SIST EN ISO 19901-8:2023

Oil and gas industries including lower carbon energy - Offshore structures - Part 8: Marine soil investigations (ISO 19901-8:2023)

This document specifies requirements and provides recommendations and guidelines for marine soil investigations regarding:
a)    objectives, planning and execution of marine soil investigations;
b)    deployment of investigation equipment;
c)    drilling and logging;
d)    in situ testing;
e)    sampling;
f)     laboratory testing;
g)    reporting.
Although this document focuses on investigations of soil, it also provides guidance, with less detail, for investigations of chalk, calcareous soils, cemented soils and weak rock.
Foundation design is not covered by this document.
NOTE 1    ISO 19901‑4 and the respective design standards covering foundation design for the specific types of offshore structures to meet the requirements of application specific standards are given on the ISO website.
The results from marine geophysical investigations are, when available and where appropriate, used for planning, optimization and interpretation of marine soil investigations.
This document neither covers the planning, execution and interpretation of marine geophysical investigations nor the planning and scope of geohazard assessment studies, only the corresponding marine soil investigations aspects thereof.
NOTE 2    ISO 19901-10 covers the planning, execution and interpretation of marine geophysical investigations.
This document specifies requirements and provides guidance for obtaining measured values and derived values. This document excludes requirements for determination of design values and representative values. Limited guidance is provided in 11.3 related to data interpretation.
This document is intended for clients, soil investigation contractors, designers, installation contractors, geotechnical laboratories and public and regulatory authorities concerned with marine soil investigations for any type of offshore structures, or geohazard assessment studies.

Öl- und Gasindustrie einschließlich kohlenstoffarmer Energieträger - Offshore-Anlagen - Teil 8: Meeresbodenuntersuchungen (ISO 19901-8:2023)

Industries du pétrole et du gaz y compris les énergies à faible teneur en carbone - Structures en mer - Partie 8: Investigations des sols en mer (ISO 19901-8:2023)

Le présent document spécifie des exigences, des recommandations et des lignes directrices pour la reconnaissance des sols en mer, concernant:
a)    les objectifs, la planification et l'exécution de la reconnaissance des sols en mer;
b)    le déploiement de l'équipement de reconnaissance;
c)    le forage et la diagraphie;
d)    les essais in situ;
e)    l'échantillonnage;
f)     les essais en laboratoire;
g)    l'établissement de rapports.
Bien que le présent document se concentre sur les reconnaissances de sols, il fournit également des recommandations, moins détaillées, pour les reconnaissances des sols crayeux, des sols calcaires, des sols consolidés et des roches tendres.
La conception des fondations n'est pas traitée dans le présent document.
NOTE 1    L'ISO 19901-4 et les normes de conception respectives couvrant la conception des fondations pour les types spécifiques de structures en mer afin de répondre aux exigences des normes spécifiques à l'application sont données sur le site web de l'ISO.
Dans la mesure où ils sont disponibles et appropriés, les résultats des enquêtes géophysiques marines sont utilisés pour la planification, l'optimisation et l'interprétation de la reconnaissance des sols en mer.
Le présent document ne traite ni de la planification, de l'exécution et de l'interprétation des enquêtes géophysiques marines, ni de planification et de l'étendue des études d'évaluation des risques géologiques, mais couvre uniquement leurs aspects liés à la reconnaissance des sols en mer.
NOTE 2    L'ISO 19901-10 couvre la planification, l'exécution et l'interprétation des enquêtes géophysiques marines.
Le présent document spécifie des exigences et fournit des recommandations pour l'obtention de valeurs mesurées et de valeurs dérivées. Le présent document exclut les exigences relatives à la détermination des valeurs de calcul et des valeurs représentatives. Des recommandations limitées sont fournies en 11.3 en ce qui concerne l'interprétation des données.
Le présent document est destiné aux maîtres d'ouvrage, entreprises de reconnaissance des sols, concepteurs, entreprises d'installation, laboratoires géotechniques, autorités publiques et organismes de réglementation concernés par les reconnaissances des sols en mer pour tout type de structures installées au large, ou par les études d'évaluation des risques géologiques.

