NO20201198A1 - Seabed Soil Probe Device - Google Patents

Description

Soil Probe Penetrating Apparatus

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for determining properties of soil by penetrating an instrumented assembly including a cone shaped tip into the soil. The instrumented assembly is a measuring probe for determining properties of the of the soil. The probe is steered, penetrated and retracted into the ground by a flexible steel pipe commonly referred to as coiled tubing and is extendable by running the flexible steel pipe through a feeding device whereas the feeding device has a turntable for rotating the feeder and the flexible steel pipe in order of steering the direction of measuring probe.

Background for the invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus for pushing and steering an instrumented assembly including a cone shaped tip into the soil. The apparatus may be particularly suitable for use in cone penetration testing for determining in situ marine soil conditions for offshore wind farms.

Description of prior art

The templates, jack-ups, pipelines, cable and other structures that constitute an offshore installation or an Offshore Wind farm is supported on the seafloor. The characteristics of the seabed soils present at any site are crucial for the offshore installation and offshore wind farm design: insufficient site knowledge may seriously jeopardize installation and/or operation.

Offshore installation and offshore wind farm developers face increasing construction costs. Substructure optimization is desirable but cannot be easily achieved without enough geotechnical site investigation data.

Offshore geotechnical investigations involve taking undisturbed soil samples, coring and performance of in situ tests from specialist geotechnical drilling vessels in a process that is slow and very sensitive to weather conditions.

A widely used method for seabed soil investigation is cone penetration testing (CPT) to determine engineering properties of a wide range of soil types.

The test method involves pushing a cone penetrometer, which is an instrumented assembly including a cone shaped tip of a defined cross-sectional area, into the ground tip-first at a controlled penetration rate. The cone penetrometer is conventionally pushed into the ground using a rigid rod with a fixed length or rod elements added until soil resistance results in refusal.

The instrument provided in the cone penetrometer typically includes a variety of sensors for measuring parameters such as penetration depth, penetration pressure, resistance, friction, inclination and acceleration. The sensor measurements are taken electronically and transmitted to a suitable processing system. The recorded data is used for interpretation of soil type, strength determination and subsequent engineering analysis. New offshore windfarms and oil and gas installations are often located in geotechnically challenging sites and as a result, improved techniques for geotechnical soil investigations is required.

Another widely used method for seabed soil investigation is core sampling where the geotechnical drilling vessel uses drill-pipe and coring BHA to retrieve samples of soil to the surface vessel by a wireline winch.

The most commonly used method is a combination of drilling techniques and traditional cone penetration tests. These tests are referred to as in-situ tests or down-the-hole penetration tests and are executed from inside a drill string or similar. The traditional cone penetration test tool is deployed inside a drill string by a wire or combination of hydraulic umbilical and wire and locks itself to the shoe of the drill string. The test probe provided on a piston rod is extruded from the from the pushing device and penetrates the ground at the lower end of the drill pipe. Depending on the type of probe, measurements are performed, or a sample is taken. After having completed the test, the device is hoisted back to the surface vessel and the hole will be advanced using classic drilling techniques up to the testing depth that was reached with the pushing device. Then the whole cycle is repeated until the ultimate testing depth is reached. Depths can be reached of tens to hundreds of meters or more. Core sampling is performed in a similar manner by deploying and retrieving core barrels on wireline through the drill-pipe.

Another method for performing CPT penetration tests is by performing seabed CPT tests or drilling system where the apparatus is set down on the seabed. One commonly used system is seabed CPT system that and pushes the cone as far as possible down to into the soil, the rod used for pushing the cone into the soil is either stored on a reel subsea, installed as a straight rod through the pushing device or using a system for adding rods subsea, for soft soil conditions penetration depth of up to 50 meters have been achieved by this methods.

Several companies now provide seabed CPT systems in a commercial basis to the offshore geotechnical market at large, all existing seabed CPT systems are conceptually similar involving a feeder device and various types rod to push the instrumented probe into the soil. Limited factors for the penetration depth are often feeders snubbing capacity or rod length, and the systems are often technical advanced with flexible rods with locking systems or long straight rods that are either difficult to handle or prone to debris. This factor will reduce the efficiency of these systems.

Remotely operated seabed CPT systems can be operated in severe environmental conditions and can avoid dangers from shallow gas in the seabed. They can thus offer a substantial reduction in offshore development cost and extend the time window for geotechnical site investigations.

