Offshore site investigations are the backbone of any successful marine infrastructure project. Whether you’re venturing into oil and gas exploration, renewable energy installations, or underwater construction, understanding the seabed’s geotechnical and geological properties is paramount. At EEL, we don’t just provide equipment – we offer a partnership grounded in decades of expertise and a commitment to excellence.

Reliable samples and precise geotechnical data

It all starts with accurate data collection. The safety and stability of structures like wind turbines, pipelines, and oil rigs hinge on high-quality seabed samples. Operating in challenging environments, such as high pressure, strong currents, and unstable sediments, demands equipment that’s both robust and reliable.

Among the essential tools for collecting seabed samples are:

  • Seabed corers: Devices like vibrocorers and piston corers penetrate the seabed to extract cylindrical core samples, offering a vertical profile of sediment layers. The choice of corer depends on factors such as sediment composition and water depth.
  • Grab samplers: For surface sediment analysis, tools like the Van Veen grabs or box corers retrieve bulk samples from the top layers of the seabed, facilitating sedimentological analysis.

Collecting reliable samples is vital for determining soil composition, stratigraphy, and the mechanical properties that impact construction. The precision of this data ensures informed design decisions, preventing costly errors during construction and long-term operations.

Sampling and in-situ testing capabilities

Beyond sample retrieval, in-situ testing provides real-time data on soil behavior under actual conditions. These tests offer continuous or point-specific measurements of soil properties like strength, permeability, and deformation, which are critical for understanding the seabed’s stability.

Some of the most widely used in-situ testing methods include:

  • Cone Penetration Testing (CPT): A cone-tipped probe is pushed into the seabed at a constant rate to measure soil resistance, providing direct readings of parameters like tip resistance, sleeve friction, and pore pressure.
  • Seismic CPT: An advanced variation of CPT, this method measures the propagation speed of seismic waves through the soil, helping assess shear strength and density of sediment layers.
  • Pressure Meter Testing (PMT): Involves expanding an inflatable probe in a borehole to determine the soil’s pressure-deformation response, assessing compressibility and shear strength.

These techniques are invaluable in environments where sediment characteristics vary significantly, such as in deepwater or dynamic coastal areas. Combined with sampling, they offer a comprehensive understanding of soil properties across different depths and regions, allowing for the development of robust engineering solutions.

Interpreting and processing data

Collecting data is one thing, interpreting it is where the magic happens. The real value lies in processing and interpreting this information to inform decision-making. Advanced software tools organise, analyse, and interpret the vast amounts of geotechnical data obtained from offshore investigations.

  • Data analysis software: Geotechnical software platforms and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) compile data from various sources, generating 2D and 3D models of the seabed that highlight variations in soil layers, subsurface structures, and potential hazards.
  • Subsurface mapping: Detailed maps reveal the stratigraphy and mechanical properties of the seabed, identifying features such as boulders, faults, or gas pockets that may pose risks to offshore operations.
  • Geotechnical interpretation: Skilled engineers assess risks and provide recommendations by evaluating factors like soil stability, bearing capacity, and liquefaction potential, which are critical to the design and installation of marine structures.

Incorporating these methods ensures that the data is not only accurate but also actionable. Well-interpreted data can significantly reduce project risks, optimise foundation designs, and extend the operational life of offshore installations.