IMIS

A multidisciplinary research project combining geophysical, geological and geotechnical methods to study the influence of clay tectonics in the North Sea on offshore wind foundation design and installation. The project intends to unlock industry-driven valorisation opportunities in close collaboration with the industrial advisory board.

The presence of Clay Tectonic Features (CTFs) in Paleogene clay layers in the Southern Bight of the North Sea was first reported in the 1980s (e.g. Henriet et al. 1983 and Henriet et al. 1988). These features include polygonal fault networks and other deformations such as diapiric structures. One of these clay layers is the Kortrijk Formation, which is the main substrate for the installation of the planned offshore wind farms (OWFs) in the Princess Elisabeth Zone in the Belgian part of the North Sea. Even though the presence of CTFs in this formation is well documented, the effect of these features on the stability and geotechnical properties of the clay, especially under significant external forcing (e.g. piling of a monopile), is unknown and requires in-depth study. Moreover, evidence exists that faults were reactivated after they were formed, underlining that these features may negatively affect the stability of the clay. Therefore, the Clay Tectonics project will apply an integrated geophysical / geological / geotechnical approach to investigate the occurrence and formation of clay tectonic deformation features in stiff clay layers, as well as their influence on offshore wind foundation design and installation.