A04_-_140M0126Q0018_SOW_1.pdf

Sand, Sediment and Critical Mineral Investigation in Federal Waters Offshore Offshore Louisiana Ship Shoal

Statement of Work

Prepared by

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Gulf of America Region

Office of Resource Evaluation Marine Minerals Unit

[Insert Contract Number]

[Insert Date (Month/Year)]

[Insert Contractor Name and Contract Number] Marine and

Critical Minerals Unit

1. BACKGROUND AND LOCATION OF INVESTIGATIONS

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is proposing to identify sand and sediment resources for coastal resilience and potential critical mineral deposits along offshore Louisiana. The effort will consist of geophysical and geological (G&G) investigations on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) off of Ship Shoal. Contract deliverables include development of geophysical and geotechnical investigation plans, acquisition of geophysical and geotechnical data, identification and volumetrics of resources, critical minerals analysis, completion investigation reports and data formatted for ingestion into the Marine Minerals Information System (MMIS).

Through this contract, BOEM intends to identify offshore sand, sediment and critical mineral resources, contributing to the National Offshore Sand Inventory (NOSI) and the National Offshore Critical Minerals Inventory (NOCMI) by the collection of 483 line miles of geophysical survey data with adjustments as necessary, survey to include bathymetry, sub-bottom profiling Compressed High-Intensity Radiated Pulse (CHIRP),boomer or sparker, magnetometer, and side-scan sonar. Geophysical data will also be used to provide clearance for the vibracore boring sampling program. 30 Vibracores (approximately 30 feet in total penetration depth below mud line) and 10 deeper cores with approximately 50 feet of total penetration depth below mud line. Total cores will be adjusted after completion of geophysical survey. These deeper cores must reach the base of the sand package and terminate in the underlying fine-grained sediments. Grain size analysis must be conducted on each core with approximately 4 samples per core.

Additionally, 2 samples per core will be collected from the vibracores for critical minerals analysis. Total amount of samples will be adjusted after review of the cores. The Period of Performance for this contract will be 2 years from the date of contract award.

Figure 1: Area of investigation map of Ship Shoal.

Figure 2. Map of study area with proposed geophysical lines and existing cores.

2. INVESTIGATION PLANNING

IDENTIFYING INVESTIGATION AREAS

a. Identify sand and sediment sources on Offshore Louisiana Ship Shoal.

Geophysical data, vibracores, and deeper cores shall be collected. The contractor shall coordinate with BOEM Gulf of America Region (GOAR), Office of Resource Evaluation (RE) to refine the location of the investigation areas. The contractor shall provide meeting minutes within 5 days following each meeting.

The minutes shall be sent to the BOEM Contracting Officer Representative (COR) and to the MMUGulf@BOEM.GOV email box.

Deliverables:

• Presentations (pptx format) of the proposed investigation plan

• Meeting minutes (word document)

INVESTIGATION PLANS

a. Through coordination with BOEM’s GOAR RE, reconnaissance sand source investigation plans for geophysical surveys, reconnaissance level vibracore and deeper cores and collection of core samples for critical minerals and grain size analysis shall be developed. This plan shall be consistent with the “Plan” and “Acquire” phases of the USGS Science Data Lifecycle Model.

b. Naming conventions for investigation sites, potential sediment resources coring locations, and samples for critical minerals will be provided by BOEM.

mailto:MMUGulf@BOEM.GOV https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2013/1265/pdf/of2013-1265.pdf

c. Investigation areas within the area of interest shall be provided as GIS shape files.

d. One (1) investigation plan shall be prepared

e. Investigation plans shall be submitted electronically to the BOEM’s GOAR RE Marine Minerals Unit and Data Acquisition and Special Projects Unit, including all the environmental information needed to conduct a review two (2) months prior to surveying and core sampling activities. The information shall be sent to the email box:

ggpermitsgulf@boem.gov.

f. Deliverables:

• GIS shape files of investigation areas.

• 1 (one) final investigation plan (pdf format).

