Exploring the ocean’s depths is challenging. It requires a ship equipped with collection devices. Oceanographers have typically investigated life below the ocean surface using a net or trawl to bring the life forms to the ship’s deck for examination. Often, this can result in the dismemberment or destruction of the creature before it reaches the surface. A better way is to go visit the place where the creature lives. This is especially true for the many gelatinous organisms that live in the deep ocean. To do this, one can use a submarine, but there are few in the world and the ocean is a large place. Another method is to send cameras down to take pictures or videotape. To actually see the creature as it lives in its deep, dark ocean environment and learn how it survives.

The SERPENT project (Scientific Environmental ROV Partnership using Existing Industrial Technology) is doing just that. The offshore oil and gas industry uses remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to install and monitor equipment and these vehicles have cameras so the operators can see what they are doing. While performing their work, the operators often encounter strange creatures, but until recently, these encounters were seldom shared with scientists. The SERPENT project is an international effort to better understand the deep ocean by taking advantage of these cameras that are already out there.

Partnering with Louisiana State University, the MMS began contributing funds to the Gulf SERPENT project in 2008 to investigate the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The project scientists team with industry ROV operators to collect photos and video of deep sea marine life. The Gulf of Mexico has more than a hundred oil and gas platforms in deepwater from which to explore. Gulf SERPENT currently operates at ten deepwater sites operated BP, Shell, Chevron, and Petrobras. Unlike ships, which visit a site for only a few hours, these platforms are stationary for months to years, allowing the opportunity for a long term look at the life below the platform. The goal of Gulf SERPENT is to establish a biological observation network across the northern Gulf of Mexico. The study will also examine the settlement of hard and soft coral species and other epifauna on the deepwater platforms by adding ROV video examinations of the subsurface of the deepwater structures.
 

 
Gulf SERPENT Project Director, Mark Benfield next to the high-resolution camera system (green pressure can) on the Oceaneering ROV aboard Transocean’s Deepwater Horizon rig. Deepwater Horizon is working for BP in Keithly Canyon.
 

Saipem America’s Brian Semone pilots an Innovator ROV below Transocean’s Development Driller II rig. The Development Driller II is working for BP in Green Canyon.

 
 

 
ROV Senior Supervisor Darren Costello pilots the ROV during a Gulf SERPENT mission below Deepwater Horizon, while Mark Benfield (center) and Christopher Gentry (right) observe.
 

One of the many interesting creatures that have been observed is the siphonophore, pictured here. Siphonophores are colonial relatives of the jellyfish. Different parts of the colony are responsible for tasks such as propulsion, prey capture, and digestion. Colonies can be over 100 feet in length. When first encountered they may be oriented in a ‘U’ shape or a loose spiral with their tentacles hanging downwards. In such postures they are ‘fishing’ for any prey that accidentally swim into their deadly net of tentacles.

A Siphonophore Halistemma imaged by an Oceaneering ROV below the Deepwater Horizon using a new digital camera system funded by BP.

The SERPENT project website has many more exciting observations from the deep.