Geophysical Site Survey

Geophysical Site Survey is an essential multidisciplinary operation conducted before offshore drilling, pipelaying, or platform installation. While a Debris Survey (for jack-up rigs) focuses on the surface, a full Geophysical Survey investigates the entire environment from the water surface to several hundred meters below the seabed.

Objectives

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Geohazard Identification Detecting shallow gas pockets, fault lines, or unstable "slump" areas that could cause a blowout or structural collapse.
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Engineering Design Providing data for foundation engineering (e.g., how deep a pile should be driven or the slope stability for a pipeline).
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Infrastructure & Archaeological Mapping Locating existing pipelines, cables, and shipwrecks to ensure safe clearance (typically 50m–500m).
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Stratigraphic Correlation Mapping the geological layers (stratigraphy) to understand the soil's load-bearing capacity.
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Benthic / Habitat Mapping Identifying sensitive environmental areas (coral reefs, seagrass) to avoid ecological damage during installation.

Geophysical Site Survey

Objectives

2. Methodology & Equipment Functionality

Sub-Bottom Profiler (SBP) – "The X-Ray"

B. Side Scan Sonar (SSS) – "The Camera"

C. Multi-Beam Echo Sounder (MBES) – "The 3D Sculptor"