Ensuring a route's suitability and gathering comprehensive subsea data

A dedicated marine hydrographic survey along the route corridor, as outlined in the Desktop Study, is used to approve the route and to gather the detailed information which enables the final route engineering to be undertaken.

Defining the nature and topology of the seabed to ensure a cables integrity for the long-run

Using the most advanced techniques and equipment, the marine survey typically uses geophysical tools such as echosounders, sonar, sub-bottom profilers, and magnetometers, combined with geotechnical sampling to provide a comprehensive set of data which is charted and incorporated into our cable routing GIS software.

We increasingly use aerial drones and autonomous surface vessels which can bring cost and technical advantages.

The survey data is interpreted and used to complete burial assessments which help determine the best burial tools and cable protection measures for the system, combined with the knowledge gained from the Desktop Study on the likely sources and nature of risks to the cable.

On-site OceanIQ survey representatives ensure the survey works meet the survey specification, to undertake in field routing decisions and engineering when required.

Better understanding of subsea environments for fibre optic and power cable installations

Pentland Firth, Scotland – survey works for new power cable installation

• Our survey contractors used an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) ‘drone’ and an Autonomous Surface Vessel (ASV). This innovative solution meant a diver swim survey was not needed and this reduced the health and safety risk to the project and improved the resulting survey deliverables ahead of a new cable installation

BT Highlands and Islands, Scotland – cable route survey and burial assessment for the 20 inter-island cables connecting the west coast and Orkney in Scotland

• This project involved managing a survey campaign involving up to five survey vessels, conducting geophysical and geotechnical surveys in a challenging offshore environment.

Tampnet projects, North Sea – cable route surveys and burial assessments for over 200km of inter-platform oil and gas connections

• These surveys for multiple projects with Tampnet are helping to ensure their cable systems are well designed, secure and deliver reliable, high bandwidth communications to major oil and gas operators.