Osiris Projects

02/07/07

New-build 27.5 metre Semi-SWATH Survey Vessel

Osiris Projects have agreed a contract with French naval architects BUREAU MAURIC of Marseilles for the design and construction of a new 27.5 metre small water plane area twin hulled (SWATH) coastal survey vessel. This purpose built catamaran will provide an exceptionally spacious, stable and seaworthy multi-role work vessel for survey operations extending from inter-tidal sites out to 150 miles offshore. The vessel will provide comfortable accommodation on three decks for a maximum of sixteen with an endurance in excess of seven days.

Equipped with a comprehensive range of state-of-the-art acoustic survey equipment, 10 tonne hydraulic ‘A’ frame, 18tonne/metre hydraulic crane, dedicated sonar winches and powerful dynamic positioning (DP1) it will provide complete support for all aspects of shallow water hydrographic & geophysical survey, multi-channel seismics, seabed sampling AUV, ROTV and ROV inspections.

The vessel will be equipped to support our 9.0m survey boat 'Eagle', enabling survey coverage in shallow water and landfall locations inaccessible to the larger vessel. Eagle will be launched and recovered using the main 'A' frame and stored on deck during transit.

Incorporating two completely independent propulsion systems, survey and DP operations will be performed using a diesel-electric Schottel pump jet arrangement, powered by a pair of 12litre/250kW MAN diesel generators, giving virtually silent operation up to 7 knots. Long range transit propulsion, of up to 14 knots, will be provided by a pair of conventionally arranged 22litre/440kW MAN diesels driving fixed pitch propellers through ZF gearboxes.

The general design is based upon the highly successful COMEX owned semi-SWATH vessel ‘JANUS’ pictured above. Osiris Projects vessel will be built to Bureau Veritas (BV) classification standards and will operate under the UK’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) Small Commercial Vessel Code (SCV). The new vessel is due to enter service in early summer of 2009.

30/10/07

Geo-Resources GeoSpark 200

Osiris Projects have recently taken delivery of a Geo-Resources GeoSpark 200 ultra high resolution 1000joule ‘Sparker’ sub-bottom profiler system. The system allows the collection of high resolution (<30cm vertical resolution) single channel seismic reflection profiling data in areas where maximum penetration is required without compromising data resolution and quality. The unit can be used in water depths of up to 500m and provides penetration down to 400 milliseconds below seabed, where geological conditions allow. The main advantage of this system is that it operates in ‘preserving electrode mode’ using a NEGATIVE electrical discharge pulse. This results in virtually zero tip wear which is essential for repeatability of the seismic pulse for acquisition of ultra high resolution data.

The GeoSpark system is less weather dependant than a ‘Boomer’ sub-bottom profiler and is ideally suited to mapping shallow geology for use in foundation design of offshore renewable energy developments.

The system can be mobilised alongside and operated simultaneously with side scan sonar and multi-beam echo sounder systems due to its sophisticated design.

19/11/07

Walney Offshore Wind Farm Development

Osiris Projects have recently completed the fieldwork stage of an Ultra High Resolution (UHR) 2D multi-channel seismic survey over the proposed Walney Offshore Wind Farm Development site. The work was carried out on behalf of the formerly state owned Danish Energy giant DONG Energy and managed by UK consultants RPS Energy. The contract involved the collection of approximately 1100 line kilometres of 32 channel seismic data using a mini-airgun energy source.

Osiris Projects called upon Exploration Electronics Ltd, of Great Yarmouth to provide the seismic data acquisition system and sub-contracted Gardline GeoSurvey to provide seismic data processing services. Data interpretation was undertaken in-house by Osiris Projects at our Wirral base.

The project saw further collaboration between VT Ocean Sciences and Osiris Projects in using the VT managed coastal research vessel ‘Prince Madog’. This was the third significant contract carried out during the 2007 season using the Prince Madog.

The vessel was also mobilised for geophysical and geotechnical work on a large proposed cable route between mainland Scotland and the Outer Hebrides, in addition to environmental sampling work off the west coast of Ireland on behalf of Shell Exploration and Production.

In all the Prince Madog has been on charter to Osiris Projects for over 60 days during 2007.