctic regions necessitate measures to ensure the safety and functionality of vessels. Sea-spray icing is one of the significant hazards for small- and medium-sized vessels in polar waters. Ice cover can restrict access to essential parts of a vessel and compromise its stability. Existing deicing measures, such as heat or chemical application and manual ice removal, prove impractical in many cases. Seawater, being abundant and easily accessible during marine operations, has a good potential as a deicing agent, as shown by wave-washing. The present study assesses seawater deicing through a full-scale experiment on a lifeboat docked in a harbor in Northern Norway, with ambient air and seawater temperatures of โ8 ยฐC and 3 ยฐC, respectively. A 10-20 mm thick ice layer was created on the boat prior to the experiment. Deicing was performed using the fire protection system on the boat, capable of spraying water on the surface, fed by the ambient seawater and driven by the boat engine. After the 32-minutes experiment a significant part of the ice was melted or washed away, thereby restoring functionality and access to the windows, hatches, lifting hooks and railings. The method was more efficient on the vertical surfaces than on the horizontal ones. Some improvements in the sprinkler system layout and design may enhance the performance of the method. INTRODUCTION There has recently been an increase in offshore oil and gas activity in the far north, and it is expected to rise further in the arctic regions. There has also been a substantial increase in tourism, like cruises to Svalbard. The decline of Arctic sea-ice is expected to lead to shorter trade routes through the Arctic. Operations in the Arctic are challenging due to the harsh weather conditions. Ice accretion on vessels can cause blockage of critical systems like the ventilation system and escape doors and cause hazardous working conditions on board due to slippery decks. In extreme situations, a lopsided ice load may lead to capsizing in the case of smaller vessels (Deshpande et al., 2021). Literature provides some studies on medium-sized fishing vessels and offshore platforms (Kulyakhtin & Tsarau, 2014; Ryerson, 1995; Samuelsen et al., 2017; Zakrzewski, 1986). However, there has been little focus on icing-related problems on smaller boats, especially on safety boats onboard cruises, other vessels, and on offshore platforms. These safety boats are usually general purpose built and mandated as per the SOLAS convention (International Maritime Organization (IMO), 1974), and not constructed specifically for cold climate conditions. The Polar Code (International Maritime Organization, 2016) refers to winterization measures for ships sailing in arctic waters but does not specifically focus on the safety boats onboard these ships.
- Transportation > Marine (1.00)
- Energy > Oil & Gas > Upstream (0.88)
- Europe > Norway > Barents Sea > Hammerfest Basin > PL 229 > Block 7122/8 > Goliat Field > Kapp Toscana Group > Realgrunnen Subgroup > Kapp Toscana Group > Realgrunnen Subgroup > Snadd Formation > Realgrunnen Subgroup > Tubรฅen Formation > Sassendalen Group > Kobbe Formation (0.99)
- Europe > Norway > Barents Sea > Hammerfest Basin > PL 229 > Block 7122/8 > Goliat Field > Kapp Toscana Group > Realgrunnen Subgroup > Kapp Toscana Group > Realgrunnen Subgroup > Snadd Formation > Realgrunnen Subgroup > Tubรฅen Formation > Klappmyss Formation > Kobbe Formation (0.99)
- Europe > Norway > Barents Sea > Hammerfest Basin > PL 229 > Block 7122/8 > Goliat Field > Kapp Toscana Group > Realgrunnen Subgroup > Kapp Toscana Group > Realgrunnen Subgroup > Snadd Formation > Realgrunnen Subgroup > Sassendalen Group > Sassendalen Group > Kobbe Formation (0.99)
- (61 more...)
