In theory, jetting consists of fluidizing the seabed soil so that the heavier pipeline sinks in.

The jetting plough is placed over the pipeline and high pressure water jets from nozzles blast the surrounding soil away from the pipeline.

Jetting disperses the local soil away from the pipeline and creates a wide trench. In most cases, the soil is not returned immediately and the pipeline gets covered in time depending on the bottom sediment load.

Jetting is done in sands and soft clays, but in hard clays ploughing may be required.