Seismology
- Recent earthquakes
- Seismicity of Catalonia
- Seismic Network
- Vsat Seismic network
- Seismic stations
- Estació sísmica Avellanes (CAVN)
- Estació sísmica Beuda (CBEU)
- Estació sísmica Garraf (CGAR)
- Estació sísmica la Rabassa (ARBS)
- Estació sísmica Llívia (CLLI)
- Estació Sísmica Mas de Barberans (CMAS)
- Estació sísmica Montoussé (FMON)
- Estació sísmica Nébias (FNEB)
- Estació sísmica Organyà (CORG)
- Estació sísmica Oristà (CORI)
- Estació sísmica Palau Saverdera (CPAL)
- Estació sísmica Soriguera (CSOR)
- Estació sísmica Tremp (CTRE)
- Estació sísmica Fontmartina (CFON)
- Estació sísmica Esterri de cardós (CEST)
- Estació sísmica Espira (FESP)
- Estació sísmica de Cassà de la Selva (CCAS)
- Estació sísmica Bruguera (CBRU)
- Val d'Aran seismic station (CARA)
- Accelerometric network
- Seismic risk
- Technical information
| Code: COBS Name: Casablanca Latitude: 40.7131 N Longitude: 1.3562 E Height: -160 m | |||||
| Instrumentation by channels and periods | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Channel | Start date |
End date |
Sensor type |
Digitizer type |
Instrumental response [tar, 290 KB] |
| HHZ | 01/08/2007 | - | CMG3TOBS | DM24 | [+info:] |
| HHN | 01/08/2007 | - | CMG3TOBS | DM24 | [+info:] |
| HHE | 01/08/2007 | - | CMG3TOBS | DM24 | [+info:] |
On August 12th 2005 a permanent Ocean Bottom Seismometer (OBS) was installed near the Casablanca oil platform, at about 50 km from the coast of Tarragona.
OBS before its installation
OBS location on the Mapa de Sismicitat de Catalunya 1977-1997 (ICC, 1999)
The project, which is pioneer in Spain, has the goal of improving the area's seismicity understanding. This area is densely populated and industrially very active. Additionally to the seismic sensor, a pressure sensor has been installed, in order to detect marine waves generated by submarine earthquakes, among other applications.
The project is being carried out by the Institut Cartogràfic de Catalunya (ICC) and the Observatori de l'Ebre with the collaboration of Repsol Investigaciones Petrolíferas and it is being financed by the Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia, FEDER funding and the ICC.
The installation operations began on August 9th at the commercial harbour of Sant Carles de la Ràpita, where the material preparation started on board of the ship Boluda Abrego, from which were done the manoeuvres.
Stern cover of the ship Boluda Abrego during the material preparation at the commercial harbour of Sant Carles de la Ràpita
OBS' immersion
In order to control the process, a submarine robot sent images that were watched from the ship. Additionally, an uninterrupted signal analysis was made. From the moment of its installation, the seismometer is operative.
The OBS was installed at about 400 m SW from the platform, in the security area of the Casablanca field, and at a depth of about 150 m.
Submarine robot image from the OBS and the pressure sensor deposited on the seabed
Ship Boluda Abrego during the manoeuvre
Once the sensor was installed, the ship sailed to the platform, launching the cables with adequate ballasts, so that they stay buried in the sea bottom.
Cable launching, once jointed with ballasts
Submarine robot image from the cables on the sea bottom
At the platform the connections to the equipment to store the seismic data were made. The nearest part of the submarine cables to the platform was fixed to its structure in order to reduce de signal noise.
OBS integration to the Catalonia Seismic Network
In autumn, the data emission per satellite is expected, so that they arrive to the Seismic Data Reception Center to be processed together with the terrestrial station data. So, the OBS will integrate into the Catalonia Seismic Network.
VSAT antenna installed on the platform. In Autumn it is expected to be operative.
Press releases (catalan):
Date: 9/8/2005
An Ocean Bottom Seismometer has been installed near the Casablanca platform offshore Tarragona
Date: 19/8/2005
Successfull installation of the first ocean bottom seismometer at the Tarragona coast
