Fugro announces new Deepwater Survey System

January 18, 2000

A second-generation deeptow system for marine geophysical surveys will soon be available.

Fugro GeoServices, Inc., Houston, TX, has announced the ongoing development of the new DT-3500, which can be used in water depths to 3500m. The system is a technical enhancement of the tried-and-tested bottom-referencing survey system which has been Fugro's mainstay for deepwater marine surveys since the mid-1980s.

The introduction of the DT-3500 is an important step in advance of a future AUV survey system. The new deeptow vehicle incorporates the same sensor package designated for Fugro's prototype AUV currently under design. Sensors will include:

• Side Scan Sonar - EdgeTech "Chirp" wide-band dual-frequency (100 kHz and 500 kHz) array
• Sub-bottom Profiler - EdgeTech "Chirp" wide-band array (1 to 6 kHz)
• Multibeam bathymetry - Simrad SM2000; 200 kHz; 150 degree swath; 6000m water depth rating

The system will include attitude, velocity, and depth sensors as well as acoustic positioning based on the FUGRO ADV system. Top-side electronics integration and synchronization for the new data acquisition platform are being developed by Triton Elics International (TEI). Future plans call for the addition of a deepwater magnetometer to the survey package.

The DT-3500 will provide oil and gas customers superior value by combining the latest technology in high-resolution geophysical sensors along with the proven reliability, constant height above seafloor and real time on-vessel data collection and monitoring provided by the Fugro bottom-referenced vehicle. In addition, the DT-3500 is less sensitive than most AUV's to weather related delays and downtime since recovery to the surface is not required for data downloading or recharging of the power systems. The new system will be particularly effective for field development and pipeline routing surveys, where engineering-quality data is required in areas of rugged seafloor topography.

Current plans are for the DT-3500 to be field-tested in the first quarter of 2000 with commercial availability beginning during the second quarter.

Fugro GeoServices is a member of the multi-national Fugro group of companies with over 200 offices in 45 countries.