Category Archives: Offshore

Wind speeds off the coast of Humboldt County in Northern California are some of the strongest in the U.S. The region's steady gusts are so powerful, in fact, that the area was one of three potential offshore wind energy development zones in California included by the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management in a public pitch to developerslast year.

With around 140,000 residents, Humboldt County lacks one thing offshore wind developers like to see: a big demand for power. But the San Francisco Bay Area is a five-hour drive south along Highway 101.

If the wind energy zone off the shore of Humboldt County is fully developed, much of the estimated 2,100 megawatts of generating capacity would end up heading south to serve the 8 million residents of the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. The question is how to get it there.

The existing transmission infrastructure in Humboldt County wasnt built to export power. An undersea transmission tracking the coastline could very well be the answer.

The entity tasked with providing guidance on transmission and interconnection, as well as other critical issues such as port infrastructure, environmental concerns and economic impacts, is the Schatz Energy Research Center at Humboldt State University. Researchers at the center are conducting three studies to assess offshore wind feasibility in Humboldt Bay. Results are scheduled to be released beginning in March 2020.

Asked in an interview about the regions limited transmission capacity, Schatz Center director Arne Jacobson said, Saying that we are somewhat constrained is very generous. I would say were connected to the rest of the electrical grid by a capillary.

Anything beyond a small pilot-scale deployment, he added, would require some sort of upgrade to the transmission infrastructure or for a fairly significant amount of local storage.

Part of what makes Humboldt County so appealing for residents and visitors the regions rugged natural beauty makes overland electricity transmission difficult.

Bisecting the coastal plain where the cities of Eureka and Arcata sit and the Central Valley in the interior, are a series of north-south running, densely forested peaks of the Northern Coast Ranges. Any potential upgrades to the existing transmission network must contend with this "Redwood Curtain."

The Schatz Center is studying three scenarios of offshore wind farm deployment: 50-megawatt pilot-scale, 150 megawatts and 2,100 megawatts, which is estimated to be the full build-out of Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's (BOEM) designated 536 km2 call area in Humboldt Bay.

In September 2018, Humboldt Countys community-choice aggregator, the Redwood Coast Energy Authority, submitted an unsolicited lease application to BOEM for a 100- to 150-megawatt floating offshore wind farm to be sited in waters more than 20 miles off the coast of Eureka. RCEAs partners include a consortium of private companies: Principle Power, EDPR Offshore North America and Aker Solutions.

In June, BOEM said it anticipates conducting a California offshore wind lease sale in 2020.

In any scenario beyond a pilot-scale project, the limited transmission capacity in what grid operators call the Humboldt pocket becomes a problem.

The primary grid link serving Eureka is a 115-kilovolt line running east-to-west along Highway 36, designed to carry around 70 megawatts of electricity. The 115 kV line can move a certain amount of energy, but its rather limited," Jacobson said.

"It wasnt really designed to necessarily export large volumes of energy, Jon Stallman, strategic projects manager in the grid innovation and integration unit of Pacific Gas and Electric, said at an energy planning workshop in Arcata conducted by the California Energy Commission in April 2018.

An even more constrained 60 kV transmission line runs along Highway 101 in southern Humboldt County toward the Central Valley.

To change that system to make it larger is going to be a fairly costly event, said Stallman.

The average load in Humboldt County is around 110 megawatts, and peak load is between 150 and 170 megawatts. So, even if wind energy development in the area was limited to the project proposed by the Redwood Coast Energy Authority up to 150 megawatts exporting at least some power would be necessary.

And a full build-out of Humboldt Countys 2,100-megawatt offshore wind potential would require a significant investment in transmission infrastructure.

The 115 kV line that serves Eureka connects with the larger California grid at a substation in Cottonwood, where it links to the 500 kV, north-south California-Oregon Intertie. If Humboldt Bay offshore wind farms are to export over land, PG&Es Stallman said grid operators will have to determine if that California-Oregon transmission backbone can carry the additional load.

Weve got to take a look at the contracted bandwidth and figure out how were going to make room, said Stallman.

No developer has yet proposed building a subsea transmission cable from a substation offshore Humboldt County to the San Francisco region, Jacobson said.

