Case Study: LNG Pipeline Route

The client required piezocone penetration tests (CPTUs), piston core samples and box core samples. The project was mobilised from our bases in Singapore and Great Yarmouth onto the vessel Armada Tuah 9. 
 
 
10m down to 1000m
 
From February to April 2007 the survey enabled the acquisition of geotechnical data along the site, from  water depths of 10m down to depths of 1000m. Utilising the Neptune system to perform the piezocone tests a total of: 254 CPTUs, 20 piston cores, 24 box cores and 3 box core bulk samples were performed along the site.
 
 
Neptune 3000 system
 
The Neptune system is housed in a self-contained operating unit (20’ container).  One half of the container  houses  the Neptune 3000 and the other half  is an air-conditioned  control room and electrical workshop  containing all the tools and spares required for an efficient offshore operation (see image above).

The Neptune 3000 is able to operate in a depth of 3000m of water and perform CPTUs and t-bar tests to a depth of 10m penetration.  Due to its coiled rod system it is small and light weight, weighing only 1.2 tonnes. With the added advantage of being a digital system, it can utilize a single lifting and power communications umbilical. More info >> 
 
 
Completed on time
   
The project was completed successfully within the client's expected time constraints despite several cyclones during the survey period.
  
 
Safety
 
Acquisition of the cores is carried out with the greatest degree of safety in mind. A hydrostatically armed Kullenberg arm as well as an acoustic releaser are used to nullify the potential for accidental triggering of the core during deployment. A core table, designed in house, is used in order to maximize safety and minimize sample disturbance during recovery.
 
 
Positioning services
 
Positioning services were provided by Andrews Survey, Aberdeen, and utilised a USBL pole and beacon system enabling data to be collected to within a 10m degree of accuracy even in deep water.