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cross SECTIONTHE CUSTOMER NEWSLETTER OF THE FUGRO MARINE SURVEY AND GEOTECHNICAL DIVISIONS ISSUE 01 2004

Fugro Acquires Thales GeoSolutions

AUVs Go One Step FurtherUnderseas Volcanoes Investigated

Tailoring Deepwater Geotechnics

Winning Over China


2/12

On 19 November 2003, Fugro N.V. announced that it had

reached an agreement with Thales S.A. to acquire its

subsidiary Thales GeoSolutions for EUR 147.5 million.

The acquisition is set to strengthen Fugro’s position as a global

player in the oil and gas services industry.

“The complementary nature of Fugro and Thales GeoSolutions’

geographical spread and customer base is key to developing

these businesses,” said Gert-Jan Kramer, Chairman and CEO

of Fugro.

The combination of Fugro’s global network with that of Thales

GeoSolutions’ will lead to substantial efficiencies and synergies

and will permit it to become a more effective competitor and to

provide more comprehensive and efficient services to its

clients. Thales GeoSolutions will bring new technology and

talented and experienced people into the Fugro organisation,

accelerating technical developments and R&D projects. This

will allow the combined entity to remain at the forefront of

innovation in the survey and geotechnical markets.

Fugro’s global footprint will be further extended as a result of

the acquisition, particularly in Latin America, the Caspian Sea

and China. In line with the strategy to have a strong worldwide

and balanced position in all its activities, the acquired

operations reinforce Fugro’s position in the offshore survey,positioning and geotechnical market segments.

Fugro expects to achieve full integration of the two

organisations within six months of the acquisition date.

FUGRO ACQUIRESTHALES GEOSOLUTIONS

“Together we form a source of

innovation and a long-term supplier

to our survey, positioning and

construction support markets.”

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MAINTAINING A WORKING RELATIONSHIP SPANNING THREE DECADES

Fugro is committed to providing clients

with high-quality services through its

use of technologically advanced

equipment and assets and as such the

Bucentaur is the latest vessel in the

Fugro fleet to undergo a series of

upgrades to enhance its geotechnical

drilling capabilities.

Following Fugro’s acquisition of the

vessel in November 2002, the first round

of improvements were quickly put into

place. These included an upgrade to theheave compensation system, the

installation of a new tool handler control

system and an overhaul of the major

winches to ensure safer operation.

The next step, planned for March 2004,

will be to replace the entire drilling

control cabin with a state-of-the-art

system, giving better flexibility and safer

operation for the drillers. Furthermore,

the upgrading of the hydraulic systems

onboard will continue and electrical

cabling in the derrick will be partially

replaced. A special drill string fatigue

programme has also been developed to

eliminate the possibility of drill pipe

breakage and all drilling parameters can

be automatically logged in real-time toallow for interpolation of soil data and

the detection of layering.

Woodside Energy Limited and Fugro

Survey, based in Perth Australia, have

signed a geomatics service framework

agreement that will see the two

prominent figures in the offshore oiland gas industry continue their 30-year

working relationship into 2004.

Commenting on the recent signing,

Woodside Geomatics Manager, Bob

Quarrill stated: “Our association with

Fugro dates back to their first scope of

works in the early 1970s and we are

pleased to be able to continue our

associat ion with the signing of the

geomatics f ramework agreement.”

The agreement signed by Woodside

Geomatics Manager, Bob Quarrill and

Fugro Managing Director, Grey Roughan,

will act as the overarching contract that

will form the basis for all future work

undertaken by Fugro. The contract

details pre-agreed standard terms and

conditions, quality assurance

procedures, generic technical

specifications, together with health,

safety and environmental procedures.

Grey Roughan, Managing Director of

Fugro Survey, commented: “The signing

of the framework agreement highlights the

commitment between Woodside and Fugroto ensure a high level of quality service that

will provide synergies for future survey and

geotechnical works in 2004.”

The one-year agreement, with a further

option to extend, has an estimated

contract value in the order of A$8 million

in the first year.

