Total and Shell Buy into MACH Dataset
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Total and Shell Buy into MACH Dataset

BMT ARGOSS, the Met Office and Oceanweather have launched their joint Mid-Atlantic Current Hindcast (MACH) dataset, resulting in two successful data sales to oil and gas majors, Shell International Petroleum Company and Total. The MACH dataset provides information on the long-term variability of currents over a 20-year period and has been validated against measured data throughout the region. The initial focus has been to provide a 20-year fine-resolution dataset for the West Africa oil and gas concession region.

The MACH dataset will be used to better understand the ocean conditions within a potential development site or to gain advanced knowledge of the conditions prior to exploration drilling. Vertical profiles of current speed and direction are critical inputs to riser engineering and deep-water developments offshore, whilst near-surface current spatial information may provide valuable input to oil spill contingency planning and support FPSO and vessel operations. With the reduction of costs being a prime driver in today’s environment, this dataset will provide regional information that will help refine the design and increase the efficiency of the installation and operation of oil and gas producer’s assets offshore.

With this phase of the modelling complete, the team are now looking to expand the fine resolution modelling to other parts of the mid-Atlantic basin, including Brazil.

The Met Office is one of the leading organisations in data assimilation and large scale, complex ocean circulation modelling. The pioneering work of Oceanweather’s hindcast approach and derivation of optimal wind fields for ocean boundary forcing has been recognised internationally in both the scientific community and in applications for the offshore industry. This knowledge and expertise coupled with BMT ARGOSS’ extensive experience in applying and validating metocean data for commercial application is already recognised and highly valued by the oil and gas community.

Using their combined knowledge, experience and computational resources, the MACH team have worked closely with oil and gas operators to provide a robust current dataset over the West Africa region.

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