Naftna in plinska industrija, vključno z nizkoogljično energijo - Naftne ploščadi - 8. del: Preiskave morskega dna (ISO 19901-8:2023)

Standard ISO 19901-8:2014 določa zahteve ter podaja priporočila in smernice za preiskave morskega dna v povezavi z naslednjimi točkami:
a) cilji, načrtovanje in izvajanje preiskav morskega dna;
b) uvedba preiskovalne opreme;
c) vrtanje in beleženje;
d) preskušanje na mestu uporabe;
e) vzorčenje;
f) laboratorijsko preskušanje; in
g) poročanje.
Standard ISO 19901-8:2014 obravnava kamnite materiale samo v obsegu možnosti uporabe običajnih orodij za preiskave morskega dna (npr. orodje za obdelavo apnenca, karbonatnih površin, spojenih površin ali podobnih mehkih kamnin).
Standard ISO 19901-8:2014 je namenjen odjemalcem, izvajalcem preiskav dna, projektantom, izvajalcem namestitve, geotehničnim laboratorijem ter javnim in upravnim organom na področju preiskav morskega dna za namene postavitve različnih konstrukcij na odprtem morju in ob obali ali opravljanje študij geoloških nevarnosti za naftno in plinsko industrijo.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Public Enquiry End Date: 08-Mar-2022
• Publication Date: 24-Oct-2023
• ICS: 75.180.10 - Exploratory, drilling and extraction equipment
• Technical Committee: I13 - Imaginarni 13
• Current Stage: 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 11-Oct-2023
• Due Date: 16-Dec-2023
• Completion Date: 25-Oct-2023
• Ref Project: EN ISO 19901-8:2023 - Oil and gas industries including lower carbon energy - Offshore structures - Part 8: Marine soil investigations (ISO 19901-8:2023)

Relations

• Revised: SIST EN ISO 19901-8:2015 - Petroleum and natural gas industries - Specific requirements for offshore structures - Part 8: Marine soil investigations (ISO 19901-8:2014)
• Effective Date: 19-Jan-2023

Overview

EN ISO 19901-8:2023 - Marine soil investigations (ISO 19901-8:2023) is a CEN-endorsed international standard for planning, executing and reporting marine soil investigations for offshore structures in the oil and gas industries including lower carbon energy. It specifies requirements and provides guidance covering objectives, investigation planning, equipment deployment, drilling and logging, in situ testing, sampling, laboratory testing and reporting. The standard focuses on obtaining measured and derived geotechnical values (not the derivation of design or representative values) and gives limited guidance for chalk, calcareous soils, cemented soils and weak rock. Foundation design is explicitly outside its scope.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Objectives, planning and scope: Defines the sequence of activities, integrated geoscience studies and development of project specifications and scope of work.
• Health, safety and environmental (HSE): Requirements for safe marine operations, vessel selection and management of hazards such as shallow gas and acoustic noise.
• Deployment of investigation equipment: Procedures for non‑drilling and drilling mode deployments, vessel and seafloor drilling considerations, and requirements for vertical depth uncertainty and horizontal positioning.
• Drilling and logging: Project-specific drilling requirements, recording of drilling parameters and borehole geophysical logging and reporting.
• In situ testing: Detailed guidance on cone penetration tests (CPT), pore pressure dissipation tests, ball and T‑bar tests, seismic CPT and other in situ methods, including equipment, offshore procedures and presentation of results.
• Sampling and laboratory testing: Guidance for sampling strategy, handling and laboratory testing to ensure data quality.
• Reporting and data quality: Standardized reporting requirements, metadata and QA/QC documentation to support interpretation (note: interpretation guidance limited; design value determination excluded).

