Geotech Survey Complete

On 16 March 2021, Ground Engineering reported that the Moray West offshore wind farm had completed its final geotechnical survey campaign to inform the detailed design of wind turbine and offshore substation foundations. Moray West is described as an 860MW project located in the outer Moray Firth. The campaign followed earlier surveys for unexploded ordnance, which cleared the way for the specialist marine survey company Fugro to undertake the geotechnical work using the survey vessel Normand Flower, with additional support from Aberdeen-based Vysus Group. The work focused on gathering detailed seabed and subsoil information at all planned foundation locations across the site. The geotechnical programme included cone penetration boreholes to provide full coverage of foundation locations for the turbines and the two offshore substations. The newly acquired data will be combined with results from Geoquip’s 2019 investigations to finalise the design of the foundations at each turbine position and for the substations. According to Moray West project director Adam Morrison, the decision to invest in such an extensive survey campaign demonstrates the sponsors’ commitment to progressing the project in line with its programme and contributing to Net Zero goals. Completion of this survey work is highlighted as a key part of the design process and a prerequisite for advancing Tier 1 procurement, enabling major contracting and construction preparations to move forward with a robust understanding of ground conditions.