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Fetch AZA

Self-calibrating bottom pressure recorder

Engineered for

Seabed
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Overview

Need precise, long term, deep sea data?

Fetch AZA revolutionises your seabed measurements across ocean science and the commercial sectors. You can now record high-resolution data from a self-calibrating sensor, at all depths, for long durations of up to 10 years.

Why Fetch AZA is perfect for your operations

Your Fetch AZA system offers a comprehensive solution transforming your ocean monitoring operations across multiple applications, including environmental surveys, seabed deformation monitoring, and low-cost in-situ ocean surveillance. Unlike traditional pressure sensors, which suffer from drift over time, the Fetch AZA technology autonomously recalibrates in-situ.

A unique control system periodically cycles the pressure sensor from ambient seabed pressure to near-zero, enabling comparison to a highly accurate low-pressure reference sensor for calibration. The reference sensor is never subjected to ambient pressure and is accurate to changes of less than a millibar, or about 1cm of head of water.

The sensors are low power, allowing for long endurance deployments, and provide time-stamped data, which is often critical to your commercial or scientific objectives. With their in-built data storage and high-speed modem capacity, they can support your data collection and harvesting using a wide range of other Sonardyne and third-party sensors (High precision temperature and sound velocity as well as inclination) and are compatible with any Sonardyne 6G equipment, including Ultra-Short BaseLine (USBL) systems and modems.

For science

These capabilities have created an instrument that revolutionises seabed measurements, across ocean science and the commercial sectors. Scientists can now undertake measurements, critical to understanding tectonic processes, at a resolution they’ve never been able to achieve before.

Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) research using Fetch AZA

For business

In the commercial sphere, Fetch AZA meets upstream production companies’ long-term goals of measuring 1 cm/year of vertical movement across their energy fields. These fine-scale measurements provide a powerful tool for proactive reservoir management throughout their lifecycle. This is a key enabler for maximising economic recovery.

Its remote capabilities represent a significant operational advantage, as data can be retrieved using Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs) from over-the-horizon locations, eliminating the need for expensive crewed vessels and reducing your costs, personnel risks and environmental impact.

This combination of remote operation, sustained accuracy, and precise repeatability makes the Fetch AZA an ideal choice if you are seeking a reliable, cost-effective ocean monitoring solution.

Performance

• Self-calibrating pressure sensor
• 3,000 m and 6,000 m depth rated versions
• MF and LMF operating frequency options
• Up to 10 year battery life

Design

• Neutral buoyancy in water for easy recovery
• Anti trawl frame option available
• Glass sphere, duplex s/steel guard, PVC shell, titanium ports construction

General

• Well suited for USV data harvesting
• Can be configured with a wide range of sensors
• Different deployment and recovery options provide flexibility for your operations

Support

• Work side-by-side with our Projects Group from concept to deployment
• Work with our experienced team about our USV data harvesting service
• 24-hour support, whenever and wherever you are in the world
• Systems are manufactured and tested before delivery at our world-class in-house facilities

Specifications

Feature Type 8306
Depth Rating 3,000 m
Operating Frequency MF (20–34 kHz)
Transducer Beam Shape Directional/omni-directional
Transmit Source Level (dB re 1 µPa @ 1 m) 190–202/187–196 dB
Receive Sensitivity (dB re 1 µPa) <85 dB
Communications Acoustic modem & Bluetooth wireless
Battery Life (Lithium) 10 years typical, (504 Ah) (dependent on sensors and sampling interval)
Mechanical Construction Glass sphere, duplex s/steel guard, PVC shell and titanium ports
Operating Temperature -5 to +35°C
Storage Temperature With Batteries 0 to +30°C
Without Batteries -5 to +35°C
Mass With Stand 145 kg
Without Stand 62 kg
Weight in Water With Stand 830 N
Without Stand 25 N (negative buoyancy)
Sensors and Options
AZA In-situ Self-Calibration Mechanism Standard
High Precision Temperature Sensor (±0.015°C) Standard
Transfer Pressure Sensor Quartz, (±0.01%) Standard
2nd Quartz Option
Ambient Pressure Sensor Strain Gauge, (±0.01%) Standard
Strain Gauge, (±0.19%) Option
Low-Range Pressure Sensor (Strain Gauge, 2 bar (±0.01%)) Standard
Sound Velocity Sensor
±0.02 m/s Accuracy Under Calibration Conditions
Option
MEMS Inclinometer (±1°) Standard
High Precision Inclinometer (±0.05°) Option
Acoustic Baseline Ranging1 Option
Release Mechanism (Screw-off) Option
Battery Disconnect Fob Standard
Stand/Mud Feet Option

Manuals and quick start guides

Software and firmware