COURSE OVERVIEW:

Seafloor geohazards represent significant risks to the integrity of offshore infrastructure, including platforms, pipelines, and subsea templates. This course examines the geological processes that create instability on the seabed, such as submarine landslides, gas hydrates, and shallow gas accumulations. Participants will explore the mechanics of sediment transport and the triggering factors for mass wasting events that could jeopardize multi-billion dollar offshore investments.

The scope of the program extends to the technical methodologies used in site investigations, ranging from high-resolution geophysical surveys to geotechnical drilling and sampling. It covers the integration of multibeam echosounder data, side-scan sonar, and sub-bottom profiling to create a comprehensive model of the seafloor environment. Understanding these elements is crucial for engineering design and for mitigating environmental risks during the lifecycle of an offshore project.

Coverage includes the regulatory frameworks and international standards that govern offshore site characterization. By analyzing real-world case studies from various maritime basins, the course provides a practical foundation for identifying potential hazards before they impact operations. The curriculum emphasizes the synergy between geophysics and geomechanics to ensure robust foundation design and long-term stability for underwater structures.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

After completion of this course, the participants will be able to:

• Identify various types of seafloor geohazards and their potential impact on offshore structures.
• Evaluate the geological conditions that lead to slope instability and mass gravity flows.
• Design a comprehensive offshore site investigation program based on specific project needs.
• Interpret high-resolution seismic data to detect shallow gas and fluid expulsion features.
• Analyze the risks associated with gas hydrates and their dissociation during drilling.
• Utilize multibeam bathymetry data to map seabed morphology and potential obstacles.
• Determine the geotechnical properties of marine sediments through in-situ testing methods.
• Assess the impact of sediment mobility and scour on subsea pipeline routing.
• Integrate geophysical and geotechnical datasets to build a 3D ground model.
• Apply international standards and codes of practice for offshore site characterization.
• Mitigate the risks of seabed collapse and subsidence in deepwater environments.
• Formulate contingency plans for geohazard events encountered during offshore construction.
• Optimize the placement of subsea infrastructure to avoid geologically unstable zones.

TARGET AUDIENCE:

This course is designed for offshore engineers, marine geologists, geophysicists, subsea project managers, and geotechnical specialists involved in the planning and execution of offshore energy and infrastructure projects.

TRAINING COURSE METHODOLOGY:

A highly interactive combination of lectures, discussion sessions, and case studies will be employed to maximise the transfer of information, knowledge, and experience. The course will be intensive, practical, and highly interactive. The sessions will start by raising the most relevant questions and motivating everybody to find the right answers. The attendants will also be encouraged to raise more of their questions and to share in developing the right answers using their analysis and experience. There will also be some indoor experiential activities to enhance the learning experience. Course material will be provided in PowerPoint, with necessary animations, learning videos, and general discussions.

The course participants shall be evaluated before, during, and at the end of the course.

COURSE CERTIFICATE:

National Consultant Centre for Training LLC (NCC) will issue an Attendance Certificate to all participants completing a minimum of 80% of the total attendance time requirement.