Practical applications and users

EN ISO 19901-8:2023 is intended for:

• Clients and project owners defining scope and acceptance criteria for marine soil investigations.
• Soil investigation contractors and vessel operators planning and executing campaigns.
• Geotechnical and structural designers who require reliable measured and derived data for foundation and seabed assessments (foundation design uses separate standards).
• Geotechnical laboratories performing sample testing and data validation.
• Installation contractors and regulators involved in permitting, HSE and environmental reviews.
  Typical applications include pre‑installation site investigations for offshore platforms, wind turbines, pipelines, subsea structures, carbon capture and storage (CCS) sites and geohazard assessment studies (soil‑focused aspects).

Related standards

• ISO 19901‑4 (foundation design references) - for foundation design and application‑specific design standards.
• ISO 19901‑10 - covers planning, execution and interpretation of marine geophysical investigations (geophysical work is referenced but not covered in detail by Part 8).

Keywords: EN ISO 19901-8:2023, marine soil investigations, offshore structures, in situ testing, drilling and logging, sampling, laboratory testing, oil and gas industries, lower carbon energy, geotechnical investigation.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-december-2023
Naftna in plinska industrija, vključno z nizkoogljično energijo - Naftne ploščadi - 8.
del: Preiskave morskega dna (ISO 19901-8:2023)
Oil and gas industries including lower carbon energy - Offshore structures - Part 8:
Marine soil investigations (ISO 19901-8:2023)
Öl- und Gasindustrie einschließlich kohlenstoffarmer Energieträger - Offshore-Anlagen -
Teil 8: Meeresbodenuntersuchungen (ISO 19901-8:2023)
Industries du pétrole et du gaz y compris les énergies à faible teneur en carbone -
Structures en mer - Partie 8: Investigations des sols en mer (ISO 19901-8:2023)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 19901-8:2023
ICS:
75.180.10 Oprema za raziskovanje, Exploratory, drilling and
vrtanje in odkopavanje extraction equipment
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN ISO 19901-8
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
September 2023
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 75.180.10 Supersedes EN ISO 19901-8:2015
English Version
Oil and gas industries including lower carbon energy -
Offshore structures - Part 8: Marine soil investigations
(ISO 19901-8:2023)
Industries du pétrole et du gaz y compris les énergies à Öl- und Gasindustrie einschließlich kohlenstoffarmer
faible teneur en carbone - Structures en mer - Partie 8: Energieträger - Offshore-Anlagen - Teil 8:
Investigations des sols en mer (ISO 19901-8:2023) Meeresbodenuntersuchungen (ISO 19901-8:2023)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 15 September 2023.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2023 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 19901-8:2023 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3