Even so, the Schatz Center is looking into the costs, as well as the technical and environmental challenges. A team in the Seattle office of the coastal engineering firm Mott MacDonald is handling the conceptual design of the undersea cable, while PG&E is tasked with estimating the transmission cost upgrades.

The challenges would be many, but the challenges are also many with the overland routes, Jacobson noted.

What is clear is that any offshore wind project in the region larger than pilot-scale and certainly at full build-out is contingent on transmission expansion.

If you were just trying to scale it to the local load, I dont think you would make it as large as 150 megawatts, said Jacobson.

On the other hand, he went on, from a profitability perspective, or a cost-viability perspective for investors, I dont know that its that interesting to just build something for this region without leaving a pathway for scaling to something larger.

My sense is, and what weve heard from developers, is that theyre very happy to do something at [150 megawatts] as a next step in their process, but, ultimately, to become profitable, they need something at a larger scale."

Unlike the Central Coast, Californias other promising offshore wind energy zone, Humboldt County does not face conflicts with active military uses.

The major constraint we have thats different from other parts of the state is the transmission one, said Jacobson. If theres not a solution to the transmission issue, there really wouldnt be a pathway forward at scale here.

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Related report: 'Offshore wind operations and maintenance trends 2019' (May 2019, Wood Mackenzie).Wood Mackenzie is hosting an invite-only analyst briefing on the U.S. offshore wind sector in Boston the morning of Wednesday, October 23. Email power@woodmac.com to express interest in attending.

Read more:

Unlocking Northern Californias Offshore Wind Bounty - Greentech Media News

Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc.DO is well poised to grow on the back of technologically advanced and versatile drilling fleet. However, conservative spending by explorers and producers is a persistent concern.

Houston, TX-based Diamond Offshore is a contract driller that provides comprehensive offshore drilling services to the global energy industry. The companys rigs operate in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, offshore Brazil in South America, Australia and Southeast Asia, incorporating countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar and Vietnam. Diamond Offshore also has operations in the United Kingdom and Norway, East and West Africa, and the Mediterranean.

Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. Price and Consensus

Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. Price and Consensus

Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. price-consensus-chart | Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. Quote

Lets delve deeper to find out why this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock is worth retaining at the moment.

Whats Favoring the Stock?

Diamond Offshores technologically advanced and versatile drilling fleet enables it to stay ahead of its peers in markets that are expected to witness a surge in offshore rig demand through 2025. Moreover, the company experiences robust demand for exclusive services provided with innovative prowess, as is witnessed in Sim-StackTM, Helical riser buoyancy, Floating Factory Concept and others. Notably, Diamond Offshore has clinched awards for Ocean Valiant, Ocean Apex, Ocean Onyx and Ocean Monarch. Of these, Ocean Valiant will operate in the U.K., while the other three will be working in Australia. The reactivation of Ocean Onyx will help the company to keep the number of active rigs at a satisfactory level. These contracts show upstream companies high interest in Diamond Offshores fleet.

As of Jul 1, 2019, the company had a total contracted backlog of $2 billion that reflects more than 20 rig years of work. This not only reflects steady demand from customers but also offers an unmatched level of earnings and cash flow visibility. Further, this enables Diamond Offshore to navigate through any business environment better than many of its peers. Additionally, cost-control initiatives of Diamond Offshore are promising. Last year, the company was able to lower total operating cost by more than 12% year over year.

Its excellent financial health is appreciable. Diamond Offshore has a debt-to-capital ratio of around 24.8%, which is much lower than 41.9% for the broader industry. Also, the company has total cash and cash equivalents (including marketable securities) of $147.5 million to support growth projects.

Downsides

However, there are a few factors that are holding the stock back.

Diamond Offshore is facing pressure on the top line. The companys revenues have been decreasing over the past eight years. While oil prices have improved over the last year, revenues have failed to register a positive change. In the trailing 12 months, its revenues fell nearly 10.5%.

Explorers and producers kick-started 2019 with a conservative capital budget, as they witnessed massive crude downturn during the fourth quarter of 2018. Moreover, explorers are more bothered about bottom-line growth being forced by investors following years of dull returns than oil and gas production. Hence, conservative spending by explorers and producers is likely to hurt demand for offshore drilling, in turn hurting the company.

Diamond Offshore has also expressed concern regarding reduced EBITDA margin, as customers try to seal the deal at the ongoing rates for future works. Under this scenario, the company would miss out on the recovery in dayrates in the markets served.

