As part of the preliminary investigation of areas for offshore wind energy, § 10 para. 1 WindSeeG, geological models and reports are to be submitted as part of the geological exploration of project areas of the FEP (Area Development Plan 2023 for the German North Sea and Baltic Sea, 20.01.2023) with the auction years 2026-2028 in the dtsch. EEZ of the North Sea. This includes the integration of already collected hydrographic, geophysical and geotechnical data sets and requires depth conversion as well as the evaluation of hydroacoustic or reflection seismic data sets, taking into account geotechnical information. Based on this, seismic attributes and synthetic pressure sounding parameters are to be derived. The engineering geological interpretation and evaluation of all information shall be set out in the Geological Report. The overarching goal is the creation of geological models and reports for provision to third parties, which should enable them to make their own assessment of the subsoil situation with regard to the load-bearing capacity for different foundation concepts and thus to determine the bid in accordance with § 51 WindSeeG in a competitive manner.

The subject of the contract is the transfer of hydroacoustic and seismic data, taking into account geotechnical information of a study area, into a 3-dimensional engineering geological depth model (geological model). The geological model is to be extended by a model component that provides synthetic pressure sounding parameters along the multichannel seismic profile lines. The final reports of the hydrographic/geophysical/geotechnical work, the documentation of the geological model and its engineering geological interpretation with regard to the construction of wind turbines or associated offshore infrastructure on the corresponding study area are to be combined in a geological report. The work on the synthetic model extension is to be presented in a separate results report as an appendix to the Geological Report.

The order service for an examination area thus includes the following steps and contents:

a. General contractual services

The preparation and updating of a specification including a schedule and development of content-related, formal and visual requirements for the Geological Model / Geological Report, taking into account the client's specifications

b. The creation of the geological model

The creation of the geological model for a study area includes the following steps:

- Transfer of hydrographic data sets

- Results of waterborne sound measurements

- Bathymetry grid

- Side-scan sonar mosaic

- Magnetic grid

- GIS data

- Transfer of geophysical data sets (edited)

- Results of waterborne sound measurements

- Sedimentecholotdaten

- Multi-channel seismic data (poststack unmigrated)

- Multi-channel seismic data (poststack migrated)

- Multi-channel seismic data (poststack migrated and frequency band optimized)

- NMO-Geschwindigkeitsfelder

- GIS data

- Transfer of geotechnical data sets

- Bohrprofile

- Bodenprobeninformationen

- Digital log curves (e.g. CPT profiles, P-S logging curves)

- GIS data

- Merging the hydrographic, geophysical and geotechnical datasets of the study area into a Kingdom data project

- Feeding of all data from the study area to the provided bathymetry grid

- Depth conversion of the geophysical data sets from the study area (sediment echo sounder, multi-channel seismic data sets) by means of integrated evaluation of all data sets, including:

- Stratigraphic evaluation and mapping of geological formations in the geophysical data (sediment echosounder, multi-channel seismic)

- Evaluation of geotechnical information and definition of facial units (formation tops)

- Linking of geotechnical and geophysical data (sediment echosounder, multi-channel seismic) for depth conversion via the "Dynamic Depth Conversion" module

- Content-related, formal and visual preparation of the geological model into a geological 3D depth model, including:

- Schichtmächtigkeitsanalyse (Isochore-Grids)

- Amplitude anomaly analysis along seismic horizons

Diffractor mapping

c. The creation of the synthetic model extension

The creation of the synthetic model extension to an investigation area includes the following steps:

- Derivation/preparation of relevant seismic attributes (e.g. acoustic impedance, signal envelope) based on the multi-channel seismic data basis

- Derivation and validation of synthetic pressure sounding parameters (qc, fs, u2) along the multi-channel seismic profile lines using machine learning based on the correlation of relevant parameters, such as seismic attributes and geotechnical parameters, as well as taking into account the structural model on which the geological model is based

- Generation of synthetic pressure sounding curves at locations distributed in a balanced manner over the study area, the number of which corresponds to the pressure sounding locations actually carried out on the study area

- Quantification of the prediction uncertainties of the derived synthetic pressure sounding parameters

- Documentation for the derivation of synthetic pressure sounding parameters

- Engineering geological evaluation of results in the context of the geological model and with regard to the construction of wind turbines or associated offshore infrastructure on the study area

- Preparation of the results report for the derivation of synthetic pressure sounding parameters as an appendix to the geological report in an English-language version

d. The creation of data products

The creation of data products for an investigation area involves the following steps:

- Creation of the Kingdom data project for the study area

- Export of the depth-converted geophysical data from the study area (sediment echosounder, multi-channel seismic data sets) in SEG-Y format in compliance with header conventions

- Export of synthetic pressure sounding parameters in SEG-Y format

- Export of synthetic pressure sounding curves in LAS format

- export of mapped reflectors in ASCII format

- export of products (e.g. grids/raster) for integration into GIS

- creation of GIS products

Creation of technical drawings (maps, alignment charts)

e. The preparation of the Geological Report

The preparation of the geological report for a study area includes the following steps:

- Consolidation of documentation on the relevant hydrographic surveying, geophysical survey and geotechnical exploration work

- documentation for the creation of the geological model

- Description of the geological model with reference to the corresponding study area

- Engineering geological interpretation with regard to the construction of wind turbines or associated offshore infrastructure on the study area

- Preparation of the geological report in a German and English version with the attachment "Result report synthetic model extension"

The specifications of the standard building ground are to be used as a basis for the provision of the services as minimum requirements. Furthermore, the products to be prepared as well as the geological report must be based on the already published products and geological reports on https://pinta.bsh.de in terms of form and design.

The respective study areas cover the FEP areas with central preliminary investigation and the auction years 2026-2028. Further details on the study areas as well as on the data sets and data volumes to be merged can be found in the enclosed service description. The services to be provided are divided into 3 service levels and must be completed in full by 15.11.2025 (basic assignment / 1st service level), 15.11.2026 (2nd service level) or by 15.11.2027 (3rd service level). Due to legal obligations arising from the WindSeeG, compliance with the contract deadline is a very high priority for the client.

Contracts are awarded to the most economical tender; the price and quality of the service shall be evaluated according to criteria and weightings announced in this contract notice.