Offshore Geotechnical Engineering Today

Geotechnical engineers also design the interactions between subsea pipelines/cables and the seabed.

Generally composed of recent sediments, which can include highly plastic soft clays (e.g., West Africa), carbonate sediments (Australia), or highly overconsolidated clays and dense sands (North Sea). Offshore Geotechnical Engineering

Unlike onshore soil, seabed sediments are often softer, under-consolidated, or subject to complex loading environments. carbonate sediments (Australia)

Initial data gathering using bathymetry (echo sounder), side-scan sonar, and seismic profiling to map seabed features. Geotechnical Investigation (Drilling & Sampling): seabed sediments are often softer

Structures must withstand wave, wind, and current loads, which induce significant lateral and cyclic forces on foundations.