This part of ISO 19901 specifies requirements, and provides recommendations and guidelines for marine soil investigations regarding:
a) objectives, planning and execution of marine soil investigations;
b) deployment of investigation equipment;
c) drilling and logging;
d) in situ testing;
e) sampling;
f) laboratory testing; and
g) reporting.
Rock materials are only covered by this part of ISO 19901 to the extent that ordinary marine soil investigation tools can be used, e.g. for chalk, calcareous soils, cemented soils or similar soft rock.
Hard rock investigations are not covered by this part of ISO 19901; see F.13 for further guidance.
Foundation design is not covered by this part of ISO 19901, but by ISO 19901-4 and the respective design standards for the specific types of offshore structures as listed in the Foreword and Introduction.
Planning, execution and interpretation of geophysical investigations are not covered by this part of ISO 19901. However, the results from geophysical investigations should, where appropriate, be used for planning, optimization and interpretation of marine soil investigations.
This part of ISO 19901 does not cover the planning and scope of geohazard assessment studies, only the corresponding marine soil investigations aspects thereof.
Soil investigations from ice in Arctic regions are not covered by this part of ISO 19901.
This part of ISO 19901 is intended for clients, soil investigation contractors, designers, installation contractors, geotechnical laboratories and public and regulatory authorities concerned with marine soil investigations for any type of offshore and nearshore structures, or geohazard assessment studies, for petroleum and natural gas industries.