Foundation design in offshore carbonate sediments – building on knowledge to address future challenges

Carbonate sediments are prevalent in many major offshore oil and gas basins, as well as a growing number of regions assigned to offshore wind development. Identified as difficult from an engineering perspective, the failure to properly characterize and design for these sediments has adversely influenced several projects. This paper provides a brief geological perspective, and identifies broad trends and characteristics to be considered when defining the engineering properties of such materials. An overview of the challenges faced when founding offshore structures in such sediments is provided, drawing on experience gained over the last 30 years, and with an emphasis on current and emerging issues.

The paper was published in the proceedings of XVI Pan-American Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (XVI PCSMGE) and was edited by Dr. Norma Patricia López Acosta, Eduardo Martínez Hernández and Alejandra L. Espinosa Santiago. The conference was held in Cancun, Mexico, on November 17-20, 2019.