Neptune own a custom built Innovatum Smartsearch twelve gradiometer array that is used to detect ferro-metallic objects on or buried close to the seabed.
We have significant experience in obtaining magnetic gradient data and providing detailed analysis and subsequent visual inspections.
The most common use of the gradiometer array is to identify any significant dangerous objects, primarily unexploded ordnance (UXO) and munitions related debris that potentially constitute a risk to people, infrastructure and the environment during installation works and throughout the operational life of subsea installations.
When used in an array, gradiometers enhance small, near surface anomalies and improve spatial resolution when compared with measuring the total magnetic field measurement alone. The array can offer a high degree of immunity from the effects of diurnal variation, micropulsation and minor magnetic storm activity
The data processing and interpretation methods employed by Neptune take full advantage of the gradiometer arrays sensitivity and ability to provide improved spatial resolution, resulting in high accuracy of anomaly positioning and accurate detection and measurement of anomalies even slightly above the noise levels.
Data from each sensor are plotted in their true geographic positions where anomalies are clearly visible against the background magnetic gradient values.
The data can be gridded and contoured to be displayed as an amplitude intensity plot that illustrates the lateral magnetic influence of the causative body:
Visual inspection of the anomaly locations using ROVs allow identification of the causative body:
Neptune’s advanced processing techniques allow the amplitude plots and gradiometer data to be juxtaposed to provide highly detailed analysis of the anomalous magnetic field:
