Guidance for geophysical surveying for unexploded ordnance and boulders supporting cable installation

Guidance for the offshore wind industry on surveying for unexploded ordnance and boulders.

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OQA - Guidance for geophysical surveying cover

Overview

This guidance for geophysical surveys for unexploded ordanance (UXO) and boulders is for offshore wind developers and surveyors and includes information on best practice for the creation and utilisation of data, the structure of surveys and results documentation. It is the first of its kind dedicated to the offshore wind industry and aims to support subsea cable installation.

Publication date: April 2020

About this report

Unexploded ordnance and boulders present risks to subsea cables, as well as the operations and equipment required for their installation, maintenance, and decommissioning. Data generated by geophysical surveys undertaken in the planning stages of offshore wind farms form a key part of the knowledge base for risk evaluation and management of these operations - and can cost millions of pounds.

Faults in survey design can lead to the need to repeat surveys, or unexpected damage to equipment. Mitigating these risks is critical to minimise resulting project delays and increased costs. 

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Offshore Wind Accelerator (OWA)

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