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[CapnUrist]

Well, not all of it.

I'm playing with a new megaproject, a huge glass powerplant sitting atop an ocean (using the ocean water to produce power) and I plan on building some necessary plumbing beneath the plant, just under the ocean's surface. What would be a good method of draining out the necessary section for an extended time? My two ideas are piping lava from the nearby volcano to make an obsidian levee of sorts, and pump out the water, or just make a ton of pumps to try and hold water away while my masons do what the need to do.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

(Also, I've cheated and my dwarves don't drown. Got sick of losing so many dwarves just because they couldn't be bothered to get back to the shore in time.)

[alpha]

I think that water could be drained through underground fortifications carved into edge of map. Don't quote me on this though.

[CapnUrist]

I think that water could be drained through underground fortifications carved into edge of map. Don't quote me on this though.

Ah, here's the thing: I want to area refilled afterward, because the design requires it. It sources water directly from the ocean to power it, and dumps it back when a full shutdown is necessary.

[durbu]

a) Use pumps, lots of pumps
b) Try draining the ocean into the caverns
c) Both

[LealNightrunner]

I've heard a tale of someone using one of those ever-burning lignite bins to cleanse the seas of water... but don't quote me on that.

[MonkeyHead]

might also cleanse your fps...

[Rowanas]

You need Urist McMoses.

[Archereon]

I think that water could be drained through underground fortifications carved into edge of map. Don't quote me on this though.

Ah, here's the thing: I want to area refilled afterward, because the design requires it. It sources water directly from the ocean to power it, and dumps it back when a full shutdown is necessary.

Some elaborate floodgate mechanism to block water when you don't want it flowing?

[haywire]

I think that water could be drained through underground fortifications carved into edge of map. Don't quote me on this though.

Ah, here's the thing: I want to area refilled afterward, because the design requires it. It sources water directly from the ocean to power it, and dumps it back when a full shutdown is necessary.

Some elaborate floodgate mechanism to block water when you don't want it flowing?

It actually isn't complex.  Just build a door/floodgate/whatever and have it linked to a switch before you pierce the ocean.  Then, when you're done building whatever just flip the switch, the door closes, and the ocean refills.

You will most likely have to sacrifice one poor soul to pierce the ocean, and your fps is going to take a huge hit until it refills, but it'll work.  Also, the bottom layer of the ocean will be at 7/7 depth, so plan for that as well.

[Valguris]

You will most likely have to sacrifice one poor soul to pierce the ocean,

No, you won't. Simply dig a tunnel under ocean, and construct a floor/wall tile above this tunnel. Then cave this floor/wall in, so it will pierce bottom of the ocean right into the tunnel. No dwarf losses.

[Xenos]

dig a tunnel leading from the ocean to an aquifer with a hatch/floodgate blocking it.  open that sucker up and watch the ocean teleport away.

[Sphalerite]

I have a current fortress where I used the cave-in method.  I dug a large tunnel under the ocean that runs to map-edge fortifications.  I built a raising drawbridge wall before the fortifications, then dropped a constructed floor into the ocean to punch through into the tunnel.  I can drain the ocean through the fortifications, or raise the drawbridge to seal the drain and let the ocean refill.  This allowed me to build cage traps on the ocean floor so I could capture a breeding pair of sea serpents.

[CapnUrist]

Awesome, thanks. Putting together the draining method now.

EDIT: Holy crap, a draining ocean is a scary sight.

[alpha]

Awesome, thanks. Putting together the draining method now.

EDIT: Holy crap, a draining ocean is a scary sight.

Pics or it didn't happen.

[Quietust]

Emptying the ocean through a fortification drain is slow.

Emptying the ocean using Dwarven Fire is faster.

Emptying the ocean into an aquifer is instantaneous.