Benthic Completes CPT Site Investigation For Equinor's Baltyk II And III Offshore Wind Farms In The Baltic Sea

Earlier this year, Benthic, a Geo-services brand in Acteon’s Data and Robotics division, completed a site investigation comprising cone penetration tests (CPTs) using its portable remotely operated drill (PROD) that has enabled the design of foundations for about 100 wind turbines and two offshore substations for the Baltyk II and III wind farms offshore Poland in the Baltic Sea. The work for the developments, which are 50–50 joint venture between Norwegian energy company Equinor and Polish power utility company Polenergia, was performed at 16 locations in 40–55 m water depths.

The PROD unit, supported by the survey services of Acteon Geo-services brand UTEC, was deployed from the Ocean Zephyr offshore supply vessel. The geotechnical work began in December 2022 and the three-month project was completed in March 2023. Wind farm construction is expected to start in early 2024, and the first power export is anticipated in 2026.

“We wish to thank Equinor and Polenergia for entrusting us with their Baltyk II and III wind farm development plans,” says Jonathan Watt, Benthic Managing Director. “Our PROD unit encountered some of the most challenging soil conditions we have seen to date, including layers of dense sands and medium-dense silty sands, and the project showcased PROD’s capability to perform in varying subsurface conditions. A huge congratulations must be extended to all the project participants and stakeholders for a safely executed project and one which supports Poland’s energy transition.”

About Acteon’s Geo-services business segment
Acteon provides customers with superior geo-data that help them to gain critical insights and make better-informed design and construction decisions. The company’s marine surveys and site characterisation services provide integrated solutions that optimise the design and installation of marine structures.

Benthic and UTEC are brands in the Acteon Geo-services business segment.

Benthic is a global leader in offshore marine geotechnical investigation, survey, analysis and design. The company’s proprietary PROD technology has led the way in high-quality ultra-shallow and ultra-deepwater site investigations, and has capabilities in water depths ranging from 0 to more than 3000 m. Benthic takes pride in its groundbreaking technological innovations, which help to overcome technical and environmental barriers and which enable its clients to gather data in conditions that were considered prohibitive just a decade ago.

UTEC provides a wide range of global survey, positioning and data management services using the most advanced equipment and techniques on the market. The data generated provide customers with the information they need to make critical, well-informed business decisions supporting all phases of construction. Surveys performed by UTEC are designed and deployed to use less equipment and optimise vessel usage to reduce the length and cost per survey, and dedicated teams remain on a project from start to finish to ensure that knowledge is retained through the cycle. UTEC also specialises in 3D asset management software solutions, land surveying, laser scanning, photogrammetry and telecoms services. Through a turnkey model for telecommunication and broadcast infrastructure site development, maintenance and upgrade, UTEC is a pioneer in its approach to the display of laser scanning data via its proprietary 3D virtual asset management solution, iSite.

About Acteon
Acteon provides specialist engineering, services and technology to companies that develop and own marine infrastructure across the life of their assets. We enable our customers to achieve their operational goals with a more efficient integrated solution reducing the cost and carbon footprint through value engineering without compromising the quality of delivery.

This is achieved by applying our domain expertise to increase efficiencies and enhance commercial and environmental value for our customers across the renewable, nearshore construction and oil and gas industries.

We specialise in data collection and survey techniques ahead of construction, the installation of key foundation and anchoring technologies, the monitoring and management of assets, and the decommissioning of assets. For more information, visit www.acteon.com.