FEATURE
Hydrographic Survey Offshore energy exploration
H
ydrographic Survey is the scientific discipline of surveying and measurement of physical features that impact aquatic structures, marine biology, structural design, coastal construction, offshore oil research/exploration and other related activities. Hydrographic Survey is an important aspect of offshore energy exploration as it assists the exploration for oil. It also assists in mineral survey. This specialized knowledge enhances the productivity, safety and profitability of oil exploration. It also provides data for hydrographic and structural engineering planning. “To meet the growing global demand for offshore energy, through traditional oil & gas and more increasingly with renewables such as wind, wave and solar energy, hydrographic surveys are essential to map out new locations, conduct exploratory drilling and sampling, and provide spatial information essential in the design, installation and operations of the accompanying infrastructure,” affirms Gaynor Deacon of Amaza Survey Services. She adds that, Hydrographic surveyors map the seafloor and coastlines to determine possible obstructions and physical features to mitigate risk to equipment, vessels, cables and pipelines by using technology such as multibeam bathymetry, seismic systems, magnetometers and side-scan sonar. “Increasingly we are seeing LiDAR bathymetry being used in shallower coastal zones. In my opinion, there is no other way but to install hydrographic systems to surface survey vessels, underwater vehicles or unmanned platforms in the offshore marine environment to get accurate reliable spatial information of an inaccessible surface,” she emphasizes. Hydrographic Survey involves the use of specialized surveyors, survey equipment, surveys, charting instruments, computer databases, computers and software programs. Hydrographic survey operations and software are usually performed using computers in order to create comprehensive, accurate topographic maps. These maps show different aspects of the earth's surface like land surfaces, coastline, water surfaces and insides. The accuracy and details required makes this field very demanding in terms of time investment. Nonetheless, according to Gaynor Deacon of Amaza
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May-June issue l 2021
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