Posters
Come meet the poster presenters to ask them questions and discuss their work
We would like to invite you to come and see the posters at our upcoming conference. The posters will showcase a diverse range of research topics, and will give delegates an opportunity to engage with the authors and learn more about their work. Whether you are a seasoned researcher or simply curious about the latest developments in your field, we believe that the posters will offer something of interest to everyone. So please join us at the conference and take advantage of this opportunity to learn and engage with your peers in industry and the academic community.
PO486: Operational experiences from 2000 pile soil plugs removed for offshore wind jacket installation
Rune Høyvik Rosnes, Chief Commercial Officer, Deep C Solutions
Abstract
Efficient and environmentally friendly soil plug removal is a critical step in offshore wind jacket installation. Precise excavation supports safe piling operations, adds predictabiliy and reduces the need for excessive grouting. The patented Deep C Soil Plug Removal Tool (SPRT) has been applied in more than 2,000 pile operations worldwide, providing field-tested experience across a wide range of seabed conditions. During a recent offshore wind campaign on the U.S. East Coast in 2025, the SPRT was mobilised for four jacket foundation piles. While sandy soils had been expected, hard clay layers were encountered, significantly increasing the complexity of operations. Despite these conditions, the SPRT maintained depth control and delivered piles to client specification. Three of the four piles were completed in a single pass, while one required additional internal cleaning with a Pile Cleaning Tool (PCT) to meet client cleanliness criteria. The case confirmed the tool’s adaptability to conditions beyond initial soil predictions and highlighted the role of supporting practices – such as spare part management, preservation during storage, and pre-mobilisation maintenance – in ensuring efficiency. These observations align with broader field experience. In previous campaigns, the SPRT has achieved soil plug removal in under one hour in soft soils, while in stiff clay conditions cycle times have exceeded 20 hours. This variability underlines both the influence of soil composition on project timelines and the importance of adaptive dredging solutions. By using project-specific jetting configuration to replace traditional mechanical intervention, the methodology offers superior performance with less environmental impact. The absence of mechanical vibrations or noise ensures no risk for fatigue induced in the pile and does not affect surrounding marine life. This contribution provides practical insight into soil and fluid-structure interaction in pile dredging and offers relevant lessons for offshore wind installation logistics and operations.
No recording available for this poster.
