Vista Clara`s Dave Walsh Presents Harpoon to SUT OSIG Technical Working Group in Perth Australia
In recent years, Orsted and the Technical University (DTU) have performed laboratory research to use in-situ magnetic resonance measurements to further improve investigation of the key parameters that are known to drive seabed foundation engineering, including measuring soil strength, stiffness, density, and stratigraphy. In May 2025, Vista Clara president Dave Walsh introduced the new Harpoon® combined CPT and NMR tool to the SUT OSIG Technical Working Group in Perth Australia.
The Harpoon tool is a seabed-CPT deployable tool that combines traditional CPTu measurements and NMR measurements in a single tool.
Harpoon incorporates a standard 15cm2 CPTu cone and performs CPTu measurements while pushing down. The Harpoon tool also incorporates an NMR sensor above the cone section, and measures the NMR response of the sediments while retracting back up. This means both sets of data are acquired in a single push, in the same exact location, from the same sensor.
The NMR sensor has a very high vertical resolution, about 5cm. It also features a short echo spacing which is an important parameter for being able to accurately measure water content in clays.
Key findings show that the adoption of Harpoon® as a single-push CPT+NMR can offer signi?cant reductions in both upfront costs and long-term risks to offshore wind energy projects.
Read this detailed article on Harpoon® in the 2025 Issue 4 of the SUT UT3 Journal.
Read the full SUT UT3 Journal issue here.
For more details, watch this video of Dave Walsh presenting Harpoon® to the SUT OSIG Technical Working Group