Canada’s Ocean Supercluster Announces $3.4M GeoScan Project

Today, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster announced the $3.4M GeoScan Project. This Newfoundland and Labrador-led project will provide an innovative solution to de-risk offshore wind, oil and gas, and other offshore installations by implementing wider scanning functions in underwater robotic systems

Thursday, August 12, 2021

Led by PanGeo Subsea Inc, with BC-based partner Cellula Robotics and the Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, the GeoScan Project team will work together to reconfigure PanGeo’s Acoustic Corer™ with Cellula’s robotic system to allow for a wider area scan while achieving depths greater than 30m sub-seabed. This game-changing innovation will provide a 3D volumetric interpretation of the sub-seabed geology with enhanced resolution and increased competitiveness for the global offshore renewable energy sector.

“The Holyrood Marine Base is the portal to the ocean for the Memorial University community for innovative oceans testing,” said Paul Brett, associate vice-president (Marine Institute). “The GeoScan project in-water testing as the first of many projects to take place at the expanded Holyrood Marine Base as we continue to grow our capacity here and we thank the OSC and the project partners, PanGeo and Cellula, for the support.”

“Canada’s oceans, the bounty in their waters, and the riches underneath them have created prosperity for generations of Canadians,” added Seamus O’Regan, minister, natural resources. “PanGeo Subsea is building on our reputation as leaders in ocean technology, working with Cellula Robotics and Memorial University to better understand the ocean floor. This project will support a growing offshore wind sector, and that helps get us to net zero.”

With a total project value of $3.4 million, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster will provide $2 million in funding to the project with the balance coming from industry partners, marking the 37th Ocean Supercluster project announced to date.

“Cellula and PanGeo have a long-standing history of working together to solve technical challenges that dates to 2008 – we are both are familiar with each other’s technology and operations,” said Eric Jackson, president, Cellula Robotics. “Our world-leading engineering solutions for subsea robotics have been used in geotechnical and geophysical applications around the world and we are happy to have the support of the Ocean Supercluster to expand on that expertise with the PanGeo led GeoScan project.”

This coast-to-coast collaborative research and development project aims to increase the quality of decision-making processes associated with the installation of infrastructure in complex glacial seabeds.  Ultimately, this technology will lead to a reduction of personnel offshore, faster data collection, and improved efficiencies that will support Canada’s commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050, while also advancing Canada’s leadership in the global blue economy.

“The GeoScan Project is an example of what we can accomplish when we work together. The Ocean Supercluster is built on collaboration, from across the country and also across ocean sectors, and we are solving some of the biggest challenges in ocean and selling those solutions to the world,” said Susan Hunt, chief technology officer, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster. “Led from right here in Newfoundland and Labrador, this project will help position Canada as a leader in subsea scanning and data collection, opening up new market opportunities, creating new economic activity, and supporting the path to net-zero.”

Added Moya Cahill, chief executive officer, PanGeo Subsea Inc.: “The marrying of PanGeo and Cellula as industry collaborators will produce a high-quality technology platform ready for commercial use. Cellula and PanGeo are no strangers to collaboration, and we are excited to have the support and partnership of Canada’s Ocean Supercluster to spur on this coast-to-coast innovative GeoScan project as develop a wide area acoustic scan for the offshore renewable sector.”

The GeoScan Project team will leverage its current position in the offshore renewables sector to launch the GeoScan into international markets, positioning Canada as a leader in subsea scanning and offshore data collection. The GeoScan Project will create highly skilled full-time positions and placements at both PanGeo Subsea and Cellula through its development and implementation.