Marine Geological Cruise to the Maud Basin and Crater Area, Bjørnøyrenna aboard R/V Helmer Hanssen
Chief Scientist: Karin Andreassen
Introduction
The cruise was a part of the Centre of Excellence for Gas Hydrate, Environment and Climate (CAGE) at UiT – The Arctic University of Norway.
The aim of the cruise was to visit two study areas: the first a new study site called Maud Basin in southern Bjørnøyrenna – an area where industry data has shown promising evidence for gas leakage associated with pingo/crater formation and an underlying hydrocarbon reservoir. The second site is the Crater Area previously visited by CAGE in 2015 (15-5).
More specific objectives of the cruise were to:
- Obtain multibeam and seismic lines over pingos and craters in Maud Basin, southern Bjørnøyrenna, already identified on industry seismic data
- Re-examine the high density flares areas of the Crater Area previously surveyed in 2015 for any changes
- Survey new areas in the surrounding region of the Crater Area
- Obtain plankton net data from gas leaking sites for analyses of biomass