Geotechnical data is used by oil and gas companies to determine the geological risks, seismic activity, soil composition, and tidal currents in on and offshore structures.
It’s a crucial step in site exploration, providing reliable data that informs everything from pipeline infrastructure and spatial relationships, to errors in positioning.
Key fact: 80% of data used in upstream oil and gas operations are spatially referenced
Geotechnical engineering is particularly important in offshore development, conducting wave equation analysis, deep foundation analysis, as well as drilling and sample analysis to determine the safety and profitability of a site.
It can also mitigate challenging soil conditions and help in choosing the best equipment for optimising site exploration.
Key fact: Global capital expenditures on offshore exploration and production is expected to reach US$293 billion by 2025
The geotechnical data collected during pre-planning stages highlights potential engineering limitations, safety risks, and environmental factors. In turn, this information is used to optimise engineering throughout every stage of development, ensuring project success and operational efficiency.
Benefits
Identifies underlying safety hazards
Provides insights on financial feasibility
Sets project up for success