WOODSIDE COMMITS TO FUGRO

FUGRO HITS

FIRST FOR ASIA PACIFIC

During 2003, Fugro in Perth

successfully provided positioning

services and installation support

for the first tension leg platform

installation in the Asia Pacific

region. Operations Manager, Dave

Scott said of the contract:

“This has been a very exciting

project, and to work on an Asia

Pacific first is also very

rewarding.”

Clough Offshore’s West Seno

construction project entailed

laying pipelines down to water

depths of 1,050m and installing

tendon piles and conductors on

the seabed to within 50cm

accuracy. Fugro Survey called on

the company’s renowned

worldwide expertise andknowledge to complete the

project with assistance from sister

companies in Houston and

Singapore. A wide range of high-

quality equipment and systems

were also used to ensure the

demanding accuracies were met.

Geotechnical investigations for Woodside Energy off the Victorian coast

ENHANCING BUCENTAUR’S GEOTECHNICAL DRILLING CAPABILITIES

BUCENTAUR GETS AN UPGRADE

What’s New

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SECTION04

The past few years have seen

collection methods for bathymetric and

near seafloor geophysical data take a

giant leap forward with the introduction

of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles

into the offshore industry, but their full

potential is still being uncovered.Fugro began planning its deepwater

survey AUV in early 2001 as a joint

development project with Boeing and

Oceaneering International. The

combined knowledge of the team lead to

the commercial operation of the

EchoRanger AUV within two year’s of the

first concept discussions. Its operational

efficiency against more traditional data

collection methods was quickly realised

with projects that would have taken up

to seven days using a deep tow reduced

to just two days with the EchoRanger.Projects that no one would have

considered trying with a deep tow also

became possible with a bit of lateral

thinking by the survey team.

One of the first surveys completed by the

EchoRanger was for a client who wanted

to investigate seafloor hazards for a

potential anchor pattern. In particular, the

client wanted sufficient seafloor data to

allow the designers to rotate the anchor

pattern as needed while controlling

survey costs. The solution came by

surveying a series of concentric circles

about the drilling platforms future

location, eliminating reams of irrelevant

data that would have been collected

using the traditional grid method.

Another application required the

placement of anchor piles in an area

with a series of seafloor faults making

very precise mapping essential. The

solution developed by Fugro was a

Micro 3D survey for which a series of

closely spaced lines was surveyed,nominally 10 metres. The sub-bottom

profiler data was then processed as if it

were a 3D seismic data volume and the

results used alongside geotechnical

engineering analyses to accurately

determine suction pile locations amidst

the faulted seafloor. The on-bottom

survey, consisting of 51 survey lines

across an area 875m x 440m, was

completed in less than nine hours.

For deepwater AUVs to growcommercially as well as technically, we

need to continue looking outside the box

- Micro 3D and circular surveying are

just the beginning.

AUVS GO ONE STEP FURTHER

Technology Review


5/12

FUGRO LEADING THE WAY IN SUCTION CAISSON SET-UP

Fugro, under the sponsorship of ExxonMobil, has successfullycompleted a two-year programme studying the set-up rate, and

resulting axial increase in pullout capacity with time, of suction

caissons in soil conditions similar to those found in deepwater

Gulf of Mexico.

The study was carried out through a testing programme of

large-scale instrumented caissons. Three different near full-size

caissons were tested to evaluate the effects of varying the

diameter, wall thickness and length of suction piles. The

caissons were outfitted with the necessary valves and fittings

to allow water to escape during self-weight penetration and

application of suction during installation. The caissons were

instrumented with pore pressure transducers, plug level

sensors, load cells, internal and external displacement, as wellas flow meters. All data was automatically acquired through

redundant data loggers.

