Sub Bottom Profiler Survey

Subbottom profiling surveys use seismic reflection systems to ‘map’ the stratigraphy of the sediment below the surface. Ocean Surveys uses a variety of advanced subbottom profilers that operate over a wide frequency range, ensuring both high resolution and access to considerable depth in the subbottom layers. Typically, these systems consist of a tower vehicle equipped with transducers.

The system transmits an acoustic signal (sound wave) and captures the time it takes and the strength of the sound wave energy to be reflected from various interfaces or layers in the subsurface. This allows the development of a cross-sectional profile of the subsurface. To correlate the acoustic reflectors with the sediment interfaces, geotechnical data such as vibratory cores or borings are used, which provide our clients with important insights into the structure and thickness of the subsurface material.

Examples of how subbottom profiling data is used include:

⇒ Determining the depth of sediment channels, subsurface rocks, and bedrock.

⇒ Mapping the horizontal and vertical boundaries of sedimentary borrow areas.

⇒ Calculating the amount of material available for extraction along with the amount of overburden material.

⇒ Detecting buried utilities, including pipelines and cables.