Research Portal

Developing Enhanced Marine Operations (DEMO) in High Flow Tidal Environments

October 2017 – October 2019

Conventional subsea remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) perform poorly in currents exceeding 1.5 m/s. This is a key operating limitation in the success and cost of marine operations in the Bay of Fundy, where current speeds reach 5 m/s.

Multi-Scale Turbulence Measurement in the Aquatron Laboratory

July 2018 – July 2019

This project has two primary objectives - to characterize the flow and turbulence in the Aquatron facility pool tank using turbulence sensors calibrated against a traceable standard; and to test technologies for investigating the horizontal variability of turbulence in real-world tidal channels.

Geoscience » Source Rock & Depositional Environment

Nova Scotia-Morocco Conjugate Biostratigraphy Project

September 2018 – June 2019

Biostratigraphy, the study of fossils to determine the age and depositional conditions of the sediments from which they are recovered, is a critical input to the seismic reconstruction of the Nova Scotia and Morocco margins.  Detailed biostratigraphical analyses have been completed by an internat

Geoscience » Source Rock & Depositional Environment

2018 Nova Scotia-Morocco Conjugate Geochemistry Project

May 2017 – June 2019

The objective of this project is to examine geochemical data from offshore and onshore Morocco to determine the presence and characteristics of effective Jurassic oil-prone source rocks.

Integrated Active and Passive Acoustic System for Environmental Monitoring (ISEM)

August 2015 – May 2019

The project team will develop a novel environmental monitoring system that integrates data analysis software and active and passive acoustic sensors to provide real-time tracking of fish and marine mammals in high energy sites.

Geoscience » Source Rock & Depositional Environment

Attenuation of Petroleum Generation Characteristics by the Sulfurization of Organic Matter in Westphaflan Carboniferous Lacustrine Source Rocks (A Geochemical Study of Potential Marine Incursions)

October 2017 – May 2019

This project creates geochemical diagnostic tools that can be applied to potential source rocks of differing ages in the Maritimes Basin. These tools help build a more accurate interpretation of the evolution of the basin.

Testing of a New Turbine Blade Design and Blade Materials

July 2018 – May 2019

There’s not yet a standardized, optimal way of extracting power from tidal currents. That’s why many tidal industry technologies are currently being tested around the world.

Application of (Low-Cost) Drifters with Suspended Hydrophone Arrays to Assess Harbour Porpoise Use of the Water Column and Spatial Overlap with MRE Devices in the Minas Passage

October 2017 – April 2019

The project investigated the use of a new low-cost drifter technology to monitor the activity and depth distribution of harbour porpoises frequenting the Minas Passage and Minas Channel.

Remote Acoustic Measurements of Turbulence in High-Flow Tidal Channels during High Wave Conditions

April 2018 – April 2019

Many of the high-flow tidal channels targeted for worldwide in-stream hydro-electric development are impacted by surface gravity waves incident from a large exterior basin (e.g. the Bay of Fundy/Gulf of Maine/North Atlantic).

Turbine Wake Characterization

November 2017 – March 2019

Turbine wake characterization is a key endeavour to the development of in-stream tidal turbine arrays.  In a sense, a turbine’s footprint includes its wake, wherein flow speeds are less and turbulence is elevated compared to the ambient surroundings.  It is thus desired to not just delineate wake