TDI-Brooks completes shallow water geotechnical coring project off US East Coast
Avangrid has awarded TDI-Brooks a shallow water geotechnical site investigation survey at block OCSA-0508 also known as Kitty Hawk Wind. The data collected will inform the design of the export cable and inter-array packages.
The scope of work includes utilizing a TDI-Brooks’ owned Datum Neptune 5K (pCPT) at 155 sites and a newly-designed TDI-Brooks pneumatic vibracorer (pVC) at 80 sites. The pVC is a lightweight (4,600 lb in air), high-power vibracorer and has been successfully deployed on the US East Coast >200 times for offshore wind farm (OSWF) projects. The pVC can be used for cores up to 6-m in length (and down to 9- m or 12-m with frame extension). Upon completion of the geotechnical vibracoring, all samples are sent to the TDI-Brooks’ ISO-certified geotechnical and environmental laboratories in College Station, Texas for testing. TDI-Brooks operates from a local port off Bridgeport, CT and plans to utilize the RV Marcelle Bordelon, a short-term vessel of opportunity. The fieldwork is expected to be completed by mid-July.
With each offshore wind project carried out, the operator contracts representation from the local fishery organization to accompany the survey. This representative is onboard during the duration of the survey to ensure communication and coordination takes place with the local fishermen. The fishery representation ensures the survey vessel remains clear from all fishing gear and fishing areas. In addition to a fishery presentative, a Protected Species Observer (PSO) is deployed to support industry and academic marine activities by conducting monitoring onboard the vessel to minimize any potential impacts on species encountered.
The purpose of the project is to develop a commercial-scale, offshore wind energy facility in Commercial Lease OCS-A 0508, with up to 69 total wind turbine generators, an offshore substation, inter-array cables, an onshore substation, and up to two transmission cables making landfall in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and connecting to the Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland (PJM) Interconnection energy grid. This project is intended to substantially contribute to the region’s electrical reliability and help Virginia achieve its renewable energy goals as stated in the Virginia Clean Economy Act.
TDI-Brooks is a Texas-based C-Corporation based in the USA. They operate multiple multi-use oceanographic research vessels on the US East Coast in the offshore wind market. Contact: Melissa Wood Director of Business Development, Sales and Marketing melissawood@tdi-bi.com
ABOUT TDI-Brooks
TDI-Brooks is a 27-year-old research and service company specializing in geotechnical and offshore survey projects; multi-disciplinary oceanographic and environmental projects; surface geochemical exploration; and high-end environmental chemistry for IOC and offshore wind clients in addition to federal and state agencies. TDI-Brooks has over 27 years of vessel chartering and management experience and currently operates five research vessels, Brooks McCall, Miss Emma McCall, Gyre, Proteus and the Nautilus. These are multi-use vessels suited for a wide variety of oceanographic research duties for the offshore renewables and energy sectors.
The Brooks McCall and Miss Emma McCall are both U.S. registered, and service the U.S. East Coast, Gulf of Mexico and Mexico. The Gyre and Proteus are Vanuatu registered, fully SOLAS compliant, and serve clients globally. The TDI-Brooks fleet is operated within a robust Safety Management System and all vessels are regularly vetted by client marine assurance groups and a part of the OCIMF Offshore Vessel Inspection Database (OVID). Our field services are supplemented by high-quality analytical and geotechnical laboratories located in College Station, Texas.
TDI-Brooks was formed in mid-1996 by Drs. James Brooks and Bernie Bernard. Headquartered in College Station, TX with a remote domestic office located in Houston, TX and strategically placed offices around the globe. TDI-Brooks has a staff of over over-hundred and thirty individuals including fourteen Ph.D. level oceanographers, geochemists, biologists and geologists, hydrographers, geophysicists, mariners, cartographers, engineers, GIS and CADD specialists who perform surveys and produce deliverables of the highest quality. The company has international affiliates in Port Harcourt, Nigeria (TDI-Brooks Nigeria Ltd.) and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (GSI-Brooks) with branch offices in Colombia (TDIBrooks Succursal Colombia) and Mexico.