To Sum Up

Despite significant prospects, top-line pressure and conservative upstream spending are concerns for Diamond Offshore.Nevertheless, we believe that systematic and strategic plan of action will drive its long-term growth.

Stocks to Consider

Some better-ranked players in the energy space are Shell Midstream Partners, L.P. SHLX, TC PipeLines, LP TCP and NuStar Energy L.P. NS. While Shell Midstream sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), TC PipeLines and NuStar Energy have a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can seethe complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

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Here's Why You Should Retain Diamond Offshore (DO) Stock Now - Yahoo Finance

Offshore staff

OSLO, Norway Exploration drilling has finished on the Hibiscus Updip prospect in the Dussafu license offshore Gabon.

According to operator BW Offshore, results exceeded expectations, with early analysis indicating 40-50 MMbbl of oil recoverable.

Initially the jackup Borr Norve drilled the DHIBM-1 exploration well to a TD of 3,538 m (11,607 ft), in a water depth of 116 m (380 ft). Logging and sampling data confirmed that the well delivered around 21 m (69 ft) of pay from a 33-m (108-ft) hydrocarbon column in the Gamba formation.

Subsequent appraisal side track (DHIBM-1 ST1), 1,100 m (3,609 ft) to the northwest, encountered 26 m (85 ft) of pay in the Gamba. The oil-water contact was at the same level in both wells, proving continuity of the hydrocarbon accumulation.

This was the BW-led partnerships fourth consecutive oil discovery on the license, said CEO Carl K. Arnet. The Hibiscus discovery and its surrounding prospects represent another area of significant potential in the Dussafu block and we are looking forward to the next phase of the program as we continue to unlock the potential of the Dussafu field.

DHIBM-1 was designed to appraise one of various prospects in the greater Ruche area. BW will next turn its attention to optimizing a planned future development.

The Borr Norve, meanwhile, will drill four subsea production wells on the Tortue field all tied back to the FPSO BW Adolo followed by another exploration well.

10/04/2019

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Dussafu oil find offshore Gabon above expectations - Offshore Oil and Gas Magazine

Power company rsted has announced the installation of its final wind turbine at Hornsea One offshore wind farm, more than 100km away from the Yorkshire coast, England. The installation of the last turbine completed the 174-array of turbines situated over 407 km2 of North Sea, with each 7MW turbine powerful enough to supply a UK home for over a day with each single rotation. After the installation of the final turbine, the project will undergo a commissioning period before it is officially inaugurated in 2020 as the worlds largest offshore wind farm. After its launch, the project will be able to generate over 1GW of electricity enough to power well over one million UK homes.

rsted programme director for Hornsea One Duncan Clark said: The milestone of this last turbine being installed only nine months after the first one was erected is just one small part of this record-breaking project. Hornsea One has truly paved the way for the next generation of offshore wind farms.

At the time of taking on the project, its scale and the technical pioneering required seemed a Herculean challenge, but a truly extraordinary effort from all those involved have managed to make this impressive feat of engineering the new norm, Clark added.

The loadout of the turbines took place at Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energys factory in Hull, Yorkshire where the majority of blades were constructed. The components were then transported 120km out to sea by two specialist vessels, which provide a sturdy base for lifting The Bold Tern, owned by Fred. Olsen Windcarrier and DEME Groups Sea Challenger.

The main turbine components are a steel tower, three turbine blades and a nacelle which houses all generation components for the construction. The moving process included loading four turbines on to the vessel at a time and it took around 12 hours of precision working to install one turbine in full.

The offshore wind construction started in January 2018, when the first monopile foundation was installed by GeoSeas installation vessel, Innovation. The execution of the project involved 8,000 contractors, suppliers and rsted employees working offshore at Hornsea Ones site.

Clark continued: We have benefitted from fantastic working relationships with contractors and suppliers, and that includes vessel providers who have maintained a constant stream of communication to ensure that turbine installation has been concluded on time and within budget.

Due to the distance from shore, the project required for the offshore construction team to stay based on site, 120km out to sea as to ensure the project was safe and to schedule in dynamic weather conditions. The employees had to live on board the GMS Endeavour for two weeks at a time, where they were provided with catering, laundry service, gym and internet.

