An Introduction to Integrated Marine Site Characterization

Starts: Tue, Dec 2, 2025 8:00 AM CST
Ends: Wed, Dec 3, 2025 4:00 PM CST
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The Society for Underwater Technology’s Offshore Site Investigations and Geotechnics (OSIG) Committee will hold its Introduction to Integrated Marine Site Characterization course on December 2nd and 3rd, 2025. The course has undergone extensive updating since it was last offered in 2018, including new material related to the increasing global development of renewable energy. The two-day course will be taught by industry and academic leaders in their fields. SUT-US will offer Certificates for Professional Development Hours (PDH) upon request.

Overview:

Introduction to marine site characterization planning, execution, and interpretation techniques
Desktop studies and the preliminary ground model
Offshore data collection methods and processing
Survey data interpretation and analysis
Onshore testing and interpretation
Data integration and design basis development

What will you be taking away from this course?

An understanding of the marine site characterization process as related to offshore oil and gas and renewable energy developments
Awareness of tools and techniques utilized to collect seabed data and data processing workflows
Awareness of tools and techniques utilized to test seabed sediments in a controlled laboratory environment (including a tour of NGI’s new laboratory)
Integration of geological, geophysical, and geotechnical data towards development of a three-dimensional ground model
Understanding seabed data uncertainties for development of geotechnical design basis

If you are interested in sponsoring this event, see flyer at the bottom of the page and contact Mariana Diaz mdiaz@sut-us.org

Course Program

Day 1 - December 2:

Location:
Geosyntec Consultants
One Westchase Center
10777 Westheimer Rd.
1st floor conference room
Houston, TX 77042

Day 2 - December 3:

Location:
NGI - Houston
5372 W Sam Houston
Pkwy N #245
Houston, TX 77041

Presenters:

	Kim Faulk Ms. Faulk, Principal and Senior Marine Archaeologist, Geoscience Earth & Marine Services (GEMS) / Geosyntec Consultans. She has over 25 years of experience in marine archaeology, and more than 20 years of experience in offshore energy. She has extensive experience setting up, managing, and executing offshore geophysical and geotechnical surveys in both shallow and deep-water environments. Ms. Faulk has worked with clients and survey companies defining geophysical and geotechnical scopes of work that accommodate the location, vessel, budget, water depth, and project needs.
	Daniel Lanier Mr. Lanier is a Senior Principal Consultant at Geosyntec, based in Texas, with over 29 years of experience in marine geology and offshore geoscience. He specializes in interpreting high-resolution and 3D seismic data, conducting geohazard analyses, and integrating geophysical and geotechnical information to support deep-water field development. Mr. Lanier holds a BS in Marine Science from Texas A&M University and is known for his leadership in managing complex offshore investigations and multidisciplinary project teams
	Agatha Onuwaje Mrs. Onuwaje is a Senior Geohazards Specialist at Shell, with over 20 years of experience in geoscience and offshore energy development. She supports global well delivery and infrastructure planning, and has led initiatives in geohazards assessment and pore pressure prediction. Mrs. Onuwaje was the 2023 SEG North America Honorary Lecturer and actively promotes knowledge-sharing across the industry, including through Shell’s Open University and the Deepwater Operators’ Geohazards Forum.
	Dr. Rodolfo Sancio, PhD, PE, BC.GE Dr. Rodolfo Sancio is a Senior Principal at Geosyntec Consultants, based in Houston, Texas, with over 25 years of experience in geotechnical engineering and geohazard management. His expertise spans onshore and offshore site investigations, foundation design, ground improvement, and risk mitigation for major infrastructure projects, particularly in the oil, gas, and petrochemical sectors. Dr. Sancio is currently SUT-US Hon. Treasurer.
	Dr. Stephanie Watts Favreau, PhD Dr. Favreau is a geological engineer with 15 years of experience delivering geohazards and well execution projects as a site investigation specialist at ExxonMobil. While Dr. Favreau’s global geohazards expertise encompasses exploration, development, and production, offshore and onshore, oil and gas, carbon capture, and low carbon solutions, her favorite projects are integrated marine site characterizations for complex offshore developments.
	Victor Taboada, PhD, PE, F.ASCE Victor Taboada is Geotechnical Manager for the Americas at Fugro, with over two decades of experience in offshore geotechnics. He has led seismic and soil–structure interaction analyses for more than 140 offshore platforms and previously served as President and CEO of NGI Houston. A Fellow of ASCE, he has authored over 125 technical papers and is a licensed engineer in multiple U.S. states.
	Dr. Zack Westgate, PhD, PE Dr. Westgate is an Associate Professor of Geotechnical Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a registered professional civil engineer with 18 years of experience consulting in the offshore energy sector, currently as a Principal Engineer with the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute. He has published on topics relating to site characterization, soil mechanics, offshore foundation engineering, pipeline/riser geotechnics, and most recently on the geotechnical behavior of glauconite sands. He is currently Chair of the SUT-US Offshore Site Investigations and Geotechnics committee, and serves on other industry committees focused on offshore energy.
	Roneet Das Roneet Das is a geotechnical engineer and researcher with experience across offshore and onshore energy projects. His work focuses on soil–structure interaction, interface shear behavior, geotechnical instrumentation, and geohazard assessment in terrestrial and marine environments. He has led laboratory testing and interpretive programs supporting offshore developments in the Gulf of Mexico, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, and Mozambique, contributing to ground models and geotechnical bases of design for foundations, risers, and pipelines. His research applies Bayesian methods to pipe–soil interaction and slope stability. Roneet currently serves as Chair of the SUT Young Professionals Committee.
	Andy Hill Andy W. Hill is the Engineering Technical Authority for Marine Geohazards for BP. He is currently Chair of the OSIG Houston Committee, having been the founder of the committee in 2007. He has been a member of the UK equivalent committee since 1990. He was made a Fellow of the SUT in 2020. He has 38 years of experience in Geophysical Site Investigation, the last 32 with BP. In 1997 he championed the introduction of AUVs into deep water site investigation triggering a step change in deliver after their introduction in 2000-01. He has worked on projects globally and introduced or championed some of the most significant developments in geophysical site investigation. He has published widely on the subject and been director or contributor to numerous industry documents.
	Dan McConnell, P.G. Dan is the Principal at Geomarine Resources PLLC and has over twenty-five years of experience in marine geology and geophysics for industry and scientific drilling projects. He is a licensed Professional Geologist and a Qualified Person for deep-marine polymetallic nodule deposits. Dan specializes in interpreting high resolution surveys, geochemical, and geotechnical data in support of offshore engineering and drilling operations. He is well known in the international scientific gas hydrate community and contributed to the recognition of deeply buried, high saturation gas hydrate deposits in seismic data.
	Andrew Haigh Andrew, born in Yorkshire, England, holds a BSc (Hons) in Applied Geology and Materials Science from the University of Sunderland. After eight years offshore as a scientist, he relocated to Houston in 2000 to establish Gardline Surveys Inc., later Ocean Geo Solutions in 2018. Currently, Andrew serves as Director of Technical Services at Xodus Geohazard. A marine geophysicist by profession, he brings extensive experience in offshore marine surveys and ocean science. A Fellow of the Society for Underwater Technology and global award recipient, Andrew chairs SUT’s educational outreach, connecting ocean scientists with schools and colleges across Greater Houston to inspire future professionals.