The SubBottom Cutter (SBC) project was initiated in response to legislative requirements for the safe and efficient removal of offshore structures such as jacket piles and wellheads below the seabed soil from 1 to 5 metres below the seabed soil.
As well as involving four Industrial Partners (Tecnospamec, CUT, Hydrakraft and Monyana) and two research institutes, (University of Athens and Genoa), this project has been funded by the European Community under the Competitive and Sustainable Growth Programme and by , Shell, BP, TotalFinaElf and Amerada Hess for the scale prototype.
The project is based on a new scientific approach aimed to improve the Diamond Wire Cutting System and integrate with dredging technology. This joint approach in the unique task of cutting underwater structures below the seabed soil is aimed at reducing the excavation volume to less than 10 metres cube and enable the safe disposal of excavation refuse without disturbing the surrounding environment.
A useful consequence of the Diamond Wire Cut is that, out-with the cut area; it leaves a virtually undamaged structure that may be re-used if required.
Key Advantages of this development are:
reduction of the time and cost of operation
guarantee of completion of the cutting task
no limitation as for water depth of operation
no limitation as for shapes of structures
no limitation as for sizes and type materials
optimisation of the projects as for health and safety and environmental, control protection
optimisation of the projects as for energy consumption, efficiency and reliability
