Sub-bottom Profiling

Sub-bottom Profiling is conducted in order to visualize sub-surface strata from zero to several 10s of meters from the seafloor.
OEC operates several types of Sub-bottom Profilers (SBPs), thus, we can offer Sub-bottom Profiling in waters up to depths of 5000m.
The right-hand figure shows waters around Japan up to 200m in depth in yellow and up to 5,000m in depth in pink. OEC’s Sub-bottom Profiling can be carried out for both yellow and pink areas.
Waters greater than 5,000m deep shown in blue in the figure are currently out of range.

OEC utilizes side-mounted SBPs whose transducers are fitted on a ship’s side. For surveys in deep waters, a transducer array consists of from four (4) to nine (9) single transducers which are fitted on the bottom of a survey ship. This type of transducer array allows Sub-bottom Profiling to be performed up to depths of 5,000m.
For shallow waters, such as rivers, reservoirs and ponds, a single or dual transducer(s) can be fitted onto the side of a small boat so that these locations may be surveyed as well.

OEC also operates towed SBPs.
A towed SBP has the advantages of higher resolution because the towfish can be flown close to the seafloor up to altitudes of several 10s of meters. In conjunction with underwater positioning systems, accurate location-specific profiling can be conducted.
We are able to perform Sub-bottom Profiling at water depths of up to 1,500m. This is a powerful tool for cable route surveys.