3. INVESTIGATIONS

a. The contractor shall contact the appropriate maritime authorities prior to work for reporting requirements. At a minimum, notice of pending activities shall be made in the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Local Notice to Mariners and the U.S. Department of War no less than 72 hours prior to the commencement of all sand survey activities.

The call sign of the survey vessel and preferred communication channel must be identified.

b. The contractor shall meet with BOEM within 24 hours of the start of data collection and keep the COR updated with the progress of the field work to discuss quality of data. (Geophysical surveys and coring) via emails to the MMUGulf@BOEM.gov email box and via virtual meetings. If any field collection issues arise BOEM should be notified immediately to discuss a resolution.

c. All field survey and sampling activities shall follow the mitigation protocols and procedures as outlined by the BOEM

d. Vibracore placement shall be along geophysical lines that have been cleared for archeological resources by a qualified marine archaeologist, and where no known hardbottom resources exist.

GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS

a. The contractor shall conduct a geophysical survey to include miles of geophysical survey tracklines to identify geomorphic and geologic features within the area of interest.

b. Geophysical surveys shall be conducted as approved in the investigation plan. The geophysical field surveys shall concurrently collect seismic reflection profile CHIRP, boomer or sparker (unless otherwise specified), bathymetric including the seafloor reflectivity data, magnetometer, and side scan sonar data. The extent of the geophysical survey shall be determined by BOEM in cooperation with the contractor.

c. The collected geophysical data shall be processed and interpreted to support the search, identification, and characterization of sand and sediment resources.

Processed geophysical profiles and interpretations shall be incorporated into the respective geotechnical data report and shall meet the data requirements of the Marine Minerals Information System (MMIS). The quality of the data collection shall include all means and methods necessary.

d. Data and information products must be of sufficient quality, whether geophysical or geological, to identify resource morphology, character, quantity, quality, and geologic mailto:ggpermitsgulf@boem.gov mailto:MMUGulf@BOEM.gov setting. The quality of the collected data shall also meet the requirements for conducting an archaeological clearance survey to identify any potential archaeological resources along the geophysical survey tracklines (as noted in BOEM Notice to Lessees (NTL) No. 2005-G07), and in accordance with the International Standardization Organization’s (ISO) 19901 requirements for marine soil investigation and ISO 19115 metadata format.

e. The preservation of the data shall ensure long-term viability and accessibility consistent with the USGS Science Data Lifecycle Model. Any data collected for geophysical and geological vibracore sampling will be required to meet organization, formatting, documenting, and submittal requirements of digital data as described below.

f. The Contractor shall submit all spatial data referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83). Geospatial data can be submitted in a Geographic Coordinate System or in projected Coordinate System if approved by BOEM for the data type and locality. Vertical data shall be reported relative to NAVD88.

The Contractor shall adhere to agreed upon file naming conventions for each data type being acquired and provide all collected geophysical survey data following the specifications below:

a. Navigation Data

The navigation post-plot of the surveyed area including survey lines, line numbers or other designations, navigational shot points or event markers, and other relevant attributes shall be submitted to the Government in an ArcGIS readable format (e.g., Microsoft Excel (.xls), Comma separated value (.csv), Text file (.txt), Database (.dbf) or Shapefile (.shp)).

b. Survey Area Location and Proposed Project Elements

The survey area location and proposed project elements including relevant attributes shall be submitted in an ArcGIS readable format (e.g., Microsoft Excel (.xls), Comma separated value (.csv), Text file (.txt), Database (.dbf) or Shapefile (.shp)).

c. Magnetometer or Gradiometer Data

The information used to create a table of magnetic anomalies and charting of magnetic anomalies shall be submitted in an ArcGIS readable format (e.g., Microsoft Excel (.xls), Comma separated value (.csv), Text file (.txt), Database (.dbf) or Shapefile (.shp)). The following attributes shall be included in the table of magnetic anomalies:

● Anomaly ID

● Survey Area/Block

● Survey line number

● Instrument

● Raw Magnetic Readings for each instrument, and indication of which instrument is reading from (peak signal strength (gammas))

● Reference field used (if reporting anomaly data)

● Gamma intensity of each identified anomaly (peak gradient amplitude) https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2013/1265/pdf/of2013-1265.pdf

● Duration (m)

● Characterization of the anomaly as a dipole, positive (+) or negative (-) monopole, or complex signature, based on the magnetic traces

● Sensor Altitude (for each instrument): instrument height above the seafloor

● Date in YYYY-MM-DD, in UTC Time, exact date the anomaly was recorded

● Time in hh:mm:ss, in UTC Time, exact time the anomaly was recorded

● Coordinate System

● Datum

● Horizontal position, Longitude (Easting) / Latitude (Northing), indicated as coordinates of the interpreted location of each unidentified anomaly in decimal degrees to 6 decimal places, based on magnetic traces and contoured data

● Vertical position, indicated as estimated depth using half-width rule, Euler equation, or other means as described in the methodology section

● Association with side scan sonar contacts or sub-bottom (CHIRP and boomer or sparker) profiler features

● Recommended avoidance distance, if applicable

Additionally, the complete, unprocessed magnetometer or gradiometer dataset shall also be submitted. This shall include the unprocessed data for each individual total field magnetometer instrument in the gradiometer configuration, if applicable. These data shall be submitted in a tabular data format recognized by ArcGIS (i.e., Comma separated value (.csv), Text file (.txt), Database (.dbf) or Shapefile (.shp)). At a minimum, the following items shall be included within the data table(s):

● Easting/Longitude

● Northing/Latitude

● Time, in UTC

● Raw Magnetic Readings for each instrument

● Gradiometer Altitude

● Survey Line Number/Name

Each of these components must occupy a single field within the table. For example, easting or longitude data must be within a single column in the data table. This would include a column for an easting amount, or longitude in decimal degrees, not a table with separate columns for degrees and another for decimal minutes.

d. Multibeam Sonar Data

Bathymetric data products shall be submitted in an ArcGIS readable format (e.g., bathymetric grid (BAG), or comma separated value (.csv) XYZ. Any submission of gridded bathymetric data must include an uncertainty layer quantifying the total propagated uncertainty (TPU) of each node. The horizontal data will be provided in the relevant State Plane Coordinate system (North American Datum 1983). Vertical data will be provided in the NAVD88, U.S. survey feet, unless otherwise specified.

The Contractor must submit a methods section and results of the uncertainty analysis, field notes, and metadata to BOEM with the processed bathymetric data products. Raw, unprocessed sonar files as well as post-processed sonar files and ancillary data (e.g., sound velocity profiles data, sound velocity profile coordinates with date and time stamp) must also be submitted.

Bathymetric data shall be interpolated into bathymetric contours and digital elevation models if trackline spacing permits. All gridding and interpolation methods shall be described and fully documented. Minimum horizontal resolution of any digital elevation model shall be 3 feet (ft) or less (1 meter (m) or less) unless approved by BOEM. Final vertical resolution of derived bathymetric elevation models shall be determined based on the survey area in coordination with BOEM.

e. Side-Scan Sonar Data

Both raw and processed eXtended Triton Format (.xtf) line files or other formats approved by the Government for the survey shall be submitted, as well as mosaics.

Side scan sonar mosaics of the survey area shall be prepared as a geo-referenced Tagged Image Format (.tif) and output as 0.5 m resolution or better. A georeferenced Raster shall also be delivered in XYA format.