European foreword
This document (EN ISO 19901-8:2023) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 67 "Oil and
gas industries including lower carbon energy" in collaboration with Technical Committee CEN/TC 12
“Oil and gas industries including lower carbon energy” the secretariat of which is held by NEN.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by March 2024, and conflicting national standards shall
be withdrawn at the latest by March 2024.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes EN ISO 19901-8:2015.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards
body/national committee. A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of
North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the
United Kingdom.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO 19901-8:2023 has been approved by CEN as EN ISO 19901-8:2023 without any
modification.
INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 19901-8
Second edition
2023-09
Oil and gas industries including
lower carbon energy — Offshore
structures —
Part 8:
Marine soil investigations
Industries du pétrole et du gaz y compris les énergies à faible teneur
en carbone — Structures en mer —
Partie 8: Investigations des sols en mer
Reference number
ISO 19901-8:2023(E)
ISO 19901-8:2023(E)
© ISO 2023
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
ISO 19901-8:2023(E)
Contents Page
Foreword .v
Introduction . vi
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 2
4 Symbols, units and abbreviated terms . 6
4.1 Symbols . 6
4.2 Units . 11
4.3 Abbreviated terms .12
5 Objectives, planning and requirements .14
5.1 Objectives . 14
5.2 Planning . 14
5.2.1 Sequence of activities . 14
5.2.2 Integrated geoscience studies . 16
5.3 Scope of work and development of project specifications . 17
5.4 Health, safety and environmental requirements for marine operations . 18
5.4.1 General . 18
5.4.2 Investigation vessel . 18
5.4.3 Hazardous substances and acoustic noise . 19
5.4.4 Shallow gas . 19
5.5 Other requirements . 20
5.5.1 Operational requirements . 20
5.5.2 Quality requirements . 20
5.5.3 Specific considerations for unconventional soils . 21
6 Deployment of investigation equipment .21
6.1 Non-drilling mode deployment . 21
6.2 Drilling mode deployment . 21
6.2.1 General . 21
6.2.2 Vessel drilling . 22
6.2.3 Seafloor drilling . 22
6.3 Uncertainty of vertical depth measurements . 22
6.3.1 General .22
6.3.2 Factors affecting the uncertainty of vertical depth measurements.23
6.3.3 Depth uncertainty classes . 23
6.4 Horizontal positioning . 24
6.5 Interaction of investigation equipment with the upper seabed . 24
7 Drilling and logging .25
7.1 General . 25
7.2 Project-specific drilling requirements . 25
7.3 Drilling objectives and selection of drilling equipment and procedures .26
7.4 Drilling operations plan .26
7.5 Recording of drilling parameters . 27
7.6 Borehole geophysical logging . 27
7.6.1 General . 27
7.6.2 Reporting of results .28
8 In situ testing .28
8.1 General .28
8.2 General requirements for the reporting of in situ tests .29
8.3 Cone penetration test .30
8.3.1 General .30
8.3.2 Equipment . 30
iii
ISO 19901-8:2023(E)
8.3.3 Test procedures . 31
8.3.4 Procedures for testing offshore .34
8.3.5 Presentation of test results .36
8.4 Pore pressure dissipation test . 37
8.4.1 General . 37
8.4.2 Equipment .38
8.4.3 Test procedure.38
8.4.4 Presentation of results .38
8.5 Ball and T-bar penetration tests . 39
8.5.1 General .39
8.5.2 Equipment . 41
8.5.3 Calibration and verification of ball and T-bar penetrometers . 41
8.5.4 Procedures for testing offshore . 41
8.5.5 Presentation of results . 42
8.6 Seismic cone penetration test . 43
8.6.1 General . 43
8.6.2 Equipment .44
8.6.3 Procedures for testing offshore .44
8.6.4 Presentation of results . 45
8.7 Other in situ tests . 45
8.7.1 General . 45
9 Sampling .46
9.1 Purpose and objectives of sampling .46
9.2 Sampling systems .46
9.3 Selection of samplers .46
9.3.1 General .46
9.3.2 Drilling mode samplers . 47
9.3.3 Non-drilling mode samplers .48
9.4 Sample recovery considerations .49
9.5 Handling, transport and storage of samples .50
9.5.1 General .50
9.5.2 Offshore sample handling . 51
9.5.3 Offshore storage . 52
9.5.4 Onshore transport, handling and storage . 52
10 Laboratory testing .52
10.1 General . 52
10.2 Project specifications . 53
10.3 Presentation of laboratory test results . 53
10.4 Instrumentation, calibration and data acquisition .54
10.5 Preparation of soil specimens for testing .54
10.5.1 Minimum sample size and specimen dimensions .54
10.5.2 Preparation of disturbed samples and soil batching .54
10.5.3 Preparation of intact specimens (fine soils) . 55
10.5.4 Laboratory-prepared compacted and reconstituted specimens .55
10.5.5 Preparation of remoulded samples . . 57
10.6 Evaluation of intact sample quality . 57
11 Reporting .58
11.1 Reporting requirements .58
11.2 Presentation of field operations and factual data . 59
11.3 Data interpretation and soil parameters . 59
Annex A (informative) Additional information and guidance .61
Annex B (informative) Laboratory testing. 109
Bibliography . 146
iv
ISO 19901-8:2023(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use
of (a) patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed
