Royal IHC has developed the world’s most advanced heavy duty remotely operated subsea drilling and geotechnical site investigation rig known as SWORD. It is specified to be capable of the very highest quality geotechnical drilling, coring, sampling and in situ testing to a depth of 120 metres penetration below the seabed, in depths to 3,000 metres.
The drill rig is powered by a Sonic-Sample-Drill (SSD) compact roto-sonic drilling drive, together with full size drill pipe strings, which are automatically assembled at the seabed from a storage carousel. The rig is fully integrated with an A.P. van den Berg (APB) integrated in situ CPT testing system and NGI designed push and piston samplers.