Existing seabed CPT systems with flexible steel pipe prove inefficient a limiting factor is often the challenge to penetrate vertically into the ground and avoid the instrument probe to deviate from vertical during the penetration. The residual tension of the flexible steel pipe when straighten out through the feeder will naturally force the instrumented probe to deviate from vertically when pushed into the soil.

The inputs from seismic CPT are key to advanced design of monopiles, suction anchors and conductors.

Because of the mechanical complexity for some of the existing seabed CPT machinery and limited capability for pushing the rod vertically into the soil these systems often provides a limited capacity for CPT tests needs to be supplemented by less cost effective drilling techniques and traditionally CPT tests.

This invention uses the combination of industry proved coiled tubing injector referred to as feeder, to achieve high snubbing force for penetrating the instrumented probe into the soil and combined this with a slewing ring for rotating the feeding device and thereby counteract the residual stresses in the flexible steel pipe is a new technique that will prevent the instrumented rod and flexible steel pipe to deviate from vertical penetration and give increased vertical penetration depth. This invention has the benefit of relatively low investment cost combined with a high reliability and efficiency both for shallow and deepwater operations.

Other inventions for seabed CPT tests use other technical solutions, none of the techniques mentioned below uses rotation of flexible steel pipe for steering the instrumented probe.

US 10316482 discloses a soil probing device having a string of flexible connected rod sections The soil probing device has a measuring probe , a plurality of rod sections each having a central axis for assembly of the probing rod , driving means for penetrating the probing rod into the ground , and a measuring means for determining properties of the ground during penetration of the probing rod into the ground.

EP2860341 A1 discloses a driving apparatus for driving pipes into the seabed is disclosed. The driving apparatus has support arms supporting a drill tower for driving pipes into the seabed, and a body for supporting a plurality of pipes in cassettes.

WO 2014131085 deployment apparatus discloses an apparatus for deploying at least one sensor the apparatus including: a vertebrae chain including a plurality of interconnected vertebrae, the vertebrae defining a channel extending from a chain distal end to a chain proximal end, the chain distal end supporting at least one sensor in use; a cable coupled to the chain distal end and extending along the channel to the chain proximal end; and, a drive for deploying vertebrae by urging a driven vertebra towards the chain distal end, wherein the cable and the drive cooperate to place deployed vertebrae in the chain under compression thereby causing the deployed vertebrae in the vertebrae chain to rigidly interlock such that the vertebrae chain can be driven into a surface to thereby deploy the at least one sensor.

US20090126946 Discloses a system for provided for drilling and/or servicing a well bore using continuous lengths of coiled tubing in which a turntable assembly rotates a coiled tubing reel assembly and a counter balance system about the well bore such that the coiled tubing is rotated while in the wellbore. A coiled tubing injector may be provided on a separate turntable assembly or on the same turntable assembly as the reel assembly.

Summary of present invention

In a first broad form the present invention seeks to provide an apparatus to simplify seabed CPT operations and avoid complex remote operations for handling of drill-pipe or for seabed system where complex devices for straightening the rod carrying the instrumented probe is used.

Another objective for this invention is to reach the maximum penetration depth for CPT test for offshore windfarms without the need for conventional geotechnical drilling.

Another objective in this invention is the possibility to perform cyclic testing with the same speed and force in both directions this is beneficial for soft seabed’s and in areas for shallow gas to avoid swabbing during the in-situ investigations.

Anther objective for this invention is to increase the efficiency by utilizing a continuous flexible steel pipe for vertical CPT tests

Another objective for this invention is to prevent the instrumented probe (1) to deviate from vertical penetration by rotate the feeder and reel storing the flexible steel pipe during penetration test. This is done to counteract for residual bending stresses in the flexible steel pipe as the flexible steel pipe will tend to curve back into U-shape during such penetration. The deviation from vertical penetration will be counteracted by rotating the flexible steel pipe based on feedback from the inclinometer in the instrumented probe (1). By doing so the achievable vertical penetration depth will be heavily increased giving a much more efficient system than currently available in the industry today.

Another objective for this invention is to rotate the flexible steel pipe in the hole to reduce the friction and thereby achieving larger penetration depths without need for geotechnical drilling

Another objective of this invention is the possibility for real-time data acquisition from the seabed CPT apparatus to the surface vessel.