The data from the programme is also available to other

interested parties. Typically, the data collected can be used to:

• More accurately predict the increase in pile

capacity with time (set-up)

• Evaluate pore pressure dissipation with time

• Characterise Nc with reverse end bearing data,

indirect ly

• Evaluate effects of diameter/wall thickness

on set-up• Evaluate self-weight penetration and required

installation suction

• Characterise soil plug behaviour and soil zone of

remoulding, indirect ly

• Assess the generation and dissipation of excess

pore pressure ( internal and external) during

instal lation load events

CHALLENGING ENGINEERING PHILOSOPHIES IN SUCTION PILE DESIGN

Near full-scale model of suction caisson

GROWTH OF BURIAL ASSESSMENT SURVEYS

Building on extensive experience, gained across thousands

of kilometres of cable route surveys, Fugro France is now

offering e-bas tools to the offshore industry.

The introduction of the Gambas® marine refraction system has

made pipeline burial assessment possible across the whole

continental shelf with operation from the shoreline to 300m.

Its average survey production equals 50kms per day and the

system can be deployed from standard supply vessels. The

system has already been proven in North Sea operations

during 2003, highlighting the added value to standardgeophysical and geotechnical results. In addition, Gambas®

can be combined with PCPT and sophisticated processing

software to provide a powerful investigation tool for burial

assessment of pipelines or cables.

• Evaluate skin friction with caisson displacement during load events

• Develop a better understanding of engineering

factors to be used in design

Initial findings from the programme indicate that the data

acquired during testing will have a significant impact on the

current engineering philosophies in suction pile design.

For more information contact Paul Stevenson on

+(1) 713 369 5594 or email [email protected]

A POWERFUL INVESTIGATION TOOL FOR BURIAL ASSESSMENT OF PIPELINES AND CABLES

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AmericasCONTRACT NEWS

UNDERSEA VOLCANOES INVESTIGATEDSIGNIFICANT HABITATS FOR HIGHLY PRIZED FISH

Fugro recently mapped Alaska’s firstknown active undersea volcano whilst

mapping seafloor habitat for deep-sea

coral research on behalf of the National

Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).

Lying off the Aleutians in the northwest

portion of Amchitka Pass, the active

volcano and several extinct and partially

eroded volcanic cones were mapped

using a combination of Reson 8111 and

8150 multi-beam echo-sounders that

produced highly detailed results of the

whole seafloor area. Mapping was led by

Dr Jennifer Reynolds with co-operationfrom NMFS and Moss Landing Marine

Laboratory scientists to ensure quality

data collection.

While the unnamed volcano is

geologically active, it is unknown

whether it might erupt anytime soon, or

if it will ever rise above the ocean

surface to form a new island. But its

presence in an area traversed by fishing

vessels and ships makes monitoring the

volcano important. As a result, further

research is planned for summer 2004

using extensive diving and samplingprogrammes to uncover more details on

this interesting submarine feature,

originally discovered in 2002 by NMFS

biologists Bob Stone and Dr Jon Heifetz.

Of equal significance was the recentdiscovery of an eroded volcanic cone

on the seafloor 3,000km away in

southeastern Alaska. This habitat

mapping discovery was confirmed by

manned-submersible observations and

sampling on behalf of the Alaska

Department of Fish and Game.

Interpretation and analysis of the data

concluded that truncated volcanoes are

significant for the habitat they provide

for a highly prized variety of fish. Further,

the probable outermost boundary of ice-

age (Pleistocene) glacial advance acrossthe continental shelf was discovered by

interpretation of the differential erosion

characteristics of the seabed

outcrops. Additional mapping

of the eroded volcanic

cone is planned for

more research

programmes.

REPSOL WORKCONTINUES TO GROW

Fugro’s Aberdeen-based, ROV & Construction Services business haswon a contract from Repsol YPF toprovide deepwater ROV drillsupport and associated interventionservices in the Caribbean.

Fugro will provide a complete ROV

system and a backup vehicle, as

well as its extensive expertise in drill

support and intervention activities to

a DPII semi-submersible rig.

Working at depths of 1,650m,

comfortably within the design limit

of the Sealion MkII ROV system of

3,300m, this contract award follows

the recent successful completion of

an ultra-deepwater ROV survey and

intervention project for Repsol YPF

offshore Spain on the wreck of the

Prestige oil tanker.

Mobilisation of the Fugro ROV

services for this contract is

expected to be in Canada during

February, prior to the transit of the

rig to site, ready to commence

drilling in late March, early April.