3D inversion of an integrated ground-based and waterborne TEM survey
Xiao, Longying (Aarhus University, WATEC Aarhus University Centre for Water Technology, Geological Survey of Finland (GTK)) | Fiandaca, Gianluca (University of Milano) | Maurya, Pradip K. (Aarhus University) | Christiansen, Anders Vest (Aarhus University, WATEC Aarhus University Centre for Water Technology)
Recent instrument advancements in the transient electromagnetic (TEM) method enable waterborne applications as well as traditional ground-based surveys. We investigate a common framework to handle combined data sets from ground-based and waterborne TEM surveys under one model domain. The modeling complexity increases for two main reasons: (1)multidimensionality effects are unavoidable in data from settings with strong conductivity contrasts and (2)different systems have different sensitivity footprints which are challenging to integrate into a common domain. We address these challenges using a previously developed 3D inversion scheme: first, octree-based forward modeling is used to describe the multidimensional environment for more accurate field simulations. Second, a decoupling between the forward and inversion mesh offers the flexibility of modeling individual soundings to minimize computational costs, while allowing a commonly shared model domain for the inversion. We validate the method through synthetic and field case studies. The synthetic studies indicate that: (1)a careful forward mesh refinement is required for models with thin and highly conductive top layers. (2)Compared with 3D forward responses, 1D modeling has an approximate 300% error directly over the coastline decreasing to 10% error 50m away. (3)The 3D inversion outperforms the 1D inversion by a lower data misfit and more accurate model reconstruction. The field case further underlines the better consistency of the 3D inversion, which delineates the lithologic transition from sand to clay and is verified by a better agreement with existing borehole data. Based on these experiments, we conclude that (1)3D inversion is preferred over strong resistivity contrasts arising along a coastline, (2)careful mesh refinement and decoupling of the forward and inversion mesh is an efficient approach to handling computational challenges on forward while maintaining a common inversion mesh, and (3)more focus on optimization is required to realize a full-scale 3D inversion for integrated surveys in a coastal area.
- Geology > Rock Type (1.00)
- Geology > Geological Subdiscipline (0.93)
- Reservoir Description and Dynamics > Reservoir Characterization > Exploration, development, structural geology (1.00)
- Health, Safety, Environment & Sustainability > Environment > Water use, produced water discharge and disposal (1.00)
- Health, Safety, Environment & Sustainability > Environment > Waste management (1.00)
- Data Science & Engineering Analytics > Information Management and Systems (1.00)
Durability of Polymer-Based Wellbore Sealants in a Corrosive Environment
Todorovic, Jelena (SINTEF Industry) | Stroisz, Anna Magdalena (SINTEF Industry) | Duda, Marcin Ireneusz (SINTEF Industry) | Agofack, Nicolaine (SINTEF Industry) | Lange, Torstein (SINTEF Industry) | Nilsen, Nils-Inge (SINTEF Industry) | Aas, Per Gunnar (Disruptive Value Group) | Sefidroodi, Hamidreza (CannSeal, previously/ Interwell, presently) | Ringe, Thomas (CannSeal, previously/ Interwell, presently)
Abstract Development of wellbore sealant alternatives to cements is a topic of high relevance for production and injection wells, permanent plugging and abandonment, and remediation of leakage behind the casing. Some examples of alternative sealants are epoxy-based sealants, geopolymers, and bismuth-based alloys. Depending on the application, sealing materials are expected to encounter challenging downhole conditions, such as corrosive environments (e.g., CO2, H2S) and pressure or thermal cycling. This is especially significant for permanent plugs, where long-term perspective needs to be considered. In this work, we conducted long-term exposure of three polymer-based wellbore sealants (labelled as A, B and C) to an artificial seawater water environment with dissolved H2S gas. The polymer-based sealants are compared to each other and to a Portland G cement blend that was subjected to the same testing procedure. The experiments reported here are a part of a more extensive campaign that aims to study the behaviour of these materials after up to 12 months exposure to H2S. The aging tests were performed as batch-exposure conditions in a pressure cell at 100 ยฐC and 10 bar. Cylindrical (core) samples of the same material were submerged together in artificial seawater in a glass beaker, and a mixture of H2S and nitrogen was dispersed into the seawater. We characterized mechanical properties before and after H2S exposure by unconfined compressive strength (UCS) tests. X-ray micro-computed tomography (CT) was performed to visualize changes potentially induced by the reaction with H2S. After H2S exposure, sealants A and B displayed significant axial and radial deformation during UCS tests (ductile behaviour), which is a very different behaviour compared to a typical wellbore cement. Sealant C exhibited ductile behaviour during compression but without considerable deformation. For comparison, strain at the peak stress was in the order of 200-300 mm/m for sealants A and B, whereas for C it was approximately 60 mm/m, after one month of H2S aging. For all three materials, a decrease of UCS and Young's modulus was observed after H2S exposure. For sealant C, the UCS was still relatively high after three months of aging, at around 70 MPa, which was about 50 % decrease from the reference value. CT results revealed no obvious progression of a reaction front for sealants A, B and C, however, different effects (e.g. change of porosity, precipitation, cracking) were observed throughout the volumes. The unique behaviour of these materials under stress and the possibility of tuning the physical and chemical properties hold vast potential for different applications. One of the long-term goals is to optimize the material properties to make them more suitable for the permanent plugging of both petroleum and CO2 wells.