The information used to create the table of side scan sonar contacts and mapping of sonar contacts or habitat features shall be submitted in an ArcGIS readable format (e.g., Microsoft Excel (.xls), Comma separated value (.csv), Text file (.txt), Database (.dbf) or Shapefile (.shp)). The following attributes shall be included:

● Side-scan sonar contact ID

● Survey Area/Block

● Survey line number

● Target length (ft, m)

● Target width (ft, m)

● Target height (ft, m)

● Target shadow (ft, m)

● Target description

● Associated magnetic anomalies

● NAD 83 coordinates of the target in decimal degrees to 5 decimal places

● Original source file name

● Recommended avoidance distance, if applicable

f. Sub-bottom Profiler Data

Sub-bottom profiler (CHIRP and boomer or sparker) data shall be submitted in SEG- Y standard exchange format (.sgy). Digital information for the reflectors/horizons identified in the data also shall be provided. Formatting may include image plots and fence diagrams showing the identified horizons or reflectors, XYZ data files, or CSF files compatible with software approved by BOEM.

The contractor shall conduct the (CHIRP) sub-bottom survey in the target area for the purpose of identifying acoustic reflectors that define stratigraphic changes of shallow surface sediment and capable of resolving.

The contractor shall conduct the Boomer/Sparker) sub-bottom survey in the target area for the purpose of identifying acoustic reflectors that define stratigraphic changes of shallow surface sediment.

The goal of geophysical data acquisition is to resolve internal structures and base of sediment resource.

g. AUV/ASV Data

If applicable, all AUV/ASV navigational data shall be submitted in both raw and post-processed formats. Raw navigational data includes accepted USBL positions, AUV attitude record, and AUV DVL navigational record. Specify all inputs and settings of AUV navigational kalman filter. Post-processed navigation shall include a description of the processed used in addition to the complete post-processed navigation track. All AUV/ASV geophysical data shall be submitted in a format specified by the sensor type in the previous sections.

h. GIS Data

All GIS submitted in a standard Geographic Information Systems (GIS) ESRI format, preferably an ESRI geodatabase. Other spatial or GIS formats are also acceptable, provided they are interoperable with industry standard software.

Data used to illustrate the horizontal and vertical extent of geomorphic features, or geologic units, shall be submitted in an ArcGIS readable format.

BOEM recommends that, where applicable, geospatial data products are submitted in an ESRI geodatabase that follows the current MMIS schema available for download at https://mmis.boem.gov/https://mmis.doi.gov/boemmmis/.

i. Metadata

For each dataset and data product submitted, the Contractor shall prepare and submit associated metadata in accordance with the appropriate FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (CSDGM) or International Standardization Organization’s (ISO) 19115 metadata format (e.g. ISO 19115 metadata standard for imagery or gridded data, Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (version 2.0), FGDC-STD-001-1998, Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard

(CMECS), FGDC-STD-018-2012).

Metadata shall be included as a crucial component for any use or reuse of data.

FGDC standards apply to and are mandatory for Federal agencies, as described in OMB Circulars A-16 and A-119 and Executive Order 12906 - Coordinating Geographic Data Acquisition and Access: The National Spatial Data Infrastructure.

FGDC endorsed standards can be found at https://www.fgdc.gov/standards/list.

e. Preliminary interpretations of the geophysical data shall be submitted to BOEM’s

GOAR RE for review 90 days after completion of data collection. BOEM’s GOAR RE will review the preliminary geophysical draft products and provide comments to the contractor prior to vibracore selection process.

f. The contractor shall coordinate with BOEM to identify proposed vibracoring locations based on post-survey analysis to corroborate the geophysical survey interpretation.

The determination of final vibracore locations will require coordination with the contractor’s archaeologist and BOEM’s GOAR OE archaeologist. Based on the geophysical data and archaeological clearance, the final vibracore locations shall be determined and the investigation plans shall be finalized and submitted to the BOEM GOAR RE for final approval.

https://mmis.boem.gov/ https://mmis.doi.gov/boemmmis/ https://www.fgdc.gov/standards/list

Deliverables

• 1 (one) Final investigation plan (pdf format)

• Meetings, emails, and logs with COR during field work.

• Geophysical data in format specified above

CORE COLLECTION

a. Cores shall be collected utilizing an Alpine style, pneumatic vertical hammer, vibracore drilling apparatus having a continuous 30 foot core barrel that is advanced until a depth of 30 ft is reached or refusal is encountered (30 foot cores are preferred). 40Refusal is defined as no additional penetration of the vibracore within two minutes of additional effort applied to penetrate through the resistant layer.