patent rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received
notice of (a) patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are
cautioned that this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent
database available at www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all
such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to
the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see
www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 67, Oil and gas industries including lower
carbon energy, Subcommittee SC 7, Offshore structures, in collaboration with the European Committee
for Standardization (CEN) Technical Committee CEN/TC 12, Materials, equipment and offshore structures
for petroleum, petrochemical and natural gas industries, in accordance with the Agreement on technical
cooperation between ISO and CEN (Vienna Agreement).
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 19901-8:2014), which has been technically
revised.
The main changes are as follows:
— application classes for in situ testing tools are removed and replaced by an assessment of documented
calibration results and uncertainty analyses;
— new procedures for calibration and verification of cone penetrometers are introduced with reference
to the latest edition of ISO 22476-1.
— references to project specifications for technical details have been reduced where possible and roles
and responsibilities have been further clarified.
— title and scope change adopted as per Technical Management Board Resolution 53/2022.
A list of all parts in the ISO 19901 series can be found on the ISO website.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.
v
ISO 19901-8:2023(E)
Introduction
The International Standards on offshore structures prepared by TC 67/SC 7 (ISO 19900, the ISO 19901
series, ISO 19902, ISO 19903, ISO 19904, ISO 19905 series and ISO 19906) constitute a common basis
covering those aspects that address design requirements and assessments of all offshore structures
used by the petroleum and natural gas industries worldwide. Through their application, the intention
is to achieve reliability levels appropriate for manned and unmanned offshore structures, whatever
the nature or combination of the materials used. Application specific requirements for different energy
industries are referencing relevant overarching standards. For example, for the offshore wind industry
the IEC standards IEC 61400-1 and IEC 61400-3-1 outline the normative design requirements (e.g.
return periods) for offshore turbine support structures.
Structural integrity is a concept comprising models for describing actions, structural analyses, design
rules, safety elements, workmanship, quality control procedures and national requirements, all of which
are mutually dependent. The modification of one aspect of design in isolation can disturb the balance
of reliability inherent in the overall concept of structural integrity (see ISO 19900). The implications
involved in modifications, therefore, should be considered in relation to the overall reliability of all
offshore structural systems.
A marine soil investigation is only one of many possible marine site investigations as illustrated in
Figure 1. The scope of a marine soil investigation, such as field programme, equipment to be used,
laboratory testing programme, soil parameters to be established and reporting, is usually defined
in project specifications based on important factors, such as type of structures involved, type of soil
conditions expected, regional or site-specific investigation, preliminary or final soil investigations. The
reporting can comprise anything from field data only to reporting of soil parameter values.
Figure 1 — Marine soil investigations shown as one of many types of marine site investigations.
Use of this document is based on the following assumptions:
— communication takes place between geophysical and geotechnical specialists for defining the scope
of the marine soil investigation based on the results of a geophysical investigation (see ISO 19901-10);
— communication takes place between geotechnical personnel involved in marine soil investigations
and the personnel responsible for foundation design, for construction and for installation of the
offshore structures;
— soil data are collected, documented and interpreted by trained personnel;
— the project-specific scope of work for marine soil investigations is defined by one or more project
specifications.
The detailed requirements for equipment and methods given in this document are only applicable if
relevant for the scope of work defined in the project specifications.
This document is intended to provide flexibility in the choice of marine soil investigation techniques
without hindering innovation.
In this document, the following verbal forms are used:
— “shall” indicates a requirement;
vi
ISO 19901-8:2023(E)
— “should” indicates a recommendation;
— “can” indicates a possibility or a capability;
— “may” indicates a permission.
Information marked as “NOTE” is intended to assist the understanding or use of the document. “Notes
to entry” used in Clause 3 provide additional information that supplements the terminological data and
