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Wind Farm Development: Atlantic Ocean, Offshore Rhode Island

Deepwater Wind, LLC

From 2009 to 2017, OSI provided extensive survey and data analysis for the wind farm development offshore Rhode Island. These services were performed in support of all phases of the design, permitting, and construction of five wind turbines, inter-array, and export cables for Deepwater Wind’s Block Island Wind Farm – the first U.S. offshore wind farm. See the table below for list of tasks.

Year:	Task:
2009	Reconnaissance level multi-sensor geophysical and geotechnical investigations to assess the construction feasibility and determine the presence of any "fatal flaws" (shipwrecks, unmanageable geologic conditions), as part of the initial project design phase.
2010-2011	Data analysis, reporting and meeting preparation and attendance supporting the development of geophysical and archaeological survey plans to meet BOEM and state standards and permitting requirements.
2011	Detailed multi-sensor (multibeam echo sounder, side scan sonar, magnetometer, subbottom profiler) geophysical and geotechnical investigations to characterize and evaluate seafloor and subbottom conditions to address federal and state marine archaeological, benthic, and shallow hazard conditions. Surveys were conducted within the area of potential impact for the five planned turbines, as well as the inter-array and export cable corridors to Block Island and the transmission cable corridor between Block Island and the Rhode Island mainland.
2012-2013	Supplemental multi-sensor geophysical surveys to characterize seafloor and subsurface conditions at several alternative landfalls in Block Island and Narragansett, Rhode Island.
2015	Jet probing and additional multibeam hydrographic surveys along cable routes as part of final cable installation design.
2015	Data analysis and consultation for acoustic coring operations to characterize deeper stratigraphy at turbine sites prior to foundation installation.
2016	Multi-sensor geophysical surveys and navigation services throughout the cable installation process.
2017	Multibeam echo sounder, side scan sonar, and ROV inspections of several areas along the installed cable route to document post cable installation conditions.

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