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MONITORING COMMISSIONSENSURING SUCCESSFUL LIFTING

FUGRO WORKS

SABLE ENERGY PROJECT

Fugro installation staff on the Alma jacket

Since its inception in the late 1990s, the Sable Offshore

Energy Project continues to be an exciting development for

Nova Scotia’s offshore industry.

Fugro’s Canadian operation has been closely involved

throughout the construction phases of this project since its

outset. The past year has seen the team involved in the

positioning and installation of the jacket and topside for the

Alma fie ld. This is the most southerly of the Sable projects six

natural gas fields that are situated 200 kilometres offshore

Nova Scotia’s eastern coast. The jacket was positioned in real-

time using the Company’s WinFrog positioning software with

inputs received by Differential GPS and auto-tracking

theodolites to ensure accurate location. Differential corrections

were provided by Fugro’s long-range real-time kinematic

positioning solution, resulting in horizontal and vertical

positioning accuracies of less than 10cm.

General Manager of Fugro’s Nova Scotia operation, Kirk Stead

stated: “We are delighted to be involved with such a prestigious

development, the Sable fields represent the largest project ever

undertaken in Nova Scotia and will provide alternative energy

resources to the Mari time provinces and Northeastern United

States for many years to come. We hope to continue working

on construction and inspection contracts until the fields are

complete.”

During 2003, Fugro Structural Monitoring was contracted todesign, supply and install a monitoring system for J Ray

McDermott for its Gulf of Mexico operations.

EXCITING DEVELOPMENT FOR

NOVA SCOTIA’S OFFSHORE INDUSTRY

Designed for initial use in the Nansen field in the East Breaks

area of the Gulf of Mexico, the Fugro system was required to

monitor the relative motions and displacements during the

lifting of the Nansen deck on to the newly developed truss spar.

A dual crane l ift was identif ied as necessary to place the deck

and derrick barges DB50 and 101 were selected to conduct the

dual lift. The barges’ cranes, the deck and the platform deck

were all instrumented to measure boom relative heights, deck

motions, dynamic loads in each crane and cross angles, along

with vessel draught and current to ensure a successful lift.

Following success in the Nansen field, J Ray McDermott then

commissioned Fugro to perform a similar service on the

Medusa and Devils Tower installations.

Single crane barges are also used by J Ray McDermott to

compete alongside dual crane vessels such as the Saipem 7000

and the Heerema Balder. The Fugro crane lift monitoring system

forms a crucial safety tool in these operations.

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Fugro has a long pedigree in providing

site investigation services to the

offshore industry and performed its first

deepwater project in 1977 in 1,300m

water depths offshore Angola.

Technology has moved on somewhat

over the past 25 years but new

developments are still being sought to

maximise the value of collected data.Site investigation work off the Gulf of

Guinea during spring 2003 brought some

major technical improvements to Fugro’s

service provision. The operator Total was

particularly concerned by the specific

nature of the deepwater soil conditions

encountered in the Moho-Bilondo site

offshore Congo and the Akpo field

offshore Nigeria. It was decided to

implement upgraded procedures with a

view to increasing the representativity of

the collected data.

The strategy recommended by FugroFrance was articulated around three

basic principles:

• Combining different in-situ

measurement techniques for a

better appraisa l of complex

soi l conditions

• Adapting the tools to the

specification of each type of

engineering problem

• Diversifying the sampling tools

according to well defined

objectivesIn-situ shear vane tests were performed

using the Deepwater Seacalf seabed unit

to penetrations of typically 5m along

flowline routes of up to 30m at anchoring

locations. By comparison with close

CPTUs, this allowed a precise calibration

of the local Nk cone factor and a very

reliable derivation of shear strength

profiles with depth. Residual shear

strength measurements were made at

selected depths that provided highly

valuable data for estimating the sensitivity

of the materials.

