Rotech Subsea Delivers Challenging 500m Cable De-Burial, Cut and Recovery Works at Triton Knoll OWF

Controlled Flow Excavation (CFE) pioneer, Rotech Subsea, has completed key cable de-burial, cut and recovery works at a North Sea OWF for a global dredging and marine contractor.

Aberdeen-based Rotech Subsea deployed its state-of-the-art RS2-3 Hybrid CFE tool to complete the de-burial of approximately 500m of cable, with its proprietary RSG-C tool completing the cable cutting at both ends and recovery to ship’s deck.

Operating in water depths of 12-15m, Rotech’s RS2-3 was launched into the North Sea by vessel crane where it was suspended, traveling along the half a kilometre of cable to complete de-burial operations. With a total excavation depth of 2m required, the depth was monitored in real time using a tool-mounted sonar imager, with the de-burial completed in two passes.

Speaking about the successful operation, Rotech Subsea Director of Subsea, Stephen Cochrane, commented: Rotech Subsea Director of Subsea, Stephen Cochrane, commented:

“With hard soils expected, this promised to be a challenging project. In preparation we deployed an extra RS2 excavator to have on standby to give the option of using the tools in twin ‘TRS2’ configuration to give maximum flow.

“Despite hard, sticky clay experienced, the works were carried out in just two passes, one with the RS2-3 hybrid solution, which boasts a maximum outlet pressure of 300kPa and a max jet flow of 4000L/s, and one pass with the TRS2 configuration capable of 8000L/s of flow.”

“Despite hard, sticky clay experienced, the works were carried out in just two passes, one with the RS2-3 hybrid solution, which boasts a maximum outlet pressure of 300kPa and a max jet flow of 4000L/s, and one pass with the TRS2 configuration capable of 8000L/s of flow.”

Rotech Subsea’s in-house research, development and engineering team has created a suite of 18 sector-leading non-contact CFE, Suspended Jet Trenching tools. With enhanced capabilities, Rotech Subsea’s CFE suite of tools is firmly established as the method of choice for offshore wind farm cable trenching and excavation in Europe and beyond.