Another object of this invention is the possibility to pump drilling fluid or friction reducer in the hole above the instrumented probe, this will increase bore hole stability and reduce the risk of the system getting stuck and achieving larger penetration depths without need for geotechnical drilling

Another objective of this invention is to drastically reduce the need for drilling fluid as used in geotechnical drilling operations and be an environmentally friendly solution

Another objective for this invention is to reduce the number of so-called vessel days at each test site and thereby contribute to reduction in CO2

Another objective for this invention is to use environmental electric system and avoid hydraulic operated equipment

Another objective of this invention is to reduce the cost and time spent for seabed CPT operations, especially for offshore windfarm investigations

The seabed CPT apparatus according to the invention functions by rotating the feeder and reel for the flexible steel-pipe and thereby increasing the vertical penetration depth and comprises of:

a feeder device for moving the flexible steel pipe

a device for storing the flexible steel pipe, often referred to as a reel

a slewing ring for rotating the feeder and reel

a method for providing continuous circulation of drilling fluid through the flexible steel pipe

a method for real-time acquisition of drilling, coring and probing (CPT) parameters

an instrumented assembly located at the tip of the flexible steel pipe

It is desired to have real-time measurements when performing cone penetration testing, when performing wireless data transfer there will be some delays and limited data transfer to the surface vessel, although this can be compensated by storing all data in a memory subsea and only transferring portions of data to the surface vessel in real-time it is widely preferred to transfer all data in real-time. This invention enables real-time data transfer through a fiber optic’s umbilical connected between the seabed CPT apparatus and the surface vessel. And by using a pre-installed power and communication cable inside the flexible steel-pipe connecting the instrumented probe to the umbilical.

By using fiber optic umbilical and an electrically operated and controlled seabed CPT apparatus this system will provide a superior accuracy compared to existing hydraulic systems currently used today. As a result of the invention more accurate tests, more efficient operation and more reliable calculations can be performed to design required foundations of buildings, constructions, offshore windfarms and deep-water sites. This seabed CPT apparatus removes the need for advanced mechanical rods and increases the efficiency.

The seabed CPT systems allows for continuous CPT penetration test to maximum achievable depth, this can vary from a few meters to 50 – 60 meters if the soil is extremely soft.

Offshore windfarms normally require penetration depth to 30 meters, in most cases this is only achievable using conventional geotechnical drilling where the CPT apparatus is pulled back to the drilling unit for re-setting for each 1-3 meter of penetration test. After having completed the test, the device is hoisted back to the surface vessel and the hole will be advanced using classic drilling techniques up to the testing depth that was reached with the pushing device. Then the whole cycle is repeated until the ultimate testing depth is reached. With the new seabed CPT apparatus the larger push force and the possibility to rotate the flexible steel pipe the requirement for traditional geotechnical drilling to reach the minimum penetration depth for offshore windfarm will be reduced to a minimum. This technique also minimizes the need for drilling med to be displaced at the seabed.

The seabed CPT apparatus according to the disclosure is operated remotely and enables different CPT probe sizes. The main features of the seabed CPT apparatus are:

operational in water depths from 0 to 6000 m;

penetration tests (CPT) to 100 m or more depth below sea floor;

variety of sensors integrated in CPT;

real-time acquisition of drilling, coring and probing (CPT) parameters;

selection and installation of the CPT probe to be used can be adapted or modified for each investigation to be performed;

rotation by rotating the flexible pipe feeder and flexible pipe reel to control the vertical penetration of the CPT probe

minimized need of drilling fluid to be displaced on the seabed

health and safety: no drill operators acting on the vessel floor, that results in an intrinsically safer operation, minimal danger from shallow gas;

The invention provides and effective cycling capability and enables the test probe/device, to be extracted post-test, at a controlled speed in to avoid swabbing where shallow gas may be present.

The object is achieved in accordance with the invention through the features which are specified in the description below and in the claims, that follow.

Brief description of drawings

Characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure and additional features and benefits will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and referring to the accompanying figures. The description herein and appended drawings, being of example embodiments, are not intended to limit the claims of this patent application, any patent granted hereon or any patent or patent application claiming priority hereto. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the claims. Many changes may be made to the particular embodiments and details disclosed herein without departing from such spirit and scope. The objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become more apparent by reference to the drawings which are appended hereto and wherein like numerals indicate like parts and wherein an illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown, of which:

FIG. 1 shows the seabed CPT apparatus according to one non-limitative embodiment.