T-bar tests were also implemented from

the Deepwater Seacalf. The tool has

demonstrated a high potential for an

accurate measurement of the in-situ

shear strength over the first metre(s) of

penetration that is of particular

importance for pipeline interaction

assessment. CPTU penetrations to 5m

were performed by the light (2T)

DeepWater Seascout module and

comparisons made with the T-bar results.

There is now evidence that samples

taken with the Stacor piston corer are ofhigh quality and characterised by low

disturbance indices. Along pipeline

routes where deep cores were not

necessary gravity coring was performed.

The advantage of gravity coring is to

reduce the operation time and the costs.

In parallel, the Fugro box corer was used

to recover undisturbed samples of the

very top sediments that are of great

concern for pipeline soil interactions.

The laboratory measurements performed

on the 0.4 x 0.4 x 0.4m samplesconfirmed the high quality of this

sampling mode and provided highlyaccurate shear strength data to

characterise the seabed soils.

TAILORING DEEPWATER GEOTECHNICSMAXIMISING VALUE OF COLLECTED DATA AND REDUCING OPERATION TIME AND COSTS

Geotechnical vessel MV Bavenit

CONTRACT NEWS

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Europe & AfricaJEWEL IN THE NILE

FPSO HEAVEN

Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) units are

being used increasingly in deep and shallow water fields

offshore West Africa, bringing renowned and well documented

operational and budgetary efficiencies to the exploration

market. With 20 units already operational and another 30 beingplanned for this area alone, Fugro sees its workload rapidly

expanding to meet the growing needs of FPSO operators.

To date, Fugro has been involved in the installation of all

operational units offshore West Africa through its eight local

offices, be it through pre-engineering surveys, pile installations,

sub-sea riser or infield flow-line installations. In addition, Fugro

has provided positioning support during over 50% of the

region's hook-up procedures using the highly accurate Starfix

positioning system.

Installation work usually commences with inspection of the pile

areas and anchor corridors. Piles are then installed and anchor

chains laid based on positional information provided by Fugro'sStarfix-HP, the accuracy of which negates the need for an LBL

array on the seabed affording installation time and cost

savings. Positioning of FPSO units themselves is a complex

procedure and the use of positional displays showing all related

vessels allows the marine co-ordinator to make calculated

decisions during the pressured hook-up operation.

Addi tional services such as weather forecast ing during tow and

installation, ROV inspection of FPSOs and export lines, andautomated position monitoring systems ensure Fugro is well

positioned to provide a fully integrated service to operators

throughout the life cycle of FPSO units.

PROVIDING A FULLY INTEGRATED SERVICE TO OPERATORS THROUGHOUT THE LIFECYCLE OF FPSO UNITS

Typical PLET structure

Decay of excess pore water pressure in bottom of trench

Fugro engineers are actively engaged on various engineeringaspects of the major Simian Sapphire development, offshore

Egypt under contract to Technip.

Much of the sub-sea development is in deep water on the edge

of the Nile delta front. Key requirements of the project include

provision of geotechnical design parameters for the sub-sea

structures, seismic design guidance for pipelines, foundation

design for PLET (Pipeline End Terminal) structures and pipeline

uplift resistance assessment.

The soil conditions are very soft and evidence of previous slope

instability abound in some areas. Fugro has assisted with flow-

line routing to avoid the principal geotechnical hazards and has

developed a method for assessing the risk of slope instability

by considering the movement that could occur in a slopeduring an earthquake.

PLET structure foundation design is ongoing at the time of

writing and the size of the mud-mats is being optimised using

the latest failure envelope approach for bearing capacity

stability when overturning loads are important. The special

sliding system allows pipeline expansion without putting very

high loads on the PLET. An innovative approach for uplift

resistance was developed based on the behaviour of backfill

that consists of soft clay lumps in a matrix of slurry.

Experimental data and finite element analysis was combined in

order to understand the increase in uplift resistance that is

expected to occur after Technip installs the lines with a special

method of jet-trenching.

