Acknowledgments

Support for the Gyre 2003 cruise was provided jointly by USGS and the Department of Energy (DOE). We gratefully acknowledge the support and encouragement from the Gulf of Mexico Gas Hydrates Joint Industry Project (JIP) and especially from Emrys Jones of Chevron-Texaco, Mike Smith of MMS, and Fred Snyder, Lecia Miller, and Nader Dutta of WesternGeco who provided invaluable access to proprietary data that facilitated cruise planning. Discussions with Warren Wood, Carolyn Ruppel, Charlie Paull, Dave Twichell, Alan Cooper, Will Sager, and numerous other researchers with knowledge of the geology and geophysics of the Gulf helped focus our efforts in developing a cruise plan. Finally, we are indebted to the able ship handling and concerted efforts of Captain Dana O. Dyer III and the crew of the Gyre, whose diligence and efficiency made this cruise so successful.