Offshore Works Completed for EOWDC at Aberdeen Bay

Fugro has completed offshore works undertaken in preparation for full construction of the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC) at Aberdeen Bay, UK. The geotechnical site investigation took place at 11 turbine locations to assess the seabed, with the data acquired being used to inform the final design and micro-siting of the turbine foundations. Full offshore construction is scheduled to start in late 2017 or early 2018, after an investment decision later this year.

Fugro’s dynamically positioned 78-metre geotechnical drilling vessel, the Bucentaur, was mobilised to the EOWDC site, located about 2km to 5km off the coast of Aberdeen. The site investigation work was conducted on behalf of Aberdeen Offshore Wind Farm Limited (AOWFL).

Two Phases

Dennis van den Bulk, Fugro’s senior project manager described some of the details of the site investigation. A two-phased approach was adopted over a period of 11 days. During the first phase seabed CPTs and seismic CPTs were conducted down to refusal at each of the turbine locations, and in the second phase three boreholes were drilled. The data and samples acquired during the field phase were transferred to Fugro’s Wallingford laboratory and offices for further analysis and reporting.

Vattenfall and Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group (AREG) are the partners behind AOWFL. The company is driving the project forward, reaffirming its commitment to seeing the much-needed industry scheme come to fruition. Widely recognised as a vital investment in Scotland’s renewables infrastructure, the EOWDC aims to establish a world-class hub of offshore wind know-how, technology and innovation, particularly during these challenging times for the North Sea oil and gas industry.