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Y. Fouquet and D. Lacroix
Technological Innovation Challenges
The potential exploitation of deep-sea mineral resources reveals major technological challenges. As this industry is new, the countries and industrial firms that manage to anticipate and master exploration and exploitation technologies will be able
to draw the benefit of their know-how on a global scale.
Furthermore, the inevitable long term rise in raw material prices raises questions
and concerns. The sector’s economic stakeholders are aware of these weak points.
They know there are no definitively acquired advantages and that they must continually improve their competitiveness, in particular through innovation.
For this new, and therefore immature, industrial sector, leadership positions have
not yet been taken on a global scale. France can still take some of the top places,
as long as it promotes its quest for excellence and encourages the emergence of
industrial players.
Exploration and Observation Technologies
The technological development of exploration systems suitable for extreme, deep-sea
environments and related geological objects is a must. Monitoring of the environmental impact of any resource exploitation will also involve the development of observation and measurement techniques. In addition to vessels, existing or new technologies
to locate and study these potential resources can be considered on three levels.
Regional Exploration Technologies
This is an essential stage before assessing resources and before studying the biodiversity related to fluid release. One of the aims is to detect physical or chemical
anomalies in the water column in order to locate areas of fluid emissions. The tools
deployed are designed for mapping (multi-beam echo sounder), bottom acoustic
imagery (sonar), water sampling to detect chemical tracers and physical measurements in the water column. In current conditions, these techniques are effective
in locating active fluid release, but developments are necessary to locate the most
promising fossil systems for mineral resources.
In order to ensure France maintains a global leading position in this field, it is
essential to develop new tools to implement more efficient exploration and identification strategies. Several avenues are emerging: development of acoustic detection
of fluid plumes in the water column using bathymetric sonar and ADCP techniques;
“marinisation” of chemical in situ analysis techniques close to the seabed (mass
spectrometers GC-MS, in order to detect organic tracers emitted by the fluids, Raman techniques for analysis of solids…). Some of this equipment will need to be
adapted to vectors such as Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) and Remotely
Operated Vehicles (ROV).
Y. Fouquet and D. Lacroix
Technological Innovation Challenges
The potential exploitation of deep-sea mineral resources reveals major technological challenges. As this industry is new, the countries and industrial firms that manage to anticipate and master exploration and exploitation technologies will be able
to draw the benefit of their know-how on a global scale.
Furthermore, the inevitable long term rise in raw material prices raises questions
and concerns. The sector’s economic stakeholders are aware of these weak points.
They know there are no definitively acquired advantages and that they must continually improve their competitiveness, in particular through innovation.
For this new, and therefore immature, industrial sector, leadership positions have
not yet been taken on a global scale. France can still take some of the top places,
as long as it promotes its quest for excellence and encourages the emergence of
industrial players.
Exploration and Observation Technologies
The technological development of exploration systems suitable for extreme, deep-sea
environments and related geological objects is a must. Monitoring of the environmental impact of any resource exploitation will also involve the development of observation and measurement techniques. In addition to vessels, existing or new technologies
to locate and study these potential resources can be considered on three levels.
Regional Exploration Technologies
This is an essential stage before assessing resources and before studying the biodiversity related to fluid release. One of the aims is to detect physical or chemical
anomalies in the water column in order to locate areas of fluid emissions. The tools
deployed are designed for mapping (multi-beam echo sounder), bottom acoustic
imagery (sonar), water sampling to detect chemical tracers and physical measurements in the water column. In current conditions, these techniques are effective
in locating active fluid release, but developments are necessary to locate the most
promising fossil systems for mineral resources.
In order to ensure France maintains a global leading position in this field, it is
essential to develop new tools to implement more efficient exploration and identification strategies. Several avenues are emerging: development of acoustic detection
of fluid plumes in the water column using bathymetric sonar and ADCP techniques;
“marinisation” of chemical in situ analysis techniques close to the seabed (mass
spectrometers GC-MS, in order to detect organic tracers emitted by the fluids, Raman techniques for analysis of solids…). Some of this equipment will need to be
adapted to vectors such as Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) and Remotely
Operated Vehicles (ROV).