The seabed drilling system according to this embodiment comprises the following main parts:

a main structure (19)

a reel (7) for storing of flexible steel pipe

a feeder device (4) for the flexible steel pipe

a slewing ring (3) for rotating the reel (7), feeder (4) and flexible steel pipe

a jumper system (11) to provide data to the instrumented probe (1) and fluid to the flexible steel pipe

a counterweight system (13) to prevent the seabed CPT to be lifted off the seabed during penetration testing

a horizontal slewing system (6) to move the reel (7) relatively to the feeder enabling spooling of the flexible steel pipe

an instrumented probe (1)

a swivel system (12) for connecting the jumpers (11) to the main structure (19) cabinet

a sheave system (14) for handling of the seabed CPT system

an acoustic modem system (20) for communicating with surface vessel

an umbilical (21) providing power and communication

an umbilical termination head (22) enabling the umbilical to disconnect and reconnect

a seawater pump (24) used to displace seawater below the counterweight system (13) to remove the adhesive force between the seabed when lifting the seabed CPT apparatus off the seabed

a surface vessel (24)

FIG. 2 shows the seabed CPT apparatus according to this embodiment landed on the seabed and the instrumented probe (1) commonly referred to as CPT cone penetrated vertically into the seabed by the flexible steel pipe (8) below the seabed CPT apparatus.

Fig.2 also shows the fluid passageway (16) where the fluid can pass from the flexible steel pipe (8) to the annulus between the flexible steel pipe (8) and the soil.

Fig.3 is an ISO view of the embodiment

The figures schematic and may somewhat be distorted with respect to relative size and relative placement of components constituting parts of the exemplary embodiments of the invention. In general, identical or corresponding details of figures will be denoted with the same or similar reference numerical in the following.

Specific description of example embodiments

Exemplary embodiment of the invention Fig. 1, Fig. 2 shows a typical layout of the seabed CPT apparatus used for geotechnical seabed investigation. The seabed CPT apparatus using a slewing ring (3) to rotate the flexible steel pipe (8) and the instrumented probe (1) also referred to as CPT cone.

FIG’s 1, 2 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the seabed CPT apparatus and includes a feeder (4) that may use one or more carriages to feed the flexible steel pipe (8) with variable speed and load. At the same time as feeder (4) is moving the flexible pipe (8) the feeder (4) and Reel (7) may be rotated in the slewing ring (3), in this example Fig.1 shows the electric motor (10) of the slewing ring.

In one example the reel (7) may be lateral moved relatively to the feeder (4) when the flexible pipe (8) is payed on or off the reel (7) in a predetermined manner. A guide assembly (5) is placed in-between the reel (7) and feeder (4) to steer the flexible steel pipe (8) into the center of the feeder (4).

Referring now back to Fig’s. 1 and 2, the reel having a spooling system (6) to move the reel (7) as to always keep the exit position of the flexible steel pipe (8) in the center above the mentioned feeder (4) whereas the movement of reel is done by electric motor.

FIG’s 1 and 2 illustrates the preferred embodiment of seabed CPT apparatus whereas the reel (11) is interconnected with the main structure (19) through a set of communication cables, power cables and hose these interconnections are referred to as jumpers (11) and in this example the jumpers are attached to a swivel (12) at the main structure that interconnects the communication cable and power cable and hose jumpers (11) to the umbilical (21)

In one example Fig. 4 illustrates the seabed CPT apparatus being powered and controlled through an umbilical connected between the surface vessel (24) and the seabed CPT apparatus.

In one example Fig 1 and 2 illustrates the connection between the umbilical (21) and the seabed CPT apparatus this connection is referred to as umbilical termination head (22)

In one other example Fig. 5 illustrates the seabed CPT apparatus communicating with surface vessel through a modem (20) whereas the power is stored in a battery package (25) in the seabed CPT apparatus.

As an example, Fig’s 1 and 2 shows the seabed CPT apparatus deployed through a set of lifting wires (23) between the surface vessel (24) and the seabed CPT apparatus. The lifting wires are one continuous length whereas both end connections are secured on the surface vessel (24) and runs through a set of three sheave wheels system (14).

