Stothetic CPTS from Intelligent Ground Models Based on the Integration of Geology, Geotectoics and Geophysics as a Tool for Conceptual Foundation Design and Soil Investigation Planning

Early phase soil investigation campaigns do not, as a rule, include all the locations where infrastructure is to be placed on the seafloor. However, background information on geology, bathymetric and seismic data may be available across the area at an early stage. The combination of these datasets provides the basis for developing a ground model of the development area. The inclusion of geotechnical data in such ground models is not always straightforward since geotechnical properties may vary laterally and with depth. In this paper we present an “Intelligent Ground Model”, developed at NGI, and used at several large wind farm projects. The model combines interpreted seismic horizons with geological understanding and acquired CPTU data to allow synthetic CPTUs to be generated at any location within the investigated area. In the Dogger Bank wind farm area, synthetic CPTUs were generated at numerous locations to guide initial evaluations of foundation requirements and to group locations with similar synthetic profiles. The model was tested by removing known CPTU data from the database and comparing them to synthetic results from the same locations. The results show reasonably good matches.