The Importance of Integrated Studies to Deepwater Site Investigation

摘要

Shallow geologic and soil conditions on the continental slope (water depths about 600 to 10,000 ft) can be complex. These conditions include: steep slopes, rugged topography, landslides, active faults, gas hydrates, seafloor erosion, and complex soil conditions. Because of these complex conditions, site investigations for siting and design of deep water production structures should include not only analysis of soil borings, but also analysis of high-resolution geophysical, geological, and ocean-ographic data. These diverse types of data need to be carefully combined and considered together to understand site conditions. This integrated approach helps to optimize siting of production facilities and results in the most economical foundation design.