Industry Guide - Offshore Survey Sector

It is the work of the hydrographic or offshore surveyor to chart the world’s seas and oceans, including measuring currents, tides and waves, mapping the ocean floor and exploring for the minerals that lie beneath.

Offshore surveyors are involved throughout the exploration and development phases of offshore oil and gas production. They also play a vital role in tasks as diverse as the laying and maintenance of pipelines and transoceanic telecommunications cables, environmental studies, harbour and coastal engineering works and offshore engineering and construction. Surveying and positioning are required prior to the installation, moving or decommissioning of offshore structures and before the installation and regular structural inspection of subsea pipelines, wellheads and production platforms.

Specific tasks can include: survey and inspection; high-resolution geophysical and hydrographic surveys, perhaps over the route of a proposed pipeline or prior to the installation of a jack-up drilling rig; geotechnical surveys, for example core sampling of the seabed in preparation for installation of structures. A variety of complex equipment is used for this work, including ROVs and AUVs, with advanced techniques including acoustics, seismic, magnetic and electrical survey, and using a wide range of survey vessels of differing sizes.

Offshore survey companies work closely with other marine contractors, frequently sharing equipment and space on a single vessel, requiring close liaison between all those at work offshore.

IMCA Offshore Survey Division members include survey contractors operating around the world, together with a range of specialist equipment suppliers, consultants, training organisations, personnel agencies and oil company clients.