Bringing subsurface clarity to TotalEnergies expansion project

Challenge

TotalEnergies was expanding its oil and gas facilities in southern Iraq and needed a reliable understanding of ground conditions to support design and planning. The site covered a wide area with variable geology, where uncertainty around subsurface conditions could influence layout decisions, foundation design and long‑term performance.

 The scale of the site and the pace of the programme meant that insight was needed quickly, consistently and across multiple work fronts. The challenge was to provide clarity at scale, without slowing the project down.

Building a clear picture of the ground

We delivered an integrated ground investigation that brought together geophysical surveys, targeted boreholes, and topographical and underground surveys into a single, coherent view of the subsurface. Multiple geophysical techniques were deployed alongside carefully positioned intrusive investigations, allowing us to balance coverage with accuracy.

Our multidisciplinary teams worked closely together from the outset, aligning survey planning, data acquisition and interpretation. This early integration ensured that datasets complemented each other and could be combined into high‑resolution ground models for each project area.

Crucially, we moved beyond data delivery. Subsurface conditions were interpreted and translated into practical engineering parameters, enabling TotalEnergies to compare design options, identify risk areas and plan mitigation measures with confidence during the FEED stage.

Supporting confident decisions

The integrated ground models helped TotalEnergies understand how ground conditions varied across the site and where potential risks required closer attention. This clarity supported informed decisions around layout optimisation, foundation design and risk mitigation, without relying solely on intrusive investigation.

Regular engagement between Fugro teams and the client ensured that findings were shared as the work progressed, not just at final delivery. This allowed insight to be incorporated into the design process as it evolved, supporting momentum and avoiding late‑stage surprises.

Delivering value at scale

At peak activity, more than 100 Fugro personnel were working on site each day, supported by multiple crews and equipment operating in parallel. Strong coordination between teams enabled consistent data quality across a demanding programme and multiple locations.

By integrating geophysical, geotechnical and survey data into a single ground model, we reduced uncertainty and provided insight that traditional approaches alone would not have delivered. For TotalEnergies, this meant faster decision‑making, clearer risk visibility and greater confidence in a major long‑term investment.

The experience gained from this project played a key role in advancing our integrated multiphysics approach into a fully developed subsurface intelligence solution. Today, this solution enables clients to achieve earlier clarity, improved transparency, and greater confidence in decision-making, all within accelerated project timelines.