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.
Deepwater Wind Fig. 1
Data acquisition center for geophysical survey.
Deepwater Wind Fig. 2
Boomer subbottom profile from Block Island Sound.
Deepwater Wind Fig. 3
SSS imagery from Block Island Sound.
Deepwater Wind Fig. 4
Deploying vibratory corer during geotechnical sampling.
Deepwater Wind Fig. 5
Staging export cable for landfall.
Deepwater Wind Fig. 6
Jet sled cable installation.
Deepwater Wind Fig. 7
Navigator’s view of laybarge, jet sled, and support vessels during cable installation.
Deepwater Wind Fig. 8
| 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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