Chinese deep-sea surveys look for geological hazards in South China Sea

Researchers will use the data to find out more about subsea hazards that could affect future oil and gas projects, according to state newspaper

They made seven dives in a manned submersible, focusing on a basin southeast of Hainan and two areas near the contested Paracel Islands

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Manned submersible the Shenhai Yongshi, or Deep-Sea Warrior, has been used for Chinese research missions in the region since 2017. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 10:00pm, 4 Jan 2022Updated: 11:01pm, 4 Jan 2022

Chinese researchers have conducted deep-sea geological surveys in the disputed South China Sea that could provide valuable information on hazards for future oil and gas projects, according to state media.

The surveys were carried out in a geologically unstable area in the northwestern part of the waterway last month, China Science Daily reported on Tuesday.

Researchers from the state-backed Chinese Academy of Sciences made seven dives in the manned submersible known as Shenhai Yongshi, or Deep-Sea Warrior.

They collected observation data from the sea floor to shed light on geomorphological characteristics, as well as the triggers and causes of subsea geological hazards that could affect deep-sea oil and gas development projects in the area, the report said.

Geologist Li Wei, chief scientist on the mission, told the newspaper that a range of geological and geophysical data was collected.

“In particular, for areas where unstable landforms are developing on the sea floor, a number of in situ sediment and seawater samples were accurately collected, and first-hand images of modern sea floor landforms were obtained,” Li said.