can contain requirements relating to the use of a term.
Annex A gives additional information intended to assist the understanding or use of this document. The
clause numbers in Annex A correspond to the normative main text to facilitate easy cross-referencing.
Annex B covers conduct of laboratory tests as part of marine soil investigations.
vii
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 19901-8:2023(E)
Oil and gas industries including lower carbon energy —
Offshore structures —
Part 8:
Marine soil investigations
1 Scope
This document specifies requirements and provides recommendations and guidelines for marine soil
investigations regarding:
a) objectives, planning and execution of marine soil investigations;
b) deployment of investigation equipment;
c) drilling and logging;
d) in situ testing;
e) sampling;
f) laboratory testing;
g) reporting.
Although this document focuses on investigations of soil, it also provides guidance, with less detail, for
investigations of chalk, calcareous soils, cemented soils and weak rock.
Foundation design is not covered by this document.
NOTE 1 ISO 19901-4 and the respective design standards covering foundation design for the specific types of
offshore structures to meet the requirements of application specific standards are given on the ISO website.
The results from marine geophysical investigations are, when available and where appropriate, used
for planning, optimization and interpretation of marine soil investigations.
This document neither covers the planning, execution and interpretation of marine geophysical
investigations nor the planning and scope of geohazard assessment studies, only the corresponding
marine soil investigations aspects thereof.
NOTE 2 ISO 19901-10 covers the planning, execution and interpretation of marine geophysical investigations.
This document specifies requirements and provides guidance for obtaining measured values and
derived values. This document excludes requirements for determination of design values and
representative values. Limited guidance is provided in 11.3 related to data interpretation.
This document is intended for clients, soil investigation contractors, designers, installation contractors,
geotechnical laboratories and public and regulatory authorities concerned with marine soil
investigations for any type of offshore structures, or geohazard assessment studies.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 19901-8:2023(E)
ISO 14688-1, Geotechnical investigation and testing — Identification and classification of soil — Part 1:
Identification and description
ISO 14688-2, Geotechnical investigation and testing — Identification and classification of soil — Part 2:
Principles for a classification
ISO 14689, Geotechnical investigation and testing — Identification, description and classification of rock
ISO/IEC 17025, General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories
ISO 19900, Petroleum and natural gas industries — General requirements for offshore structures
ISO 22476-1, Geotechnical investigation and testing — Field testing — Part 1: Electrical cone and piezocone
penetration test
ISO/IEC Guide 99, International vocabulary of metrology — Basic and general concepts and associated
terms (VIM)
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 14688-1, ISO 14688-2,
ISO 14689 and the following apply:
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1
accuracy
closeness of agreement between a measured quantity value and a true quantity value of a measurand
[SOURCE: ISO/IEC Guide 99:2007, 2.13]
3.2
borehole geophysical logging
measurement of physical properties of a borehole and/or the surrounding soil, obtained by one or more
logging probes deployed in the borehole
3.3
client
party or person with overall responsibility for the marine soil investigation, including preparation of
project specifications
3.4
coordinate reference system
coordinate system that is related to an object by a datum
Note 1 to entry: Geodetic and vertical datums are referred to as reference frames.
3.5
contractor
party or person responsible for an assigned scope of work described in project specifications
3.6
derived value
value of a geotechnical parameter obtained from test results by theory, correlation or empiricism
ISO 19901-8:2023(E)
3.7
design value
value derived from the representative value for use in the design verification
[SOURCE: ISO 19900:2019, 3.14]
3.8
disturbed sample
sample whose soil structure, water content and/or constituents have changed as a result of sampling
and handling
3.9
drained condition
condition whereby the applied stresses and stress changes are supported entirely by the soil skeleton
and do not cause a change in pore pressure
3.10
drilling mud
drilling fluid
fluid pumped down a rotary drilled borehole to facilitate the drilling process
Note 1 to entry: The hardware associated with handling drilling fluids is commonly prefixed ‘mud’ (e.g. mud
tank, mud pump, mud valve). Drilling parameters associated with drilling fluids are similarly prefixed (mud
pressure, mud flow, etc.).
3.11
geohazard
geological condition that has the potential to have adverse effects on persons, operations, offshore
structures or the environment
3.12
ground model
