UXO support for 3D seismic survey in Dorset

During the Second World War, Dorset was transformed into a large holding area for troops prior to operations in Europe. Airfields, camps, storage and training areas were quickly constructed, but due to circumstances, the exact placement of these facilities was not well documented.

Another area of significant concern for the survey was the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Armoured Fighting Vehicle Gunnery Range. The British military has been actively using this range for over 100 years, and the timeframe to work in this area was short.

To get the survey up and running safely and quickly, the UXO specialists performed a series of detailed desktop studies and used a ‘micro-site’ research technique to determine areas of very low risk. The seismic survey began safely, in these areas, without any onsite UXO support required.

RPS proceeded simultaneously with a series of Wide Area Assessments to identify additional low-risk regions of the survey site, allowing the survey to continue moving forward safely.

Once the client began work in areas deemed to contain an elevated likelihood of encountering UXO, RPS provided site support to ensure the project timeframe was not affected.

The UXO project coordinators worked closely with the MOD to identify a narrow window of opportunity that would allow the 3D Seismic Survey to take place during the short summer stand-down period when the range not in operation. To complete the survey on the gunnery range in time, RPS pulled together a team of UXO specialists dedicated to on-time delivery - even if that required working in shifts 24 hours a day. RPS established a Safe System of Works for the set-out and collection of seismic receiver nodes and source points. It included UXO awareness training and reference guides. To ensure safety on the range, each survey team was always led by a UXO specialist. And as most of the survey team spoke limited English, all training material was translated into Polish, and interpreters were used throughout the project.

By identifying low-risk areas to be surveyed, through the combination of micro-site research and Wide Area Assessments, onsite UXO support was used only where necessary. When needed, project coordinators deployed a team of UXO specialists who were both flexible and proactive, which kept the project on track. RPS delivered the UXO support required, and the survey project proceeded safely and on-time.