Each vibracore shall have 80% recovery. The contractor must make at a minimum three attempts to achieve 80% recovery and keep the vibracore with the largest recovery. Ten (10) additional cores will be taken by borings up to 50 feet. Fore longer cores >30 ft a boring will be used to the depths agreed upon.

b. All boring locations (xyz) shall be surveyed using Real Time Kinematic (RTK) GPS in North American Datum of 1983 (NAD83) and North American vertical Datum (NAVD88). Emphasis shall be placed on obtaining correct elevations of the boring locations.

c. The vibracores shall be cut into five-foot sections, photographed, placed into core boxes. The core borings shall be logged according to ASTM D 5434 at the contractor’s facility by a licensed geologist. The draft logs are to be electronically submitted to the COR and the MMUGulf@boem.gov email box for sample selection.

Core boxes shall be labeled with project name, county, date, boring name, and depths interval on top and sides of the boxes.

d. Prior to disturbance via sampling, split vibracores shall be photographed with scale and unique identifier. Internal structuring, if present, shall be visible in photographs.

e. Clay Testing -- Field Miniature Vane Shear Test are to be conducted during vibracore logging in accordance with ASTM Standard Test Methods of Laboratory Miniature Vane Shear Test for Saturated Fine-Grained Clayey Soil (D4648/D4648M- 24a). For bidding purposes, a total of 50 shall be selected and analyzed. The lab testing parameters are listed in Table 1.

f. One sample for each lithological change and one sample every 2-3 ft for presumed beach compatible sand layers shall be selected for lab analysesThe lab testing parameters are listed in Table 1.

g. All samples will be analyzed for either Laser Particle Siza Analysis (LPSA), visual shell % determination, and Munsell color determination (wet, dry, washed).

Carbonate Content analysis using the non-ASTM method (Twenhofel-Tyler method) shall be performed on 10% of the samples.

Table 1. Summary of Proposed Laboratory Tests

Laboratory Testing Number of Tests

Field Miniature Vane Shear Test 50 mailto:MMUGulf@boem.gov

Sieve Analysis (Using Sieve Sizes No. 2 ½”, 1 ¼”, 3/4", 3/8", 3.5, 4, 5, 7, 10, 14, 18, 25, 35, 45, 60, 80, 120, 170, 200, 230) - ASTM

D 6913 (See Appendix A for example)

LPSA Analysis at ½ Phi intervals 60

Visual Percent Shell 60

Carbonate Content non-ASTM method (Twenhofel-Tyler) 15

h. Draft and Final logs and laboratory testing results shall be entered into an appropriate sample database.

i. Core description sheets for each core will be completed using the template in

Appendix B.

j. Draft logs shall be finalized utilizing the laboratory testing results and submitted to the COR and the MMUGulf@boem.gov email box for review.

k. A sub-set of up to 15 samples will be analyzed for critical mineral analysis. This analysis will be to identify which critical minerals are found in the sample and the percentage of those minerals in each sample.

l. Vibracores shall be stored after the logs are finalized. Core delivery and storage shall be coordinated with the BOEM’s GOAR RE.

Deliverables:

• Draft logs (pdf)

• Final logs including laboratory testing results (pdf and database file)

• Meetings, emails, and logs with COR during field work.

4. DATA EVALUATION AND REPORTING

Based on the geophysical and geological results potential borrow areas shall be delineated for both sand and sediment resources.

a. A summary report shall be submitted. The report shall include maps, boring logs, lab results, geophysical and geological profiles, summary tables, a preliminary borrow area with depth of resource map w contours and a preliminary analysis of volumetrics. A sample table of contents is included in Appendix C

b. The draft report shall be submitted electronically only. The final report shall be submitted electronically. The electronic submittals shall include the report in pdf format and all files in their original format, such as for example Word, Excel, GIS, AutoCAD.