2- or 3-dimensional representation of the seafloor (bathymetry) and, where applicable, the sub-seafloor
conditions, at a given time, that is specific to the offshore structure(s) considered
3.13
ground truthing
integration of seafloor or sub-seafloor geophysical data with data acquired by marine soil investigation
and other data
3.14
in-pipe logging
borehole geophysical logging (3.2) in a section of the borehole with drill pipe between the tool and the
borehole wall
Note 1 to entry: The number of parameters that can be usefully measured in these circumstances is restricted.
3.15
inclination
the angular deviation of the cone penetrometer from the vertical.
3.16
intact sample
sample that was collected with intention to preserve its in situ characteristics
3.17
integrated geoscience study
combination of geophysical data, a model for geological processes and geotechnical data for development
of a ground model (3.12)
ISO 19901-8:2023(E)
3.18
marine geophysical investigation
type of marine site investigation of seafloor or sub-seafloor that uses non-destructive methods
requiring marine deployment of geophysical tools
Note 1 to entry: See Figure 1.
3.19
marine site investigation
type of investigation at an offshore or nearshore site
EXAMPLE Marine soil investigation, marine geophysical investigation, marine biological investigation,
metocean investigation. See Figure 1.
3.20
marine soil investigation
type of marine site investigation (3.19) whose primary objective is to obtain reliable and representative
soil data for characterization of the seabed soil conditions to facilitate the design of offshore structures
and/or for geohazard (3.11) evaluation
Note 1 to entry: See Figure 1 and ISO 19901-10.
3.21
measured value
value that is measured in a test
3.22
nominal value
value assigned to a variable specified or determined on a non-statistical basis, typically acquired
experience or physical conditions, or as published in a recognized code or standard
3.23
open-hole logging
borehole geophysical logging (3.2) in a section of the borehole without, for example, casing or drill pipe
between the tool and the borehole wall
3.24
project specification
scope of work for marine soil investigations (3.20) assigned by the client (3.3) to a contractor (3.5)
3.25
rat hole
additional depth drilled at the end of the borehole (beyond the last zone of interest) to ensure that the
zone of interest for borehole geophysical logging (3.2) can be fully evaluated
Note 1 to entry: The rat hole allows tools at the top of the logging string to reach and measure the deepest zone
of interest.
3.26
reconstituted specimen
laboratory specimen prepared by mixing a soil sample to specified state using a specified procedure
3.27
remoulded sample
remoulded specimen
laboratory specimen that is thoroughly reworked mechanically at a constant water content
3.28
remoulded shear strength
shear strength of remoulded soil
ISO 19901-8:2023(E)
3.29
representative value
value assigned to a basic variable for verification of a limit state in a design/assessment situation
[SOURCE: ISO 19900:2019, 3.40]
3.30
residual shear strength
shear strength at large strains where shear stress versus strain levels off to a constant value
3.31
sample
portion of soil or rock recovered from the seabed by sampling techniques
3.32
sample quality
classification of soil samples (3.31) and specimens based on qualitative or quantitative techniques for
assessment of the degree of inevitable disturbance induced by the sampling, transportation, handling
and storage processes
Note 1 to entry: Sample quality criteria for low to medium OCR clays, where the sample quality is based on
measured volume change from laboratory consolidation tests, are given in Table 9.
3.33
seabed
materials below the seafloor
Note 1 to entry: Sub-seafloor can also be used as an equivalent term (See ISO 19901-10).
3.34
seafloor
interface between the sea and the seabed (3.33)
3.35
settlement
elastic or permanent downward movement of a structure as a result of its own weight and other actions
3.36
site
defined investigation area, including vertical extent.
3.37
soil parameter
soil property that can be quantified by a descriptor or a value
Note 1 to entry: Cone resistance and undrained shear strength are examples of soil parameters; low strength and
very dense are examples of descriptors; nominal value, measured value and derived value are examples of types
of values that can be determined for a soil parameter.
3.38
specimen
part of a sample (3.31) used for a laboratory test
3.39
strength index test
test that yields an indication of the shear strength
ISO 19901-8:2023(E)
3.40
swelling
expansion due to reduction of effective stress, resulting from either reduction of total stress or
absorption of (in general) water at constant total stress
Note 1 to entry: Swelling includes the reverse of both compression and consolidation.
Note 2 to entry: Exsolution of dissolved gas due to stress relief during sampling can cause significant swelling in
samples.
3.41
taper angle
rate, in degrees, at which the outside diameter of the sampler cutting shoe reduces
3.42
uncertainty
non-negative parameter that characterizes the dispersion of the quantity values that are being
a
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