CSA was contracted by Petrobras to perform an environmental gradient study of Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
CSA Ciências Oceânicas Ltda, in an exclusive partnership with Germano & Associates Inc., introduced Sediment Profile Imaging (SPI) technology in Brazil and was contracted by the Environmental Assessment and Monitoring Administration of PETROBRAS, CENPES/PDEDS/AMA, to conduct an environmental quality gradient study of Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. SPI technology is new to the Brazilian scientific market and brings a level of innovation previously unseen in the region.
The study program developed by CSA had two primary objectives. First, CSA conducted seafloor SPI and plan view imaging of Guanabara Bay in order to map the environmental gradient of benthic communities in unconsolidated sediments and to evaluate the effects of anoxia and hypoxia on benthic community structure along with oxygen concentrations, pH, and turbidity data collection within the water column. CSA also demonstrated the effectiveness and advantages of the combined use of SPI and PV imaging technology following Petrobras’ interest in potentially using the tool for permitting and environmental monitoring applications and programs in both shallow and deep water.
CSA successfully completed the field sampling phase of the project in April 2014 and is currently conducting data analysis and integration for reporting purposes. The field sampling component of the program comprised 150 stations, 27 of which were historical stations previously sampled for sediment or water and 123 were newly established. SPI technology allowed for this large number of sample stations because the sample productivity rate of this equipment is much higher than traditional sediment sampling methods.
“Our experience with SPI technology has been invaluable because we have been able to sample in a much more efficient and cost-effective manner. This system has given us the opportunity to expand our reconnaissance survey capabilities and increase the number of samples we can collect, thereby contributing to the validity of the data we gather,” said Thomas Lamoure, CSA Operations Manager.
CSA and G&A have positioned an SPI system in Brazil for a trial period and will work to promote the value of this technology given its successful application revolving around environmental studies. SPI technology has proven useful for the offshore energy industry, port expansion and dredging activities, and the permitting of a wide range of coastal infrastructure developments.