Metocean Awareness Course
Houston (Texas, USA) is the venue chosen for the next Metocean Awareness Course in the successful series run by the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST), in association with the Society for Underwater Technology. The course is scheduled from 22nd to 24th March 2011. For all offshore industries the effects of meteorology and oceanography (metocean) have a major impact on design and operations. The events of 2005 in the GOM particularly emphasised this, and brought into sharp focus the impact the weather can have on oil industry activities offshore, not only in the Gulf but also elsewhere around the world - indeed, wherever the industry operates.
It also highlighted the need for all members of the project team to be more aware of the value of having a better understanding of the implications that weather, waves, currents and water levels can have on their operations and in design. A lack of awareness could result in things going wrong, with serious health and safety and economic consequences.
The organisers already have some 40 ‘graduates' from five countries, all of whom have taken part in the initial London, UK-based courses, according to Dr Chris Graham, course leader, expert speaker and one of the authors of the Metocean Awareness Course.
The course is designed for project managers and discipline engineers working across the full range of offshore activities involving operations and design, ranging from new industry entrants to those with many years' experience. The delegates learn why and how metocean is important to the offshore industry; and, with this understanding, engage better with internal and external stakeholders on metocean matters. This transfer of knowledge is also essential as the ‘crew change' in staff continues across the industry.
Designed for all levels from new entrants to the industry to those with many years' experience, the course format includes a mixture of short presentations by the expert speakers and interactive workshop sessions, including a group case study exercise. Delegates will receive a comprehensive course manual and the course is eligible for CPD.
Topics covered include: Requirements for Metocean criteria and statistics - the application; Metocean data sources, data quality control, archiving and climate variability; Metocean parameters and processes and Metocean conditions around the world; Weather forecasting; and Operational statistics and design criteria.
All the presenters are experts in their fields and have many years of oil industry related experience behind them. Most are US-based but all have varied and wide international experience. Course numbers are intentionally restricted to a maximum of just 20 to encourage interaction and to enhance the learning experience.
