Obtaining a high quality bathymetric map in the area of interest (NW of Melrose Resources' Rhone Maritime concession). This map should enable indications of fluid to be found, as well as mapping the outcropping faults which could provide conduits for migration of fluids. Acquiring high resolution Chirp data on the same area to simultaneously identify sub-outcropping faults which could act as conduits and potential gas chimneys. Analysing the water column in order to show gas escaping on the seabed (or in the water column) which would supply positive indications of fluid seepage. Sampling was done on any trace of hydrocarbons on the surface of the water during the cruise.

Generally speaking: The area of interest is located in the NW corner of the oil exploration concession belonging to the Scottish petroleum firm Melrose Resources. Recent satellite data have highlighted a number of natural oil traces on the surface of the water in this zone, which recur from one year to the next.

In geological terms, this zone is located just to the North of thick Messinian salt deposits, in an area where seismic profiles have shown numerous rotational faults. The Melrose Resources firm believes that this fault system acts as a conduit enabling oil to migrate in this complex structured zone. These natural migration paths outcropping from the seafloor lead to the spots of oil recorded on the water's surface. Melrose intends to study this faulted area by looking for surface indicators and other possible indicators of oil in order to ultimately identify some zones for future sampling of the sub-floor and fluids.

This falls under the Sedimentary systems and structuring of margins project.