Headquartered in Denmark, rsted employs 6,300 people and specialises in development, construction and operation of offshore and onshore wind farms and bioenergy.

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rsted finishes its offshore wind farm project - Power Technology

The shipowner said the keel was laid weeks ahead of schedule and prefabricated blocks are now coming together for assembly in the drydock at the yard. A steel cutting ceremony for the vessel took place on 1 March 2019.

Offshore Heavy Transports (OHTs) chief executive Torgeir Ramstad said the companys customers have described the new vessel as ground-breaking.

The Alfa Lift design vessel will be the largest and among the most innovative, custom-built installation vessels for the offshore wind industry and is due to be delivered early in 2021. The next major milestone will be the launching ceremony, planned for March 2020.

Compared with a jack-up or a floating vessel, an installation vessel that can submerge like a semi-submersible heavy lift ship of the type that OHT is used to operating has important advantages.

These include being able to submerge to reduce motions and increased workability in installation mode. Submerging also provides the vessel with a secondary role as a heavy transport vessel capable of transporting heavy modules, jack-ups and other cargoes.

The key to the concept is the fact that a submersible vessel has better motion characteristics when submerged than a typical monohull vessel. When the vessel is submerged, cargo doesnt have to pass through the splash zone during lifting operations, which has a positive influence on crane dynamics.

The dynamically-positioned, 48,000-dwt vessel has a 3,000-tonne lifting capacity main crane from Liebherr that matches the future requirements of the offshore wind industry, allowing the vessel to transport and install up to 10 1,500-tonne ultra-large jacket foundations or 11 2,000-tonne XXL monopiles, plus transition pieces for next-generation wind turbines.

It is designed to install components such as the these without submerging, in significant wave heights of up to 2.0 m (Hs 2.0 m). If conditions become more challenging, the vessel can submerge and continue to work in Hs 2.5 m.

Having submerged, the Alfa Lift vessel remains in that state until all foundation installation work is finished, remaining submerged and moving in DP mode to the next foundation. The vessel only comes back to the surface if the weather picks up significantly, or if operations have been completed and a new batch of foundations needs to be loaded in port. In this way, the vessels design and operation saves time while also providing a very stable platform.

OWJs description of the vessel can be found here.

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Keel laid for ground-breaking offshore installation vessel - Riviera Maritime Media

Globally, about two billion people suffer from hidden hunger a chronic deficiency of vitamins and minerals. The health effects of this form of malnutrition can be severe, especially for children. They include increased risk of poor cognitive development, impaired growth and early death. Ironically, our latest research found that many coastal countries where hidden hunger is rife, have plenty of nutritious fish just off their coast. Yet these fish are not reaching those who need them the most.

Fish are a source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids and are rich in calcium, iron, zinc, vitamin A and vitamin B12. Fish also increase the bioavailability that is, increase absorption of nutrients provided through other foods eaten in the same meal.

Humans eat more than 2,000 species of fish, but the nutritional value of these species varies greatly. Until recently, we didnt know enough about this variability to advise fisheries and policymakers to help them address malnutrition.

Now a new statistical model, built using the best data on nutrient qualities of fish, has enabled us to fill in the gaps in our knowledge.

Using this model, we can accurately estimate the nutritional composition of all marine fish based on such characteristics as the water temperature they live in, their body size and what they eat. The model revealed that smaller species of fish often have higher concentrations of calcium and iron, species from cold water regions or that feed in deeper waters are likely to have higher concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids, and species from tropical waters tend to be richer in calcium, iron and zinc.

Nearly half the worlds coastal countries have moderate to severe deficiency in at least one key nutrient. Yet in the coastal waters of these same countries, nutrient-rich fish are caught every day.

By looking at many years of data on fish catches, we were able to understand just how important fish could be for tackling nutrient deficiencies. We found that often fish catches hold nutritional potential that exceeds the dietary requirements of certain nutrients for entire coastal populations of children under five years old a particularly vulnerable age group. This was a strong trend for countries on the west coast of Africa.

If just a fraction of the fish caught in these waters were kept for consumption locally, it could address some of the most pressing malnutrition problems in these countries. So why isnt this happening?

The problem is that on these same coasts, fish are caught by illegal or foreign fishing fleets and exported as animal feed or are lost due to damage or rotting as fish are moved from the point of capture to the plate. Global estimates for this waste and loss are 39%.

