The most common Profiling sonar is the DELTA-T multibeam Profiler Type 837A.  This multibeam sonar has been used extensively in the offshore O&G industry for the past number of years and is setting new standards of use with it's compact, light weight and low cost investment.  The data results are highly effective and the user has a number of commercially available post processing systems to use with Delta-T Multibeam sonar for more detailed data presentation and analysis.

Delta-T Profilers are available in 260KHz and 675KHz versions in Aluminium or Stainless Steel housings with depth ratings from 300m to 6,000m.

A feature of this new generation multibeam sonar is in the Software accompanying the scope of supply, it includes a special 3D view package - this S/W allows a real time DTM display in 3D to be available to the user whilst online during the survey - extremely useful when assessing seafloor for debris and other anomalies which would otherwise only be seen following a post processing stage perhaps hours or days following the survey operation on site.  This real time 3D display has been invaluable in trenching operations by users cutting a trench or exposing pipelines under the seafloor.

Delta-T Profilers are often used in Dual configuration to view a pipeline more definitively by placement of a transducers sensor on each side of the pipeline at optimum angles.  A new development with the Delta-T is the introduction of a Quad Sensor array, thus achieving a high location, wide area swath (Port and Starboard) simultaneously with close and lowered viewing of the pipeline within a trench etc - the new S/W will allow a quad 3D view of these sonar transducer sensors and provide the operator with a very comprehensive local area view of the seafloor, very close to a pipeline and further afield on each side.

Applications include:  ROV survey with Dual head configuration, Plough mounted with dual pairs for locating pipe asset referenced to Plough cutters, Excavation trenchers for definition of trench profiles....etc.   The 3D View real-time display of pipe/trench areas are of immense value in Construction support operations where instant decisions can be assisted by the data displays from the DELTA-T profilers.

A new and recent introduction to the survey/construction sector is the AZIMUTH DRIVE multibeam sensor which produces real time 3D imagery of an area of the seafloor form a stationary position.  The Azimuth Drive utilises a single transducer multibeam sensor and a rotating mechanism all in a single package, the output data stream is in the same format as the Delta-T profiler and is displayed in the same manner, it can also be post processed to give contour or bathymetry map displa of the area scanned.

Dual Assembly Delta-T Profilers with Topside Processor PC

 Azimuth Drive Multibeam 3D Profiler sonar - with protective cover and internals

Typical 3D processed image of a seabed pock mark - data from Azimuth Drive sonar