FUGRO ENGINEERS ACTIVELY ENGAGED ON SAPPHIRE DEVELOPMENT

SECTION 09

Picture courtesy of Single Buoy Moorings


10/12

Asia PacificCONTRACT NEWS

CHANNEL SURVEYINGPROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE KNOWLEDGE OF SPECIFIC AREAS

RV EASTERN SUCCESS CONTINUESCHALLENGING PROJECT IN COMPLEX ENVIRONMENT

The Port Hedland Port Authority recently contracted FugroSurvey, based in Perth Australia, to undertake a bathymetric

survey of the entire length of the Port Hedland Shipping

Channel on the North West Australian Coast. Comprehensive

knowledge of the water depths was required along the

channel and other specified areas.

Previously, the channel had been surveyed using a single beam

echo-sounder. On this occasion, Fugro utilised its Reson

Seabat 8101 multi-beam echo-sounder to capture a 56m

corridor of data from a single survey pass in water depths of

14m. The Company’s sub-metre positioning system Starfix-HP

was also used alongside high-precision motion sensors to

provide an excellent data set for the client. This included

standard topographic charts, the inclusion of sun-illuminated

seafloor images, and a fly-through video of the data providing a

3D motion image of the channel.

The data has provided an invaluable source of information forthe Port Hedland Port Authority aiding channel maintenance

planning and, due to the high production rate and quality of the

bathymetric data acquired, Fugro was requested to survey

additional seabed in the vicinity of the channel approaches.

Fugro’s Indonesian operation rounded-off last year with achallenging project for its geophysical survey vessel, the

RV Eastern.

Commissioned by Petronas Carigali to conduct a 2D seismic

project offshore Sumatra at the southern end of the Malacca

Straits, Fugro was required to survey one of the busiest

shipping lanes in the world, with much of the location in waters

of less than five metres, amidst extensive fishing activities.

Due to the complexities of the location, a total of three vessels

were used to support the operation of the Eastern. The MV

Aske lad analogue survey vessel and a charter vessel were used

simultaneously in chase boat activities whilst an additional

launch was employed for liaison with local fisheries. Shore

control and liaison facilities were established in the area

including a tidal monitoring station to ensure effective

management of the project. This survey followed a

reconnaissance survey of the area conducted by Fugro earlier

in the year.

The RV Eastern spends approximately half of her operational

time on projects within Indonesia and is expected to return

again in early 2004 for pending projects such as digital site

surveys for BP. Fugro Indonesia currently supports long-term

call-out contracts for BP and CNOOC, as well as other spot

requirements for surveys from many other clients.

Enhanced sun-illuminated image displaying detail of the dredge cutter and scouring within the channel

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11/12

MAPPING THE WAY FOR WOODSIDE’S TSEP

As a key part of the ongoing North West Shelf TSEP(Trunkline System Expansion Project) headed by Woodside

Energy, Perth based Fugro Survey was contracted to carry

out seabed bottom roughness and anchor pattern surveys

prior to the pipeline installation phase.

The bottom roughness survey, awarded by Saipem as the

pipeline installation contractor, was conducted along the

proposed pipeline route. This spans from the offshore

intersection with the Goodwyn interfield pipeline, approximately

135km offshore Dampier, to the shallow water approach to the

North West Shelf partners’ LNG plant. The purpose of this

survey was to provide data to determine the probable

distribution and severity of pipeline free-spans following the

installation, and to plan for any post-lay intervention that maybe needed.

Anchor pattern surveying was commissioned for problem areas

along the proposed pipe route where the anchoring of the

pipeline lay barges needed critical control. In particular, surveys

were conducted in shallow water in the Mermaid Sound where

bed-rock is exposed at the seabed and in deeper water areas

close to the North Rankin A platform where precise positioning

of anchors is required to avoid the existing seabed

infrastructure. As some of the anchor locations are within water

depths of less than five metres, Fugro provided a shallow water

catamaran to survey these areas.

