Digital Commons Network^™

Open Ocean Fish Cage And Mooring System Dynamics, David Wayne Fredriksson

Doctoral Dissertations

To satisfy the global need for seafood, marine aquaculture is expected to play an increasing role as wild fish stocks decline. The expansion of near-shore aquaculture is becoming more difficult because of multi-use issues and environmental impact concerns. As a result, a national objective has been initiated to establish an open ocean aquaculture industry. To design and evaluate fish cages and moorings for the energetic open ocean requires a systematic approach utilizing physical and numerical modeling techniques. Using these methods, two robust fish cage and mooring systems were designed, deployed and have survived two New England winters. Prior to the …

A Model For Backscattering Angular Response Of Gassy Sediments: Applications To Petroleum Exploration And Development Programs, Luciano Emidio Neves Da. Fonseca

Doctoral Dissertations

The location and distribution of near-surface gas in continental margins is of particular interest for oil exploration and development programs. The presence of gas seepages can be evidence of the possible existence of subsurface hydrocarbon reservoirs. Gas is also a potential hazard for offshore facilities, as it decreases the strength of unconsolidated sediments increasing the risk of seafloor failures and slumps.

Acoustic remote sensing systems such as multibeam and sidescan sonars can be used for mapping and detection of near-surface gas in marine sediments. These systems provide a realistic depiction of the seafloor by means of the simultaneous acquisition of …