- Europe (0.94)
- North America > United States > Texas (0.28)
- Asia > Middle East > Saudi Arabia (0.28)
Selecting the Optimal Naval Ship Drainage System Design Alternative Based on Integer Linear Programming, TOPSIS, and Simple WISP Methods
Kirmizi, Mehmet (Kuasar Marin Engineering Inc.) | Karakas, Serkan (Piri Reis University, Istanbul) | Uรงar, Hakan (Turkish Naval Forces Command, Design Project Office, Istanbul)
_ Ship design is a complex study requiring the coordination of many disciplines and accurate calculations, as well as cost considerations. Thus, ship designers have to design the naval ships that successfully fulfill the desired performance in a cost-effective manner with respect to international and national rules and regulations. In this context, finding the optimum solution for the design has been an important challenge for ship designers. Design optimization is selecting the best solution among many viable solutions based on a criterion or multicriteria and inherently coupled with the design cycle. This study presents an application of the integer linear programming and multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) methods of Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) and Simple Weighted Sum Product (WISP). A design of the ship drainage system is considered as the case study for this purpose. Based on the usage and location of the ejectors and drainage pumps, four design alternatives and 12 scenarios for each alternative are proposed. The optimization problem is solved for each design alternative, and an optimal design solution among alternatives is evaluated by TOPSIS and Simple WISP methods. The similarity of the solutions from the two MCDM methods is measured by Cosine Similarity, which indicates a strong similarity. Introduction Ship design is a complex, iterative, and sophisticated process affected by a number of factors. Among these factors, the issue of cost efficiency has come to the fore along with the project method and system integration during the last century. Therefore, ship designers have to design the most cost-effective ship for a specified purpose regarding national and international rules and regulations. Within this context, the cost considerations in the design calculations of the systems onboard are as important as their accuracy and adequacy. Thus, finding the optimum solution within the given limits is challenging for ship designers, engineers, and system integrators. For this purpose, design optimization tools have been implemented in ship design.
- Transportation > Marine (1.00)
- Government > Military > Navy (0.46)
- Transportation > Freight & Logistics Services > Shipping (0.46)
- Energy > Oil & Gas > Upstream (0.46)
Theoretical and Experimental Study of Fine Migration During Low-Salinity Water Flooding: Effect of Brine Composition on Interparticle Forces
Khezerloo-ye Aghdam, Saeed (Amirkabir University of Technology) | Kazemi, Alireza (Amirkabir University of Technology (Corresponding author)) | Ahmadi, Mohammad (Amirkabir University of Technology)
Summary The majority of sandstone reservoirs contain clay particles. When clay is exposed to low-salinity water, fine detachment and migration occur due to multi-ion exchange and electrical double layer (EDL) expansion. Fine migration due to low-salinity water enhances oil recovery while damaging injection and production wells. This research investigates the effect of clay particles' weight percentage (wt%), ionic strength, total dissolved solids, and the injection rate of the low-salinity water on fine migration. The interparticle forces of kaolinite-kaolinite and kaolinite-quartz systems in various mediums were determined. Ten quartz sandpacks containing 2, 5, and 10 wt% of kaolinite were made to simulate clay-rich sandstone reservoirs. Afterward, different brines (10 and 50 mM solutions of NaCl, CaCl2, MgCl2, and Na2SO4 salts as well as seawater and its diluted samples) were injected into these sandpacks with different scenarios. It was observed that the interparticle forces for both systems in the presence of 10 mM solutions of NaCl, Na2SO4, and also 50 mM NaCl are repulsive. Therefore, even by injecting the low flow rate of these samples (0.1 cm/min), the total fine migration was observed leading to intense permeability reduction in high clay-rich sandstones. However, in the case of low clay-containing sandpacks, the magnitude of permeability starts to rise a while after getting imposed to fine migration. In the presence of brines containing 50 mM MgCl2 and CaCl2, seawater, and its five-times diluted sample, the interparticle forces were an attraction, and fine migration occurred under no condition. However, using other samples of low-salinity water, the interparticle forces in the kaolin-kaolin system were repulsive and attractive in the kaolin-quartz system. Therefore, the phenomenon of partial fine migration occurs while flooding. So, in low-clay sandpacks, fines migrated only in high rate injection. However, the fine migration was evident for sandpacks containing 10 wt% of clay particles even by low flow rate injection. In general, there is a trade-off between the intensity of fine migration and divalent cations concentration in flooding water. Eliminating these cations or using them at 10 mM concentration may result in total fine migration, which is beneficial for low clay-containing media but damages clay-rich ones strongly. A high concentration of these cations prevents fines from movement, eradicating low-salinity flooding advantages. However, using medium concentrations results in partial fine migration, and the intensity, in this case, depends on clay concentration and flooding rate.
