Australis is a Taiwanese flagged fit-for-purpose geotechnical drilling vessel.
Originally built in 2008, Australis was refurbished in Taiwan and delivered in 2018, becoming classed by both BV and CR, equipped with DP2 technology allowing for precise positioning in rough seas.
Featuring an on-board laboratory and a full suite of geotechnical tools, Australis can conduct thorough geotechnical site investigations in water depths up to 200 meters, including drilling, seabed sampling, in situ testing and borehole logging.
✅ Drilling System:
- Rig Type: ARB25 Geotechnical Drill Rig (25T Hook Load)
- Hydraulic Pipe Skate: Remotely operated pipe handling system.
- Heave Compensation: Passive System, 3m stroke (+/- 1.5m)
- Max Drill String Length: 350m (Water + borehole depth)
- Drill Pipe: Standard 5"/5.5" API Steel
✅ Downhole Geotechnical Testing & Sampling:
- Wireline CPTu System:
Tools: 50kN (3m stroke) & 100kN (1m stroke).
Cones: 5cm² & 10cm² digital (qc, fs, u2, inclination).
- Wireline Geophysical Logging: PS Logger (P & S wave velocity). 3-Arm Caliper Probe & Natural Gamma logging.
- Coring Methods: Continuous / Spot PQ Coring
- Sampling: Push / Piston sampler with various Shelby tubes.
✅ Seabed Geotechnical Testing & Sampling:
- Stern mounted A Frame: with an 15T SWL, allowing the deployment of Seabed CPTu and seabed sampling systems (Vibrocoring & Grab sampling).
✅ Onboard Geotechnical Laboratory:
- Fully equipped containerized laboratory facilitates real-time soil classification and strength determination offshore for immediate use in design and assessment.
- Key Equipment: Automated Triaxial Testing System (UU), Motorvane, Ovens, Balances, Density Rings, Sample Extruder, Pocket Penetrometer & Torvane, Point Load Test Apparatus & Thermal Conductivity Probe.