1Resilience is currently a key theme within salt marsh ecological studies. Understanding the 2 factors that affect salt marsh accretion and elevation gains are of paramount importance if 3 management of these ecosystems is to be successful under increasing synergistic stresses of 4 storm surge, inundation period, and eutrophication. We present the results of salt marsh fucoid 5 algae (ecads) removal experiments on Spartina alterniflora abundance, production and Decomposition rates of Spartina alterniflora in the field were significantly higher under the 10 fucoid macroalgae layer, and, in lab experiments, S. alterniflora seedlings added more leaves 11 when the marsh fucoids were present. In contrast, fucoids caused a significant decrease in S.12 alterniflora seedlings' survival in the field. We found that marsh fucoids are stable despite not
The offshore pilot test of Exxon’s Submerged Production System (SPS) has reached a successful conclusion. This pilot test encompassed the entire spectrum of SPS equipment, spanning from the well completion intervals to, but not including, common surface processing and storage facilities. Since the SPS is designed to meet all the life cycle needs of a subsea field, one of the objectives of the pilot test was to evaluate both the techniques and the equipment used to install, operate, and maintain a prototype version of the SPS. The equipment under test was designed for use in water depths up to 2000 ft, but with minor modifications it is capable of operating in significantly greater depths. Evaluation of pilot test results has shown that the deep water installation techniques are practicable and that the deep water maintenance machinery is competent to repair any failures likely to occur in an operating system. One of the most significant problems in conducting the pilot test was achieving adequate quality control during equipment manufacture. The test results have demonstrated that, with relatively minor modifications, the SPS is suitable for commercial application.
A deep water pipeline connection method has been designed, built, and successfully tested to remotely attach and connect three sets of pipelines in the SPS pilot test. Two attachment methods, a pull-in and a lay-away, were employed to align and attach the subsea pipelines to an ocean floor structure. A remotely controlled tool aligned, connected, and tested the pipeline connections placed there by both attachment methods. These deep water pipeline connections feature the ability to maintain pipeline connections and hydraulically operated, fail-safe isolation valves by using replaceable spool pieces which contain maintenance prone components.
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