SUT
Offshore Site Investigation and Geotechnics Group (OSIG) GeoForum
Presents:
Developing Green Energy in a Hostile Environment –
Offshore Windfarms
30 September 2009
London
Chairman Peter Allan,
Geomarine Ltd
Sponsored by GEMS
Flyer
Presentations
Importance of Geophysical and
Geotechnical Integration for Offshore Windfarm Developments
Xanser Van Beusekom, RPS
Energy
A geophysical and
geotechnical data integration exercise was carried out for one of
the large Round 2 offshore development sites, where the geophysical
data was re-processed, re-interpreted and subsequently calibrated
with additional information available from a reconnaissance
geotechnical site investigation. This geotechnical investigation was
carried out following the completion and original reporting of the
geophyiscal survey campaign. This presentation discussed the
benefits of this approach. It is believed that geophysical and
geotechnical data integration will be the key risk mitigation
process for Round 3 windfarm development sites due to the large
areas involved within each zone and the associated complexity of the
soil conditions anticipated.
Challenges for
Construction Vessels in Next-Generation Windfarms
Eric Briar, Metoc
The next round of UK
offshore windfarms will be located further from shore, in deeper
waters and with heavier components required for their construction.
This presentation gave an overview of the requirements that will
need to be met and will highlight potential issues in such
installations. These include:
- A review of vessels
currently involved in windfarm construction and how these will
be utilised in the future
- Innovative vessel
designs are currently underway aimed at satisfying the various
foundation designs required
- Supply chain management
is an issue occupying developer's minds, but the question is
asked as to why a potential shortfall in vessels should be any
more challenging to rectify than during previous oil and gas and
submarine cable boom periods
- Delivering the solution
– can designers reduce the component lifts and make installation
more cost-effective.
Geotechnical
Engineering for Multiple Tripod Support Structures in Similar Geological
Conditions
David Cathie, Cathie
Associates
Based on a case history for
a windfarm development offshore Germany, the presentation
investigated the technical and economic aspects of site survey and
investigation for hundreds of piles in similar (but not identical)
geotechnical conditions. Is it cost-effective to perform boreholes
at every location? What is the role of an integrated
geophysical/geotechnical survey? Are geostatistics or net present
value concepts useful tools?
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