Explorer SD60
The first commercially available seabed-based drilling system for sonic drilling, soil and rock coring, anchor drilling, screw pile driving or salvage operations.
Originally designed for simple and reliable seabed rock coring, through continuous development, the Explorer became a multifunctional seabed drilling platform that retrieves a sample where other systems fail; without the need for a large offshore drilling vessel.
The world's first commercially available seabed drill
Complete yet Modular Seabed Drilling System
The Explorer design provides users with a turnkey seabed drill, yet the modular construction allows for configuration and future-proof add-ons providing project flexibility.
Electrical power from the umbilical to the powerpack provides a 60 kW hydraulic output, divided over three separate valve blocks equipped with pressure and flow proportional and controllable valves.
Subsea Geo Tools in-house developed umbilical communication method has immediate real-time communication at startup of the system, yet does not require fiber optics or other specialist termination methods, making it field serviceable.
Rotary & Sonic Drilling
Subsea’s partnership with Sonic drilling experts, Royal Eijkelkamp, allows the Explorer to be equipped with industry leading 150 Hz RotoSonic drill heads. However, you are still able to select any Subsea Geo Tools standard coring heads or custom rotary head to suit your drilling purposes.
Modular rotary head carrier and controls accommodate for field swappable drill heads allowing users to react to rapidly changing offshore project demands without costly port calls giving the capability of multiple machines in one drilling system.
Intuitive yet Precise Machine Control
The functions of the Explorer are controlled using our deck control panel which features intuitive button and rotary dial controls. The integrated screen not only displays all data needed for monitoring the drilling operation, as well as machine status, but allows the user to carefully configure all aspects of the drilling, including applying top and bottom limits to all rotary dials for machine functions.
The panel also features ethernet, wifi and sim connectivity for data transfer as well as remote service. Additionally, the HDMI ports allow the connection of extra screens so that the integrated subsea cameras can be monitored at the same time as crucial machine and drilling data.
Reliable Real-time Measurement While Drilling (MWD)
The Explorer’s many sensors are integrated into a comprehensive Measurement While Drilling (MWD) system with the software incorporated into the control panel’s on-board computer. This provides real time insight into ground conditions as well as coring operations, anchor installation or any other project the Explorer is undertaking.
Tiltable Drill Mast
The tiltable drill mast, together with controllable level jacks, allows drilling on uneven seabeds and in any direction or close to existing infrastructure such as quay walls or piles. The drill masts precise feed rate and active load control ensures operation of any drilling system, from high rotational speed diamond coring to high torque helical anchor installation.
Turnkey Drilling Solution
As well as the Explorer and its various drill head options, Subsea also provides all of the equipment needed for turnkey operations, including umbilical and tensioning winches, operational and control cabins and even sample handling equipment such as our Liner Cutter.
Technical Specifications
Product Highlights
General Specifications
Drill Head Options
Sonic Drilling Performance
Rotary Drilling Performance
Instrumentation & Tooling
Modular Add-ons
