In the early morning hours on Monday 23 July 2013 the Hercules 252 rig blew out, spewing a mixture of gas, condensate, and possibly other hydrocarbons into the water and air. In four days, senior scientists – members of five Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) consortia – assembled a team and plan, obtained the RV Acadiana, prepped and shipped equipment, traveled to Cocodrie, LA, sailed to the blowout site, and began their work to assess potential impacts.

Five students – Joy Battles (ECOGIG), Nathan Laxague (CARTHE), Conor Smith (CARTHE), Tiffany Warner (CWC), and Sarah Weber (ECOGIG) – suddenly found themselves at the heart of this mission. Their educational and research background and their personal fortitude were put to the test, working as a response team to plan and execute this data-gathering operation.

Laxague and Smith led the drifter deployment from start to finish. After helping develop a plan before leaving Miami, they prepared the surface drifters, attaching GPS units and long-life batteries. Together they drove from Miami to Louisiana, sailed to the blowout site, and launched the drifters.

Battles and Weber together served as co-chief scientists for a portion of the cruise, guiding the water column and sediment sampling around the blowout site as well as collecting samples for later analyses of methane levels and biological activity related to carbon and nitrogen cycling.

Warner provided critical logistic support as groups hurriedly arrived and scrambled to load the research vessel. Once at sea, she collected water column samples at multiple locations and various depths to measure respiration rates. The blowout had the potential to cause depletion of oxygen in the marine environment.

 (Spill-international, Edited by Topco)