Geophysical and geotechnical surveys

Understanding offshore ground conditions is critical to safe, efficient infrastructure delivery. Acteon combines advanced geophysical survey methods with specialist geotechnical engineering to deliver the insight needed for confident design, routing and installation. 

Our flexible approach, modular systems and experienced teams support fast, low-impact offshore geotechnical site investigation. Whether planning in shallow waters or drilling in deep, we help operators act early, reduce risk and optimise foundation performance.

200+

Geophysical and geotechnical surveys delivered in the last 10 years

Acting on complexity below the seabed

We help operators reduce risk, emissions and cost by generating high-quality subsurface data across the lifecycle. Our geophysical and geotechnical survey services combine field-proven technologies with expert interpretation to support everything from early-stage assessment to pipeline inspection surveys and foundation design.

Challenges and benefits icon.

Delivering faster results with lower emissions

Our systems reduce offshore time and fuel use - enabling up to 50% fuel savings and 9.4 tonnes CO₂ reduction per six-person deployment.

Challenges and benefits icon.

Improving accuracy and decision confidence

Our in-situ shear strengths using our HTPC are 15-20% greater than laboratory testing data – saving you valuable time, cost and reducing uncertainty in the data.

Challenges and benefits icon.

Cutting cost and risk with flexible mobilisation

From topographic and hydrographic surveys to deepwater geotechnical surveys, we scale quickly and operate effectively in remote or harsh conditions.

Geophysical surveys

Supporting safe installation through subsurface clarity

Our geophysical surveys map the seabed and sub-seabed to inform key decisions on routing, installation and safety. Using high-resolution tools and digital workflows, geophysical experts identify bathymetry, sediment layers and hazards that may affect offshore activity.

Our technology

We deploy a flexible ecosystem of tools optimised for fast, accurate results in any marine setting. We have a variety of geophysical equipment available for rental - contact the team to find out more.

Page

USV and AUV

High-resolution bathymetric and sub-bottom data to support marine mapping, 3D seabed modelling and route planning.
Read More

Page

iSite

A digital asset management platform combining laser scan data, 360° photogrammetry and real-time analytics to visualise and track offshore infrastructure.
Read More

Latest case studies

Case Studies

10 Oct 2023

Turnkey survey solution for challenging Black Sea development

UTEC, was contracted by Subsea7 to provide survey services for the Sakarya gas field development offshore Türkiye in the Black Sea.
Read Article

Case Studies

15 Dec 2021

Volumetric surveys to enable future planning in remote areas

UTEC, Acteon’s Geo-services business line, was contracted to provide a bathymetric and topographic survey at Loch A’Chuilinn and Loch Achanalt.
Read Article

Case Studies

01 Dec 2021

Radar surveys increase efficiency on Berwick Bank wind farm development

UTEC, was commissioned by SSE Renewables to undertake topographical and ground-penetrating radar surveys for the cable landfall areas of the Seagreen Windfarm (now Berwick Bank)
Read Article
See more case studies

Geotechnical surveys

Engineering insight for offshore ground conditions

Building on the extensive track record of Benthic, now UTEC, we deliver offshore geotechnical site investigation through in situ testing, sampling and borehole data. Our fleet includes portable remotely operated drill (PROD) – a modular seabed drill system that delivers downhole geotechnical data without needing a drillship.

Our technology

From deepwater to shallow water sampling, cone penetration tests (CPT), surface seabed soil sampling (GEOROV), and other in situ tests, we provide the right toolset for each project - integrated with data systems and expert interpretation. 

Page

Downhole site investigation PROD

A portable seabed drilling system delivering high-quality downhole data at depths up to 4,000 m and 150 m penetration.
Read More

Page

USV and AUV

High-resolution bathymetric and sub-bottom data to support marine mapping, 3D seabed modelling and route planning.
Read More

Page

The Manta 200 CPT

Building on proven seabed Cone Penetration Testing (CPT) expertise, we have invested in a new Geomil Manta 200 - a versatile CPT system for offshore energy projects. This compact in-house system allows to respond faster to client requests, reduce logistics complexity and ensure consistency, reliability, and flexibility.
Read More

Latest case studies

Case Studies

10 Dec 2025

Deepwater geotechnical site investigation offshore Mozambique using PROD technology

UTEC, Acteon’s Geo-services business line, delivered a comprehensive deepwater geotechnical investigation offshore Mozambique using the Portable Remotely Operated Drill (PROD5) seabed drilling system, combining sampling and in situ data to characterise challenging seabed conditions.
Read Article

Case Studies

12 Feb 2025

Swift and seamless geotechnical solutions for Germany’s offshore windfarm

UTEC completed a swift geotechnical site investigation in Germany’s North Sea. From vessel mobilisation to onboard CPT and lab testing, the project concluded successfully ahead of schedule.
Read Article

Case Studies

16 Jul 2024

PROD reaches CPT depth where others failed in challenging soils at Polish site

Portable Remotely Operated Drill (PROD) performed deep cone penetration tests at 22 offshore sites in Poland’s Baltic Sea, overcoming complex soil conditions to support wind turbine foundation design.
Read Article

Latest resources

Explore how Acteon’s geophysical and geotechnical surveys support infrastructure projects across the energy sector - from marine site investigation to full geotechnical data management and design support.

Blogs

05 Feb 2026

Why seabed intelligence is the foundation of offshore energy success

Advanced geospatial intelligence gives offshore teams a clear view of subsurface conditions, enabling proactive planning, cost control and more predictable project delivery.
Read More

Brochures

13 Jan 2026

Manta 200 Seabed CPT

The UTEC Manta 200 kN Seabed Cone Penetration Testing (CPT) system is a new-generation, continuous drive system that was designed with a clear focus on resilience and efficiency. Its adjustable ballast system and modular design deliver exceptional versatility and operational flexibility.
Read More

Case Studies

10 Dec 2025

Deepwater geotechnical site investigation offshore Mozambique using PROD technology

UTEC, Acteon’s Geo-services business line, delivered a comprehensive deepwater geotechnical investigation offshore Mozambique using the Portable Remotely Operated Drill (PROD5) seabed drilling system, combining sampling and in situ data to characterise challenging seabed conditions.
Read Article
See more resources

Talk to our team about survey solutions

Acteon delivers integrated survey and geotechnical services to support safe, efficient offshore infrastructure at every lifecycle stage. 

Contact the team

Ewen Stewart

Site Investigation Lead

Michael Serra

Head of Geoscience