Sea Bed Sampler

该项目将研究、设计和开发一种创新的海床采样器，以提取具有代表性的软质和松散沉积物的原状样本，以便为海床结构提供最佳和尖端的基础设计解决方案。目前的技术和取样器要么根本不提取样本，要么仅部分提取样本，或者提取高度干扰的样本。松散的软沉积物可以延伸数米，极大地影响基础的设计和建造。数十亿英镑的英国近海工业由石油和天然气部门和可再生能源部门推动，这两个部门的结构都需要海底基础。这些结构范围从石油生产平台到需要基础的电缆线路，无论是结构本身还是系泊/锚定点。许多北海结构物已经超过了它们原来的设计寿命，需要改进和新的基础，可再生能源部门正在寻求创新和尖端的基础设计。为了使设计师提供最佳和尖端的设计，他们必须对基础是什么以及它将如何表现完全有信心。这将决定实际的地基类型、施工方法以及短期和长期性能和适用性。目前的样本或缺乏合适的样本导致设计者不得不做出假设。这些假设可能会极大地增加风险，导致过度设计或导致项目延误。所有这些都将导致成本增加，扼杀创新和尖端设计解决方案。新的海床采样器将采集一个不受干扰的代表性样本，可以在实验室进行肉眼检查和测试。这将为设计师提供他可以依赖的信息，并对这些信息有信心，从而催化将创造效率、降低成本和促进创新的设计。

The project will research, design and develop an innovative Sea Bed Sampler to retrieverepresentative undisturbed samples of the soft and unconsolidated sediments to allow optimaland cutting edge foundation design solutions for sea bed structures. Current techniques andsamplers either retrieve no sample at all or only partially retrieve a sample or retrieve a highlydisturbed sample. Soft and unconsolidated sediments can extend for many metres and canhugely influence the design and construction of the foundations.The multi billion pound UK offshore industry is driven by the Oil and Gas Sector andRenewable Energy Sector both of which have structures which require sub sea foundations.These structures range from oil production platforms to cable lines which require foundationseither for the structure themselves or for mooring/anchoring points. Many North Seastructures have out lived their original design life and require improved and new foundationsand the renewable energy sector is seeking innovative and cutting edge foundation designs.For Designers to deliver optimal and cutting edge design they must have total confidence inwhat the ground is and how it will behave. This will determine the actual foundation type,method of construction and both short term and long term performance and serviceability.Current samples or lack of suitable samples leads to the Designer having to makeassumptions. These assumptions can hugely increase the risk, lead to over-engineering orresult in delays to the project. All these will result in increased costs and stifle innovation andcutting edge design solutions. The new Sea Bed Sampler will retrieve an undisturbedrepresentative sample which can be visually examined and tested in the laboratory. This willprovide the Designer with information he can rely upon and have confidence in which willcatalyse designs which will create efficiencies, reduce costs and promote innovation.