GeoWing System Detects UXO in Challenging Marine Environments
Fugro has undertaken successful trials of its GeoWing, a system designed to detect low ferrous-content unexploded ordnance (UXO) items in challenging marine environments. The GeoWing is a fixed gradiometer array consisting of five magnetometers mounted behind an ROTV. The GeoWing detects variations in both vertical and transverse magnetic gradients, which enables the ferrous signature from background geology and motion noise to be almost entirely removed from the analysis.
The use of this system reduces the number of false positive readings and therefore reduces the number of potential UXO targets that need to be investigated. This has according to Fugro the potential to reduce costs for clients and allow more opportunity to re-position subsequent seabed operations away from any potential items of UXO.
UXO Masked by Other Sources
The system is especially beneficial for subsea construction projects, such as wind farms and cable route developments, particularly in magnetically ‘noisy’ marine environments and areas affected by strong tidal currents. The magnetic signature from small items of UXO can often be masked by the magnetic signature of other sources, such as the background geology.
According to Dr Anne Chabert, chief geophysicist at Fugro EMU, the GeoWing can be operated at a speed of up to 6 knots.
Fugro is currently deploying the new GeoWing system on projects in Europe, the Baltic and southern North Sea, with high demand anticipated amongst clients planning cable routes, pipelines and offshore renewable projects.
