Deep Water Excavation Grab – GES
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Deep WaterExcavation Grab – GES

Grab Excavation System: deep-sea dredging with very high accuracy

Overview

Innovative deep-water dredging technology with high level of automation

For the protection of subsea assets in iceberg-rich environments, protection from iceberg scouring is a prerequisite. Assets are protected when they are lowered into the seabed at a depth of at least 9 meters into so-called glory holes. For the Whiterose project, glory holes needed to be created at a depth of 150 meters. At this depth, the use of traditional excavation methods such as a suction hopper dredger, is very difficult. This is especially so because of boulders that span up to several meters in size, changing soil conditions, soils that consist of stiff clay, up to 750 kPa, and hard pan layers.

As a consequence, a new deep-sea excavation method was required to excavate through various soil conditions at these depths. The solution used for the project at hand was the grab excavation system (GES). Seatools designed and built the grab-positioning ROV and its control system, including full 3D motion compensation.

The system has been designed for water depths of up to 1000 meters, but the technology can easily be extended for use in much deeper waters.

Article on GES

Learn more about the development and operations of GES

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Project scope
  • Design and delivery of positioning ROV for clamshell grab, incl. controls
  • Simulations and control system of twin highly dynamic hoist winches (incl. active heave compensation)
  • Dredge cycle automation including CT/speed transitions
  • Control software and sensors
  • Interface with vessel DP and HiPap
Project duration
  • 13 months
Client
  • Boskalis and Tideway

The GES enabled Boskalis and Tideway to excavate at a water depth of 150 meters with production rates of 150 m3/hour in 750 kPa stiff clay at an accuracy level of 20 centimeters. How can we empower you?

Features & Specifications

  1. Proven deep-sea dredging technology

    This technology is suitable not only for deep-water dredging, but also for deep-sea mining and salvage applications.

  2. Ability to cope with various soil conditions

    Although initially the system was designed for very hard soil conditions, boulders, and hard pan layers, it is also capable of dredging sands, soft soils, and clays. Furthermore, with the appropriate clamshells, the system can be adapted to subsea mining or salvage tasks.

  3. High level of excavation accuracy

    Because the excavation process is automated to a large extent, the system yields high levels of accuracy. Accuracy does not depend on operator capabilities, since the operator only selects the target position for the next bite. The control system automatically places the grab at the desired coordinates.

Deep Water Excavation Grab – GES - Deep-Water-Excavation-Grab-GES-Specifications & Features

SPECIFICATIONS

  • Size (l x w x h) 6.6 x 3.3 x 9.3 m (closed clamshell)
  • Weight 70 MT
  • Grab volume 16 m3 (optional: 10 or 25 m3)
  • Propulsion 4 x Ø 1200 mm hydraulic thrusters
  • Installed power 2 x 200 kW
  • Underwater positioning 3D positioning
https://www.seatools.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/st_broshure2.jpg

General Arrangement

Deep Water Excavation Grab – GES Download PDF

Multimedia

Seahorse with deep water dredging system
The deep water excavation grab was deployed from the Seahorse fall pipe vessel.
Recovery of GES deep sea dredging system
Recovery of GES
Lowering the GES deep sea excavation system

When dredging starts, the grab is lowered to the seabed from the aft hang-off point. The winches are heave compensated, so that the movements of the vessel do not affect the vertical position of the grab.

GES deep water excavation grab lowered to the seabed
Experimentation on deep water excavation dynamics

Lowering a 70 tonnes grab to the seabed is one thing, preventing it from falling over is another. Extensive experimentation with scale models and the development of advanced controls including tumble prevention algorithms help the operator to operate the system in a safe manner.

Experimentation on grab toppling behaviour
GES as a dredging mining method

Due to hyperbaric effects, cutter-based excavation of rock materials at large water depths requires extensive amounts of capital-intensive subsea-installed power, resulting in high energy consumption. Our techno-economic studies have shown that grab-based mining creates significant economic benefits, thanks to a low ratio of cutting energy over excavated rock volume.

Grab based excavation technology harvests large potential for deep sea mining applications
Seahorse with deep water dredging system
Recovery of GES deep sea dredging system
Lowering the GES deep sea excavation system
Experimentation on deep water excavation dynamics
GES as a dredging mining method

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