Vibrocoring is an established fundamental phase of marine seabed investigations but it’s importance is often underestimated and much vibrocoring is carried out somewhat blindly, ie lowering the unit to the seabed, vibrating for a set time, and recovering to the surface in the hope that an adequate sample has been obtained.
Photo courtesy: CMS-Geotech
CMS-Geotech is a UK leader specializing in vibrocoring and CPT site investigation and over the last twelve months has developed a new monitoring system, VAMP, to maximize the reliability and robustness of the sampling procedure whilst improving core sample integrity and efficiencies.
VAMP ( Vibrocore Acquisition Monitoring Platform) and has been put through a series of rigorous field tests at over 75 locations around the UK in variety of offshore environments by CMS-Geotech engineers over the last 12 months and has been proved to increase sampling integrity and efficiency. It is now used daily in all vibrocoring operations carried out by CMS-Geotech using its own in –house built High Powered Heavy Duty vibrocorers.
Image courtesy: CMS-Geotech
VAMP provides the operator with live, integrated telemetry information on screen. Key features include
All data is logged continuously and provides the Client with reassurance that the best possible test was undertaken and test cessation was for a specific and identifiable reason. The impact of varying the frequency can also be assessed.
Further developments will assess the penetration/power consumption data, accounting for barrel skin friction and sediment characteristics to give better overview of relative insitu soil density & stiffness across the project site.