- Research Report > New Finding (0.50)
- Research Report > Experimental Study (0.50)
- Geology > Rock Type > Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Rock > Sandstone (1.00)
- Geology > Mineral > Silicate > Phyllosilicate (1.00)
- Energy > Oil & Gas > Upstream (1.00)
- Materials > Chemicals > Commodity Chemicals > Petrochemicals (0.46)
Every year, the unusual mix of minerals in the Hajar Mountains near the coast of Oman traps 100,000 tons of carbon in the rock. That estimate is a tiny fraction of the potential of the mountain range and a few others like it in the world. Based on decades of work by geologists studying this unique formationโknown as the Samail Ophioliteโthe highly reactive rocks called peridotites can theoretically trap one-half ton of CO2 per ton of that rock in the Hajar Mountains, which extend into the UAE. A leading voice among the researchers who made the 100,000-ton estimate and developed ideas for removing trillions of tons of carbon from the atmosphere is Peter Kelemen, a professor at Columbia University in New York City. In a 2019 story in Scientific American, Kelemen said that if it is possible to speed the pace of mineralization โby a factor of a millionโโsomething he thinks is doable with a bit of engineeringโโthen you end up with a billion tons of CO2 per cubic kilometer of rock per year.โ That potential inspired an Omani entrepreneur, Talal Hasan, to start a company based on the work of Kelemen and colleagues including Juerg Matter, a geochemist now working at the University of Southampton in England. The result was startup 44.01, named for the molecular mass of carbon, where Kelemen serves as an advisor and Matter works part time. The companyโs website describes its plan: โCarbon mineralization in peridotite is happening all the timeโwe simply speed up the natural process.โ It is a simple-sounding goal. But what it will take to realize the vast potential is anything but simple. In an interview, Kelemen identified why: โThe main concern is that the rocks are not very porous.โ Or very permeable, which helps explain why large amounts of highly reactive elements have remained untouched over the 96 million years these reactive minerals have been on land. The hard rocks in this formation, particularly magnesium-rich olivine, were produced when magma flowed up from the mantle to a mid-ocean ridge where it cooled and the thick layer of rock spread out toward what is now Oman and the UAE, and something extraordinary happened. When it reached the boundary between two plates, it normally would have returned to the depths of the earth. Instead, it collided with another ophioplite and was ultimately thrust up onto land. When the theory of plate tectonics transformed geological thinking during the second half of the 20th century, this giant anomaly became a destination for geologists eager to study a rare outcrop of rock from the mantle, including Kelemen. They also could have gone to New Guinea to look at a similar display of mantle rock or scattered sites in the western US, among other places, where ophiolites are present. But the Hajar Mountains comprise the biggest ophiolite of them all. Speeding carbon mineralization from geological rates to the pace needed to help stop global warming poses a fundamental problem common to unconventional oil and gasโcreating flow paths in tight rock on a limited budget.