But getting more fish to nearby populations to address nutritional deficiencies wont be easy. The answer probably lies in a combination of strategies, including reevaluating trade deals that currently lead fish away from the countries that need them most, ensuring that fish are distributed to reach the most vulnerable people (women and children), and working with local fish traders to reduce waste and loss. But now that we have the evidence of which fish are most nutritious, at least the process can begin.

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The solution to hidden hunger in many developing countries lies just offshore - The Conversation UK

The big shareholder groups in BW Offshore Limited (OB:BWO) have power over the company. Large companies usually have institutions as shareholders, and we usually see insiders owning shares in smaller companies. We also tend to see lower insider ownership in companies that were previously publicly owned.

With a market capitalization of kr11b, BW Offshore is a decent size, so it is probably on the radar of institutional investors. In the chart below below, we can see that institutional investors have bought into the company. We can zoom in on the different ownership groups, to learn more about BWO.

Check out our latest analysis for BW Offshore

OB:BWO Ownership Summary, October 4th 2019

Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices.

As you can see, institutional investors own 34% of BW Offshore. This implies the analysts working for those institutions have looked at the stock and they like it. But just like anyone else, they could be wrong. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time. So it is worth checking the past earnings trajectory of BW Offshore, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too.

OB:BWO Income Statement, October 4th 2019

We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in BW Offshore. There are a reasonable number of analysts covering the stock, so it might be useful to find out their aggregate view on the future.

The definition of company insiders can be subjective, and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO.

Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group.

Shareholders would probably be interested to learn that insiders own shares in BW Offshore Limited. It is a pretty big company, so it is generally a positive to see some potentially meaningful alignment. In this case, they own around kr150m worth of shares (at current prices). Most would say this shows alignment of interests between shareholders and the board. Still, it might be worth checking if those insiders have been selling.

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The general public, with a 14% stake in the company, will not easily be ignored. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies.

We can see that Private Companies own 51%, of the shares on issue. It might be worth looking deeper into this. If related parties, such as insiders, have an interest in one of these private companies, that should be disclosed in the annual report. Private companies may also have a strategic interest in the company.

While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important.

I like to dive deeper into how a company has performed in the past. You can find historic revenue and earnings in this detailed graph.

But ultimately it is the future, not the past, that will determine how well the owners of this business will do. Therefore we think it advisable to take a look at this free report showing whether analysts are predicting a brighter future.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.

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What Kind Of Investor Owns Most Of BW Offshore Limited (OB:BWO)? - Yahoo Finance

Drive around middle America and you'll see wind farms of various sizes scattered across the country. One of the most common wind turbines you'll see is a model fromGeneral Electric (NYSE:GE)that's 1.5 megawatts (MW) with a 212-foot tower and 116-foot blades. In total, the wind turbine stands 328 feet, or nearly the length of a football field. But that's now being dwarfed by what GE is installing offshore.

Now, GE is testing a 12 MW wind turbine that dwarfs the most common turbines we see today. And if it works as planned, the Haliade-X 12 MW will power millions of homes from miles off the coast of populated areas.

Image source: GE.

Standing 853 feet tall, with blades that each extend 351 feet, the Haliade-X 12 MW promises to be not only the biggest but also one of the most efficient wind turbines in the world. GE says a single turbine can power 16,000 homes and can operate at a 63% capacity factor, or produce its rated output 63% of the time. That would make it one of the most efficient wind turbines in the world -- well above the approximately 50% capacity factor for most wind turbines and around 20% for solar farms.

One of the advantages the turbine has is that it's designed for offshore markets, where the wind blows more consistently. That allows for higher energy production and lowers the effective cost of electricity from each wind turbine.

The exact cost of turbines isn't being released, but GE says it can generate electricity that's competitive with other power generation sources. And given the traction the product has with developers, they expect it to be cost effective.

The wind power business has been up and down globally depending on subsidies and the will of governments looking to expand energy projection. But wind energy has now reached a tipping point where it's less expensive than fossil fuels and should see consistent demand, especially if wind farms can be located near load centers like coastal cities.

Dominion Energy (NYSE:D), for example, recently announced a plan for 2,600 MW of wind farms off the coast of Virginia by 2026. The company expects 220 wind turbines to be installed, so a 12 MW model is likely what they're expecting to use.