Further the lifting wires (23) are actively compensated by a winch or by a set of compensators on the surface vessel (24) in such a way that the seabed CPT apparatus at seabed are unaffected by the heave motion on the surface vessel (24).

Referring to Fig.4 the seabed CPT apparatus could be deployed directly by the umbilical (21), the umbilical will then take the full weight of the seabed CPT apparatus through the splash zone until the seabed CPT apparatus is landed on the seabed. The heave compensation in such a system will be through and active heave compensated umbilical winch or through a set of compensators on the vessel (24). This method will remove the need for any lifting wires present.

Fig 2 illustrates the preferred embodiment where the flexible steel pipe (8) and the instrumented probe (1) are pushed into the soil below the seabed CPT apparatus.

Fig. 2 of the preferred embodiment illustrates the spooling of the flexible steel pipe (8) on and off the reel as the feeder is paying in and out of the instrumented probe (1). The spooling is done in a way that the reel (7) is laterally moved above the feeder (4) and the feeder guide (5) typically on turn of the reel (7) the reel will move laterally the distance of one diameter of the flexible steel pipe (8).

Fig’s 1 and 2 of the preferred embodiment illustrates the reel motor (15) as the feeder (4) is paying in and out the flexible steel pipe (8) the reel motor (15) is maintaining a tension in the flexible steel pipe (8) between the feeder (4) and the reel (7) to prevent buckling or incorrect spooling of the flexible steel pipe (4) on the reel (7).

Fig’s 1 and 2 of the preferred embodiment illustrates the slewing ring (3) and the slewing ring motor (18) the slewing ring assembly will rotate the feeder (4) and the reel (7) relatively to the main structure (19) in such a way that the flexible steel pipe (8) and the instrumented probe (1) below the feeder is rotated in the seabed soil at a variable speed controlled by the operator or the inclinometer in the instrumented probe (1)

Referring to Fig.2 of the preferred embodiment the instrumented probe (1) having an inclinometer to monitor the vertical deviation of the penetration whereas the vertical deviation can be counteracted by rotating the flexible steel pipe (8) and the instrumented probe (1).

Further Fig.2 illustrates the fluid passage (16) where the internal fluid inside the flexible steel pipe (8) can be pumped into the anulus between the soil and the flexible steel pipe (8). A check valve system not shown in the illustration prevents fluids from entering into the flexible steel pipe (8).

Referring to Fig.1 and 2 of the preferred embodiment, during CPT penetration testing the feeder (4) generates a snubbing force of several tons on the flexible steel pipe (8) to counteract this snubbing force and prevent the seabed CPT apparatus to be lifted off the seabed a counterweight (13) is part of the main structure (19). The counterweight system (13) is made up of several layers of steel plates and the amount of steel plates can be adjusted at the surface on the vessel if the counterweight load needs to be reduced on soft seabed’s

Referring back to Fig.1 and 2 the bottom part of the counterweight (13) system getting in contact with the seabed first when landed may be formed as a suction anchor with outer skirts penetrating into the seabed to increase the adhesive force of the seabed CPT apparatus and give more accurate results.

The adhesive force between the seabed and seabed CPT apparatus can be several tons which may prevent the Seabed CPT apparatus to be lifted off the seabed after completion of the penetration testing. A seawater pump system (26) with motor and pump is part of the seabed CPT apparatus with the purpose of pumping seawater to the underside of the counterweight (13) system through a set of nozzles. The seawater flow will reduce the adhesive force between the seabed and seabed CPT apparatus when lifting the seabed CPT apparatus off the seabed.

The illustrated embodiment in Fig. 1 to Fig.5 is to be used for underwater operation where the ambient pressure on outside is higher than inside the embodiment. As a result, parts of the embodiment will be filled with oil with sealings separating the different compartments and surroundings. An ambient pressure compensation system may be used to compensate the ambient pressure inside some of the compartments in.

Referring to Fig. 5 of the embodiment in some cases the seabed drilling rig may be powered by batteries and operated wirelessly from surface vessel or base station through a set of acoustic modems (20).

Referring to illustrated embodiments in Fig’s 1 to 5 whereas the seabed CPT apparatus is comprising adjustable legs that may be used to level the seabed CPT apparatus on sloping seabed.

