SEEBED: Real-time environmental monitoring on the seabed

Motivation

Current methods for monitoring the environmental impact of offshore oil and gas activities rely heavily on manual sampling and time-consuming laboratory analyses on land. This results in a fragmented understanding of the ecological state and limits the ability to make rapid, data-driven decisions.

To ensure sustainable management of the seabed, there is a need for more comprehensive and comparable datasets. The SEEBED project was initiated to bridge this gap by developing technology capable of delivering chemical and biological data in real-time, directly from the source.

Methodology

The project is developing a self-propelled, modular seabed platform (rover) with crawler tracks. The platform is equipped with an integrated sensor suite that enables complex analyses without the need for physical sampling.

Key technologies being integrated include:

• Direct UV-fluorescence: For the detection of oil contamination.
• IMiRO-probe: For measuring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
• XRF (X-ray fluorescence): For the analysis of heavy metals and drill cuttings.
• Hyperspectral camera: For automated mapping and analysis of biology and benthic fauna.

The work is carried out in close collaboration between NGI’s experts in environmental geotechnics, geodata, and technology, along with external ROV developers and international equipment suppliers.

Objectives

The primary objective of SEEBED is to establish a new industry standard for offshore environmental monitoring.

Specific objectives include:

• Developing a mobile rover capable of autonomous or remote operation on the seabed.
• Enabling real-time data transfer from the seabed to decision-makers on land.
• Increasing the precision of environmental surveys by performing more measurements per area.
• Validating the technology through field trials on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.

Deliverables

Upon project completion, SEEBED will provide:

• An operational high-tech platform for sensor-based seabed investigations.
  Documented methodologies for real-time analysis of chemical and biological parameters.
• Guidelines for utilising the technology for more cost-effective and precise environmental monitoring, also applicable to ports, coastal zones, and offshore wind developments.