Fugro has been awarded a contract by Oriel Windfarm Ltd to deliver a detailed geotechnical site investigation that will inform the design and installation of foundations for 25 offshore wind turbines at the Oriel offshore wind farm. The investigation will support the safe and efficient construction of the project, which is located off the coast of County Louth.

Project Details and Development Partners

The 375 MW Oriel project is planned to be among Ireland's first commercial-scale offshore wind farms. The project is being jointly developed by JERA Nex bp and the Irish semi-state utility ESB. The wind farm will feature 25 offshore wind turbines requiring foundation design and installation support from the geotechnical investigation.

Investigation Campaign and Technology

Fugro's winter geotechnical campaign is already underway following the mobilization of the Fugro Voyager. The vessel is equipped with Fugro's advanced SEADEVIL coring system, which is designed to recover high-quality, undisturbed soil samples in complex offshore environments.

The Oriel site is located in a technically demanding area of the Irish Sea, requiring careful planning, experienced offshore delivery, and proven seabed investigation technology to ensure safe and reliable data acquisition. Working in water depths of up to 33 meters, the investigation includes cone penetration testing, wireline geophysics, wireline high-pressure dilatometer (HPD), and laboratory analysis at Fugro's Wallingford facility.

Project Significance and Industry Impact

The resulting geo-data will support foundation design and help reduce installation risk as the project progresses. The contract award reflects a strong collaborative relationship between Fugro and the Oriel wind farm team, as Fugro works closely with the project team to deliver innovative solutions that meet the project's unique challenges.

Garrett Connell, Ireland Country Manager at JERA Nex bp, said: "Partnering with Fugro on this geotechnical survey campaign represents an important milestone, enabling us to progress our detailed project design and bringing us closer to realizing the Oriel project and contributing to Ireland's offshore wind ambitions."

Remmelt de Jong, Fugro's Regional Business Line Director for Marine Site Characterization in Europe and Africa, said: "Early access to high-quality Geo-data is critical for projects of this scale. By understanding the site's ground profile, Oriel Windfarm can make informed decisions that support the long-term performance of offshore wind assets. We're proud to bring our expertise to such an important project and help accelerate Ireland's renewable energy ambitions."

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