Example of the invention shown in Fig.1 comprises a base with adjustable legs to level the seabed drilling rig on seabed slopes of up to 15 degrees. These adjustable legs may also be used to lower the center of gravity of the seabed drilling unit during drilling, CPT testing or coring, and during deployment and retrieval of the seabed drill system.

Naturally, many other types of measuring instrumentation and sample collection means may be incorporated into the soil testing apparatus. Simulators, that is miniature reproductions of actual equipment intended to be used in or on the soil of the sea bed, may be included in the testing apparatus in order to model the behavior of the actual equipment when used in the same soil. Also, many of the alternatives given here for different aspects of the system may be effectively combined in different permutations

Even though reference is made to a specific embodiment of the invention, it is clear for a person skilled in the art that the disclosed seabed drill system is susceptible of variations and modifications, and that all the details cited can be substituted by other technically equivalent ones, without departing from the scope of protection defined by the attached claims.

Claims (14)

The invention claimed is:

1. Seabed CPT Apparatus for penetrating an instrumented probe (1) into the soil, comprising a reel (7) a flexible steel pipe (8), a feeder (4), a slewing ring system (3) for steering the instrumented probe (1), said instrumented probe penetrated the seabed, comprising:

a system for transferring data from instrumented probe (1) to surface vessel (24)

a system for transferring x-y-z coordinates from instrumented probe (1) to slewing ring system (3)

Characterized in that the seabed CPT apparatus further comprises a main structure inside which is disposed;

a method for steering the instrumented probe (1) based on x-y-z coordinates from instrumented probe (1)

at least one flexible steel pipe (8) wherein the flexible steel pipe may interface and connect to a variety of so-called instrumented probes (1)

at least one slewing ring (3) and motor (18) used for rotating the feeder (4) and reel (7)

at least on reel (7) above the feeder (4) that moves laterally to center the flexible steel pipe (8) above the feeder (4) inlet as the flexible pipe is payed on or off the reel (7)

at least one guide (2) below the feeder to direct the flexible steel pipe (8) in vertical direction

at least one swivel (12) for connecting cable and hoses between the rotating parts to the main structure (19)

at least one counterweight system (13) that prevents the said seabed CPT apparatus to be pushed off the seabed during penetration testing

a method for deployment and retrieval of the seabed CPT apparatus from a surface vessel (24)

at least one communication system between the instrumented probe (1) and slewing ring system (3)

2. A Seabed CPT Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the feeder (4), the reel (7) and the slewing ring (3) is powered by electric motors

3. A Seabed CPT Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 2, wherein the main structure (19) contains a plurality of adjustable legs used for levelling on sloping seabed

4. A Seabed CPT Apparatus according to any of claims 1 and 3, wherein the reel (7) is centered above the feeder (4) to maintain balance in the system as the reel (7) and feeder (4) is rotating.

5. A Seabed CPT Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 4 wherein an instrumented probe (1) is connected to the flexible steel pipe (8) through a connector and whereas the connector can interface to a variety instrumented probe systems used in cone penetration testing

6. A Seabed CPT Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one compartment containing electronics is kept in atmospheric conditions.

7. Seabed CPT Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 6, further compromising a flexible steel pipe feeder (4), said feeder comprising, a linear actuator and a pair of carriages coupled via a linear actuator, wherein the linear actuator is powered and is configured to apply lateral force to the carriages, wherein the carriages are configured to move substantially laterally with respect to one another and wherein each carriage comprises a tubing engagement assembly configured to engage tubing interposed between the carriages.

8. Seabed CPT Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 7 that can further comprise a torque measurement system adapted to determine an amount of reactive torque on the flexible steel pipe imposed by the rotating reel (7) and feeder (4)

9. Seabed CPT Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the seabed drill system is powered by a subsea battery system and operated and controlled wireless from a surface vessel.

10. Seabed CPT Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein it also comprises a modular counterweight system (13)

11. Seabed CPT Apparatus according to any claims 1 to 10, wherein the flexible steel pipe (8) is replaced with a rod

12. Seabed CPT apparatus according to any claims 1 whereas the flexible steel pipe (8) is replaced with a composite material pipe

13. Seabed CPT Apparatus according to any claims 1 to 12, whereas the reel is tilted in any direction as the flexible steel pipe (8) is spooled on or off the reel

14. Seabed CPT apparatus according to any claims 1 to 13, whereas a skid is installed underneath that can contain a variety of so called BHA, such as BHA for coring and drilling.