- North America > United States (1.00)
- Asia > Middle East > Oman (0.82)
- Geology > Mineral (0.77)
- Geology > Rock Type > Igneous Rock (0.73)
- Geology > Structural Geology > Tectonics > Plate Tectonics (0.55)
Abstract Subsea seawater treatment modules that use electrochlorination as pre-treatment were deployed with more than 20,000 hours of subsea operational run-time. Operational data and lessons learned indicate that the pre-treatment stage is key to the longevity of the overall subsea seawater treatment plant. A self-cleaning, 4 years maintenance-free electrochlorination system has been refined and tested for six months. This paper will present the test set up, test results, findings, and lessons learned from current testing and previous operations, specifically around longevity. An operational mode that allows for long-term subsea operation, without the need for system retrieval for cleaning with acid or alkaline is described in detail. Full-scale testing performed for 6 months established the various process parameters (current density, flow rate, polarity intervals and duration, electrode material, etc.) for minimizing and controlling the scale formation process to minimize subsea maintenance and proving the longevity. An automatic self-cleaning process and sequence have been established using the exact cell and power supply intended for real field application. Electrochlorination is the process of producing hypochlorite by passing electric current through seawater. When producing sodium hypochlorite (disinfective agent) in situ by electrolysis, precipitation of insoluble salts like calcium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide will happen on the cathode. In the industry, this precipitate is typically called scale. The scale should be removed frequently from the process system, since this may otherwise reduce the confidence in cell longevity (if scale formation is not controlled). Therefore, electrochlorination is impacted by scale. The electrochlorination test setup is identical to what is intended to be used in actual field application. Condition monitoring was established through video recording, camera pictures, continuous voltage, electrical current, and process flow parameter trends. The continuous data collection for the 6-month operation was analyzed on a weekly basis. The test data was compared to operational data collected during two subsea deployments and showed that there is a significant improvement in electrochlorination system performance to achieve the minimum four-year, maintenance-free intervention period set for the subsea pre-treatment system. This testing established operating parameters such as current densities, polar reverse sequence, etc. Also, intervals and duration for operating the cells to guarantee long-term maintenance-free subsea operation are part of the findings of this testing. The test data will feed into the operation, maintenance, and sparing philosophy for subsea seawater treatment systems. Typical electrochlorinator (EC) systems are known to require frequent maintenance, requiring manpower and chemicals which are practically incompatible with subsea systems. The novelty of this paper is that a methodology for a maintenance-free, self-cleaning electrochlorination system has been successfully tested and proven for 6 months, enabling a minimum of 4 years maintenance-free subsea seawater treatment system operation. This would lead to significant capex and opex reductions for field applications.
- Water & Waste Management > Water Management > Lifecycle > Treatment (1.00)
- Materials > Chemicals (1.00)
- Energy > Oil & Gas > Upstream (1.00)
- Europe > Norway > North Sea > Central North Sea > Central Graben > PL 018 > Block 2/4 > Greater Ekofisk Field > Ekofisk Field > Tor Formation (0.99)
- Europe > Norway > North Sea > Central North Sea > Central Graben > PL 018 > Block 2/4 > Greater Ekofisk Field > Ekofisk Field > Ekofisk Formation (0.99)
- Reservoir Description and Dynamics > Improved and Enhanced Recovery > Waterflooding (1.00)
- Production and Well Operations (1.00)
- Facilities Design, Construction and Operation > Offshore Facilities and Subsea Systems (1.00)
- Data Science & Engineering Analytics > Information Management and Systems (1.00)
Abstract The transition towards renewable energy and the electrification of various industry sectors will undoubtedly lead to higher resource demand of our society. Metals like copper, cobalt or rare-earth metals are the basis of these new technologies. However, these elements are not yet available in sufficient quantities in our economic cycle. Hence, more material would be required to be extracted from open pit land mining. A suitable and promising alternative to land deposits are seabed mineral resources. The focus of this work is the development and analysis of a new method to explore seafloor massive sulfides (SMS) with regards to minimizing footprint of the operation in all aspects. SMS reservoirs are mostly found in water depths between 2000m and 4000m. To explore these deposits in the deep sea a concept study based on a vertical trench cutting system has been developed. The extreme environmental conditions require mechanical calculations of the template stability on highly inclined slopes. Furthermore, the cutter tool performance and wear behavior are investigated on a test stand through cutting into rock probes, which have comparable mechanical properties as massive sulfides. The technical feasibility of the separation system was analyzed by computational fluid dynamic models simulating multiple-phase flow and its behavior. For bulk sampling of massive sulfides two potential concepts were examined and compared against each other. The main difference is the conveying method of the sample material to the ocean surface. A discontinuous lifting system with a collector bucket has major advantages in contrast to a riser system. During short exploration campaigns substantial energy and cost savings were estimated for a mechanical intermittent ore transportation. The first results regarding the effectiveness of the separation container could be demonstrated. The separation process takes place in a large scale hydrocyclone in-situ on the seafloor. The ground stability for the landing and leveling of the deep sea sampling unit was verified. Key aspect of the vertical trench cutting approach is the minimal environmental impact during the whole exploration phase. At the same time this system enables to retrieve large amounts of sample material in an economical way.