ABL company OWC has been hired by the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) for work on geophysical and geotechnical surveys at two wind farm areas offshore Portugal.

IPMA, Portugal’s national authority for meteorology, aeronautical meteorology, climate, seismology, and geomagnetism, is leading a geophysical and geotechnical survey over two areas from the country’s Allocation Plan for Offshore Renewable Energy – Leixões and Figueira da Foz.

OWC will provide specialist geophysical and geotechnical client representatives to oversee the offshore surveys with support from Portugal-based water and environmental consultants Hidromod, another ABL company.

The survey involves the acquisition of a multibeam echosounder, side scan sonar, towed gradiometer/magnetometer, sub-bottom profiler, and 2D ultra-high-resolution multi-channel seismic, and single-channel seismic. The work also entails the acquisition of seabed grab samples, vibrocores, and cone penetrating tests.

The Leixões and Figueira da Foz offshore wind farm areas are part of Portugal’s target to achieve its targeted carbon neutrality by 2050 and align national objectives with the guidelines of the REPowerEU Plan.