The Metocean Analytics platform to optimize offshore operations and reduce downtime

The term “metocean” comes from the combination of meteorology and oceanography. Some weather, marine, environmental, and physical oceanography conditions affect some industries in various ways in their day-to-day business.  

For marine sector stakeholders, knowing the environmental conditions supports faster strategic decision-making for maritime activities or projects. Harnessing high-quality metocean data may lead to designing tailored and efficient solutions against any challenges. 

Various aspects are particularly useful in Metocean Analytics. A large selection of variables is then monitored to enable each industry or company to find personalized solutions or create a tailor-made strategy. Below is a list of the main parameters: 

• water movements: sea-surface level, current speed, and direction, tide and surge variations; 
• offshore wind: mean wind speed/strength, wind direction; 
• sea state: wavelength and height, wave period, wave direction; 
• water characteristics: depth, salinity, temperature; 
• air temperature. 

Meteorological and oceanographic data is acquired from various sources that are compiled for in-depth analysis:  

• a multitude of buoy systems that are positioned in situ, under the sea surface, or on inland weather stations. These measuring instruments feature sensors that monitor the calibrated variables and then transfer the gathered information to a computer in a remote location. 
• radars and satellite observations; 
• drone technology; 

• the Copernicus Marine Service provides free, open information on all aspects of the ocean state (physical, biogeochemical) for European regional seas and global oceans. 

Data collection and analysis are conducted under international standards like ISO as well as the industry’s best practices. 

A large amount of raw metocean data is not very helpful. To be understandable and exploitable by most people, values must be standardized, sorted, and then presented as a history of spatial and temporal fluctuations or used in realistic numerical modeling to make predictions. For example, It is possible to: 

• map the water’s dynamic effects from a measuring point in a radius of one kilometer or more, to generate global, regional, or local wave models, tidal and current models, etc. 

• track weather changes within a time interval (minutes, days, weeks, months, years) to evaluate the occurrence of the events and extrapolate them to get refined predictions.  

A central dashboard allows easy reading of data and models.  

On top of common benefits to all industries, metocean information has many applications that enable individual sectors to tackle major challenges they must struggle with. 

For shipping lines  

• Calculate the most accurate ETA;  
• ensure the security of ships and crew. 

For port operators  

• study vessel maneuverability in the terminal; 
• better plan vessels’ arrival and departure to avoid slowing down or halting;  
• allocate appropriate human and material resources to eliminate unnecessary weather downtime; 
• minimize the duration of cargo loading/offloading. 

For marine contractors  

• assess the safety and operability of floating and fixed structures and other marine engineering projects; 
• evaluate the impact of their projects on the marine environment and lessen their carbon footprint;  
• evaluate the probability of extreme climate events that may prevent safe operations. 

For oil and gas companies  

• evaluate risks during initial exploration; 

• study undersea pipeline feasibility; 
• determine the suitable window for the transport and deployment of offshore structures. 

For clean electricity producers  

• assess the energy and yield potential.  

• For inland transportation services providers  

• anticipate the pick-up of cargoes, depending on the ships’ arrival and port terminal operations. 

This list is non-exhaustive but shows how far it is possible to go with advanced met ocean analytics. Any of these companies can access complete and accurate data via their own daily tools, using an API for quick and smooth integration. Then, the users will only have to select a geographical area or a specific location anywhere on earth and a timeframe to get the required local datasets in different formats within minutes. The downscaling enables a high-resolution representation.   

An offshore project is conducted in the open ocean, a few, or many kilometers from the coast. Here are a few examples: 

• construction of wind farms, solar plants, or tidal and wave facilities that generate renewable energy; 

• deployment of large-scale fixed/semi-submersible floating platforms that explore, drill, extract, and production of petroleum and natural gas, which are then transported to shore installations through pipelines or by tankers; 
• building of bridges; 
• reparation of offshore equipment… 

Metocean analytics contribute to increased efficiency across all stages of any offshore or coastal project: feasibility study, planning, design, construction or installation, operation, maintenance, and removal. The aim is to always access reliable information, whether historical, real-time, or forecast, and take relevant decisions with a high degree of precision and significantly improve services.