The main target of the expedition der Expedition was the investigation of the so-called blowout at the abandaned well 22/4b in the British sector of the North Sea. The crater resulted from explorative drilling in 1990 and ist still emitting large amounts of methane.

Objective of the expedition was the study of dirfferent gas emission processes. Main task of ROV PHOCA was the documentation of these processes by means of cameras and sonar (CODAECHOSCOPE), deployment and recovery of different tools such as ADCP, Bubble Box and Bubble Catcher for quantification of emission rates and for later qualitative analyses of the gases (e.g. regarding microbiology), as well as sampling of sediments.

8 dives with approximately 25 hours bottom time were conducted.

Photos (unless otherwise noted): ROV-Team GEOMAR; for enquiries on utilisation of image material please contact Public Relations Dept GEOMAR or Dr. James Taylor.