Deliverables:

• 1 Draft reports (pdf and word format)

• 1 Final report (pdf format and original files) mailto:MMUGulf@boem.gov

5. SCHEDULE AND REVIEW PERIODS

All tasks are to be completed within two years of the contract. Table 2 below lists suggested submittal Milestone or the scheduled task completion in days after Notice to Proceed (NTP). Tasks can be completed before the listed completion date in Table 2.

Meeting minutes shall be submitted as draft and finalized within 5 calendar days after the government comment review period has ended. The government has a 30 calendar day review period after the submittal of all draft documents unless otherwise specified. The government will provide comments via email, and the contractor shall incorporate and address the comments in the final submittal.

Table 2 – Suggested Schedule Milestones

Submittal and/or Task Completion Calendar Days after Kickoff

Identification of investigation areas complete 30 Draft investigation plans submitted 75 Geophysical Surveys complete 210 Vibracore Collection completed 420 Draft Report Submitted 550 Government Commenting Period for draft report ends 610 Final report submitted 700 Government Final Review Period 730

6. POINTS OF CONTACT

Points of contact are listed in Table 3 below.

Table 3 - Points of Contact

Point of Contacts Abbreviation Name and contact Information

Marine Minerals Unit Supervisor

MMU

Supervisor

Contracting Officer Representative

COR

Contracting Officer

CO

Contractor Contractor

Principal Investigator

PI TBD

Email: TBD Work Phone: TBD

Appendix A – Gradation Curve Form

Appendix B – Core Description Sheet

Appendix C

Suggested Table of Contents template for the final investigation report.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Scope

2.0 GEOPHYSICAL INVESTIGATIONS

2.1 Investigation Area Naming Conventions

2.2 Proposed Investigation Areas

2.3 Geophysical Surveys

2.3.1 Seismic Reflection Profile Survey CHIRP

2.3.2 Seismic Reflection Profile Survey Boomer/Sparker

2.3.3 Multibeam Bathymetric Survey

2.3.4 Magnetometer Survey

2.3.5 Side Scan Sonar Survey

3.0 CORE COLLECTION

4.0 CORE LOGGING AND SAMPLE ANALYSIS

4.1 Boring Logs and Photographs

4.2 Sample Testing

4.3 LPSA/Sieve Analysis

4.4 Calcium Carbonate Analysis

4.5 Post-Carbonate LPSA/Sieve Analysis

4.6 Data Archiving

5.0 INVESTIGATION RESULTS

5.1 Existing/Native Beach

5.2 Restoration Sediments Encountered

5.3 Description of Investigation Areas and Sediments Encountered

5.3.1 Area 1

5.3.2 Area 2

6.0 SUMMARY OF INVESTIGATION AREAS AND POTENTIAL SAND SOURCES

7.0 REFERENCES

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1.1 Investigation Areas in Federal Waters….

Figure 2.1 Vessel layout for towing geophysical instruments Figure 2.2 Example of processed sub‐bottom seismic data

Figure 2.3 Example of processed bathymetric and magnetometer data Figure 2.4 Example of processed side scan sonar data Figure 5.1 Investigation Area 1 Figure 5.2 Investigation Area 2

LIST OF TABLES

Table 2.1 Survey sensor layback and depth behind survey vessel Table 3.1 Location and Description of Core/Borings Table 5.1 Sediment Sample Beach Compatibility Parameters Table 5.2 Investigation Area 1 Core Data Table 5.3 Investigation Area 2 Core Data Table 6.1 Investigation Area Summary

LIST OF APPENDICES

APPENDIX A Investigation Areas and Potential Sand Source Maps APPENDIX B Investigation Area Geological Profiles APPENDIX C Sediment Sample Testing Summary Table APPENDIX D Core Logs, Grain Size Distribution Curves, Granulometric Tables, and Photos APPENDIX E Geophysical Survey Results APPENDIX F Geophysical Investigation Plan