SCIMPI History: The SHRIMPI

Simple Cabled Instrument Measuring Parameters In-Situ (SCIMPI) is modular, when deployed down a borehole the components are separated by floats to maintain their position. A command module is positioned at the surface recording data and either cabled to infrastructure or awaiting an ROV visit. 

During the flagship SCIMPI deployment in 2013 on IODP Expedition 341S, the scientific team had brought along spare SCIMPI measurement and command modules to mitigate technical risk – cheap insurance compared to the cost of an expedition.

Since SCIMPI proved reliable and these extra components were not needed, Kate Moran suggested putting them to good use by way of a “free-fall” deployment of a single module, that would not require drilling, to show that it could also be used as a “shallow buried observatory.”

A name was needed for this unique installation, so after careful consideration it was dubbed the Short Instrument Modular Probe Installation (SHRIMPI). (Really!)

SHRIMPI comprised a combined measurement and command module (datalogger) attached to the leading end of a 3-meter section of heavy steel pipe which was dropped over the side of the ship and penetrated the sediment over 1300 meters below like an oversized lawn dart.

http://publications.iodp.org/preliminary_report/341S/341spr_5.htm