The seabed environment has always posed unique challenges for offshore developers, whether in pursuit of O&G reserves, renewable energy, or marine minerals. The build-out of safe and sustainable offshore infrastructure is fundamentally reliant on robust geotechnical analysis of seabed soil and bedrock conditions. While initially born out of onshore geotechnical practices, today, offshore geotechnics is a standalone discipline governed by independent codes and technical standards. After all, offshore assets—which typically tower hundreds of meters above their foundations—are subject to greater environmental lateral loads (moment loading relative to structure weight caused by wind, waves, and currents) and a wider range of location-specific geohazards than their land-based counterparts.

When it comes to marine geotechnical survey, just getting to the work site can have a high impact on the environment. And then, once there, offshore geotechnical site investigation requires direct interaction with the seabed and these disturbances can lead to sediment plumes, uncontrolled releases of contaminates, and even equipment loss.

The Bluefield Geoservices team is excited to be attending Oceanology International (Oi) at ExCeL London, from 1 – 3 December. Oi, celebrating its 50th year in 2020, is widely regarded as the world’s premier ocean tech conference and an important global meeting place for innovators seeking to transform the future of the offshore industries.