Orsted's 120 MW Skipjack and 1,100 MW Ocean Wind projects off the coast of Maryland and New Jersey will use the Haliade-X. That's a big win in a market niche that GE has only dabbled in up to now.

To date, Siemens Gamesa and MHI Vestas have dominated the offshore wind market, with GE relegated primarily to onshore status. The Haliade-X may change that and give the company a puncher's chance of gaining significant share in offshore wind, where there's still a lot of market potential.

Most of the easy onshore locations near load centers have been developed, so wind's next step is going offshore. The opportunity will be worth tens of billions to the winners, and GE is finally in the game.

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GE Is Betting on the Biggest Offshore Wind Turbine Ever - The Motley Fool

Fenwick Island State Park Eyes Partnership With Offshore Wind Farm Developer; Open House Planned For Wednesday

FENWICK ISLAND A potential partnership between Fenwick Island State Park and an offshore wind energy developer could bring new amenities to the beach.On Wednesday, Oct. 2, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) Division of Parks & Recreation will host a public open house from 5-7 p.m. to share and review Read more

OCEAN CITY Everything is on the table after another intolerable unsanctioned motorized event had the resort community under siege for much of the weekend.For the record, the official H2O International (H2Oi) car show was held in Atlantic City for the second straight year last weekend, but, as expected, a huge contingent of car enthusiasts Read more

ASSATEAGUE A wild horse on Assateague was struck and killed by a park vehicle early Sunday morning, serving as a grim reminder to motorists to obey speed limits and use caution around the islands famed residents.In the predawn hours before first light on Sunday, the chestnut mare N2BHS-ALQ, or Connies Girl, was standing in Read more

OCEAN CITY Representatives from nearly a dozen agencies were recognized this week for their efforts in establishing Worcester Countys first Safe Station.At the beginning of August, the Worcester County Health Department, in partnership with the Ocean City Fire Department, quietly launched its Safe Station program, allowing those with addictions to seek immediate help at Read more

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10/01/2019 | Fenwick Island State Park Eyes Partnership With Offshore Wind Farm Developer; Open House Planned For Wednesday | News Ocean City MD - The...

Bauer Spezialtiefbau has tested onshore piles at theSaint-Brieuc offshore wind project in France to gather data for the design of foundations.

Bauer Spezialtiefbaudesigned, installed and tested a total of 14 drilled and grouted pilesat the Routin Quarry near Cap Frhel, Brittany, under a contract signed with project developer Ailes Marines last year.

The aim was to obtain important friction values for the foundation of the planned offshore wind farm, said Paul Scheller, Head of Underwater Foundations at Bauer Spezialtiefbau. This will be the first commercial application for this type of piles worldwide. Bauer has developed a special drilling system for such projects in order to install temporary cased drilled and grouted piles offshore in a variety of different types of subsoil.

The German company said the piles wereinstalled into very hard bedrock, a red sandstone formation which is also expected in parts of the future wind farm area.

Each borehole was measured using laser scanners. The extreme test load of 10MN was applied to the micro piles using a specially developed load distribution system, Bauer said.

The larger piles were stressed with loads up to 40MN using bidirectional internal pile test jacks, while ageo-laser system was used to record the uplift around the test piles, recording the movement every ten seconds.

The biggest challenge was the extremely hard rock. During all three exploratory drilling operations we encountered rock with strengths exceeding 180 MPa, 60 MPa more than originally foreseen. Drilling in such hard rock is extremely demanding, saidNiklas Haag, Project Manager at Bauer Spezialtiefbau.

It took longer than planned to drill the 1350 mm diameter piles took and resulted in excessive wear on the roller bit core barrels that were used. However, in the end Bauer completed the test drilling successfully, thanks to the tireless efforts of the Bauer team on site and the support by our colleagues in Schrobenhausen.

The Saint-Brieuc project will comprise62 Siemens Gamesa 8MW turbines mounted on jacket foundations some 16km off the coast at the nearest point.

Ailes Marines, a joint venture of Iberdrola, RES, and Caisse des Dpts, plans to have the496MW offshore wind farm operational by 2023.

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Bauer Tests Onshore Piles at French Offshore Wind Project - Offshore WIND