Depth of cover Algorithm Validation in the Baltic Sea using time-lapse geophysical Surveys

Offshore power cables are typically buried in the seabed for their protection against human activities. Post-installation, the depth of cover (DoC) can vary significantly leading to potential exposure or over-burial of the cable. Where exposure occurs, the risk of external damage and cable fatigue in cases of free hanging cables significantly increases, whilst over-burial can reduce heat dissipation from the cable, resulting in a potential failure of the cable by overheating. Monitoring the spatial and temporal variation in DoC is therefore vital for its protection and long-term operational performance. Traditional approaches to monitoring are time-lapse (typically every 1-3 years) bathymetric surveys; this is expensive and is frequently performed at a much lower frequency than the…