BARCUT with successful September cruise in the Barents Sea

Njord Viking             Photo: Stian Røberg

BARCUT, a project under EWMA, conducted a ten day cruise with the Anchor handling ship Njord Viking in the beginning of September. A total of 34 people, including ship crew and scientists, all worked together, at times in rough seas, for a successful outcome of the mission. We felt as a part of the daily life on board, being included by the welcoming crew of the boat. Oceaneering sent us the A-team of ROV pilots, which all became hobby biologists and experts on taking core samples of the seabed and collecting sponges. The guys from iSurvey gave us a 25 cm margin on positioning of samples, on depths more than 450 meters. We are all grateful for the effort all on board put in this cruise, which made it a success.

BARCUT stations

The picture abowe show the BARCUT stations visited during the cruise. Visual surveys was done on two lines crossing the template from 250 m distance on the first side to a 250 m distance on the other side, this was done together with hyper spectral imaging (a cooperation with Ecotone) of the seabed surface. ROV push cores took 50 cm cores from the 250 meter transect (5 stations) for each template, allowing for bacterial community screening, oxygen profiles and geological mapping of sediment values and signs of petroleum activity. Grabbed sediment of the seabed surface will be analysed for macro biological fauna. An ADCP current metre was also deployed at  350 m depth at Goliat, to log onsite currents from the seabed to 10m below sea surface. The current data will allow more accurate calculations on how cuttings are spread and travel. Results from this cruise will be combined with results from earlier BARCUT cruises to give an multidisciplinary overlook and understanding of the impact on the seabed from the petroleum activity.