Surficial sediments and suspended particulate matter

Abstract

Water column and surficial sediment samples were taken from 1978–1980 in the Buccaneer Gas and Oil Field off Texas. The amount and composition of the suspended particulates showed large spatial and temporal variations. From the Conclusions: “The Buccaneer Field production platforms did not measurably alter the bulk composition of suspended particulates of biological activity…The sandy nature of the bottom sediments in the Buccaneer Field attest to the high energy bottom conditions which prevail in the field. These conditions are probably sufficient to distribute most contaminated material deposited beneath the platforms over such a large area as to be undetectable.”