The Penfeld seabed penetrometer

IFREMER has developed a new seabed penetrometer which is able to carry out in situ geotechnical measurements in deep water with a depth of investigation of 30 metres below the sea bottom. After trials in testing pool and on land, the Penfeld penetrometer was tested twice in the Mediterranean Sea, 25 miles south of Nice on a site where cores were previously sampled by a Kullenberg corer. The main results of these campaigns are presented. The Penfeld penetrometer was used for an operation in the Gulf of Guinea in co-operation with Total.