Fugro’s involvement in the TSEP construction phase of the

project has been widespread with additional surveys carried outfor Boskalis, who commissioned a refraction survey to

PROVIDING DATA FOR POST-LAY INTERVENTION

MV Shaheda conducts the offshore survey work

WINNING OVER CHINA

Fugro has taken over the foreign partner stake in China

Offshore Thales GeoSolutions (COTG), a 50/50 joint

venture established in 1983 with China Offshore Services

Ltd (COSL).COTG is one of the earliest JVs of its kind in China, and

one of the most successful. When the JV contract recently

came up for renewal, both parties had no hesitation in

agreeing a further 10-year extension to the partnership. The

newly enhanced operation will be renamed China Offshore

Fugro GeoSolutions (Tianjin) Co (COFGL).

The company is well established as the premier provider of

precise positioning systems to the Chinese offshore

industry and has more recently developed its product

portfolio by introducing work class ROVs for drill rig

support, IRM and construction support tasks. The change

in foreign partner ownership further strengthens the

technical capabilities of COFGL and broadens its existingresource pool of 75 people located at operational bases in

Shekou, Tianjin and Shanghai.

determine the competency of the shallow geology for thedredging of a pipeline trench. This enabled acoustic velocities

to be measured within the upper sediment/rock layers from

which material strength can be derived. Boskalis was then able

to determine the extent of the dredging programme and the

techniques to be utilised.

10 YEAR EXTENSION TO JOINT VENTURE CONTRACT

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Case Study

Fugro Jacques GeoSurveys was contracted during thesummer of 2003 to conduct hydrographic survey work in

support of shipping activities surrounding the Voisey’s Bay

Nickel Project in northern Labrador, Canada. The massive

sulphide deposit, initially found in 1993, is one of the world’s

richest deposits of its type, containing 30 million tonnes of

ore, as well as another 70 million tonnes of indicated and

inferred mineral resource.

The proposed mine port facility is located at the head of

Anaktalak Bay, a 60km long fjord extending into the rugged

heart of northern Labrador. The coastline outside the bay is

highly variable and extremely rugged, with numerous islands

and shoals that are only partially charted. As a result,

significant hydrographic work was required to accommodatemodern bulk carrier shipping to and from the mine site.

Fugro had conducted survey work of the shipping routes in

1996 and 1997 using single beam echo-sounders, as mandated

by the Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS) at the time. At the

end of 1997, the bulk of the work remaining was in the form of

shoal investigations on the Eastern Route. However, project

completion was delayed by a subsequent lull in mine

development. With the resurrection of the project in 2003, the

need to complete the Eastern Route mapping was crucial. With

in excess of 250 shoals requiring full investigation for least

depth determination, the usage of multi-beam echo-sounder

(MBES) became very attractive and was confirmed with CHS

acceptance of MBES data for charting purposes.

www.fugro.com

NO OTHER COMPANY CAN PROVIDE THE SAME COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF GEOTECHNICAL, SURVEY AND GEOSCIENCE SERVICES

PO Box 41

2260 AA Leidschendam

The Netherlands

Tel: +31 70 311 1422

For further information, please email: [email protected]

FUGRO IN PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERING

HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEYING IN LABRADOR

SECTION12

Equipped with a multi-beam and single beam transducer, the

MV Marine Eagle commenced 24-hour survey operations in late

August. Areas containing hazardous shoals, rocks and islands

were surveyed during daylight, while deeper waters and clearer

areas were surveyed at night. The survey team had to be

continuously aware of unique hazards in this region including

icebergs and bears curious about the shoreline surveys.

Certainly the most demanding challenge was the fact that the

seafloor was of an extremely variable nature. The region hasthe topography of a submerged fjord, with meandering and

bifurcating channels fringed by steep sides and plateaus.

Despite this, good quality data and imagery was acquired, even

in areas of near vertical rock faces. Tidal data was downloaded

on a regular basis and used to reduce soundings to chart

datum. Sound velocity casts, used to correct soundings for

speed of sound in water and ray bending effects, were

conducted at least twice daily.

The data set confirmed the topography defined by the previous

data sets, albeit with much higher data density resulting in

electronic chart-quality data that will become an integral part of

the Voisey’s Bay Project.

CHS involvement was important in providing real-time quality

control, and hopefully provided a template for further examples

of private-public partnering.

Cross Section 01

Documents

Transcript of Cross Section 01