The Geotechnical Survey will take place within the WA-1-R retention lease area in Commonwealth waters on the Exmouth Plateau, approximately 220 km offshore from the Pilbara coast of Western Australia (Figure 1). The sampling and testing will be undertaken in water depths of approximately 900 to 960 metres.
The Geotechnical Survey will include geotechnical data acquisition and benthic sampling activities within the WA-1-R area. The Geotechnical Survey is planned to commence in 2015 (likely beginning in the first half of the year) and will extend for a period of approximately four months.
The geotechnical data acquisition activities consist of:
Soil borings of approximately 15 to 20 cm diameter and up to 10, 20, 40 and 60 metre depths, with potentially one or two soil borings to 150 meters depth.
Large diameter piston cores (10 cm diameter).
Box cores (a grab sample of approximately 25 litres of the sea bed surface to a maximum depth of 0.5 meters).
In-situ tests including Seabed In-situ Cone Penetrometer Tests, Cone Cyclic Load and Dissipation Tests, T-Bar Penetrometer Tests, T-Bar Cyclic Load and Dissipation Tests.
The benthic sampling activities consist of the sampling of seabed sediments for physico-chemical analyses and infauna identification using a box corer.
All sampling and testing will be in water depths of approximately 900 to 960 metres.
The Geotechnical Survey will be carried out using a fit for purpose geotechnical drilling vessel that is capable of operating in the water depths within the WA-1-R area. Drilling is for geotechnical purposes only and there will be no drilling through petroleum bearing reservoirs. 
The MV Fugro Voyager is currently planned to undertake the Geotechnical Survey. An equivalent vessel will be used should the MV Fugro Voyager be unavailable for the Geotechnical Survey.
Acoustic positioning devices, such as a single beam echo sounder (SBES) and an Ultra Short Base Line (USBL) system will be used during the Geotechnical Survey to accurately monitor survey equipment deployed from the survey vessel.
During the Geotechnical Survey, the survey vessel will be refuelled in the port of Dampier, either alongside at the wharf, or alternatively at anchor off Dampier port. No at sea refuelling at the offshore WA-1-R location will occur during the survey.
Note: This information has been extracted from the EP Summary. Please refer to the attached EP Summary for more information.