Surveys

Surveys form an integral aspect of the development process and the resulting information will be used to assist with tranche and/or project selection as well as informing the Environmental Impact Assessment. The following surveys are underway or have been completed.

 

Zone
Start End Contractor Type of survey Vessel Scope & Aims
Jun-10 Jun-12 Gardline Environmental Metocean survey MV Vigilant Triaxys and waverider buoys deployed at two locations to measure wave and current data and better understand metocean conditions.
Apr-10 Jun-12 Hidef
Aerial survey using high definition digital video Up to 3 twin-engined light aircraft Monthly aerial ornithology and marine mammal surveys with the added benefit that the results are more robust for determining absolute numbers.
Jan-10 Jun-12 Gardline Environmental Boat based ornithology and marine mammal survey MV Vigilant Monthly ornithology and marine mammal surveys conducted along more than 1100 km survey lines to characterise the wildlife on site ahead of the full EIA process.

 

Tranche A
Start End Contractor Type of survey Vessel Scope & Aims
May-11 Jul-11 Gardline Environmental Benthic ecology MV Vigilant Utilisation of drop down, freshwater lens camera system and 0.1m2 hamon grab for macrofaunal sampling and habitat characterisation purposes, as well as the deployment of a Shipek grab select sampling sites for chemical testing.
Sep-10 Dec-10 Fugro Geoconsulting Geotechnical survey Fugro Saltire, Gargano and Bucentaur 41 boreholes and 98 cone penetration tests conducted to better understand the geological conditions for input in foundation design solutions.
Jun-10 Dec-10 GEMS Survey Geophysical survey Kommander Jack and Aquarius Acquisition of 24,000 line km of geophysical survey data across Tranche A including full coverage of multibeam echosounder and side scan sonar, AGDS, marine magnetometer and multichannel seismic data sets.

 

Tranche B
Start End Contractor Type of survey Vessel Scope & Aims
May-12 June-12 GEO Geotechnical survey Blue Alfa

A total of 80 cone penetration tests will be performed across the Tranche B area to confirm the interpretation of previously completed geophysical survey data and better understand ground conditions.
Jun-11 Apr-12 Gardline Geosurvey
Geophysical survey Tridens 1 & L'Espoir Acquisition of 18,000 line km of geophysical survey data across Tranche B, including full coverage of multibeam echosounder and side scan sonar, AGDS, marine magnetometer and multichannel seismic data sets.