RPS mobilises MetOcean measurement program for African Atlantic Gas Pipeline

RPS deploys ocean monitoring technology to support West African energy project

RPS has launched its MetOcean measurement program across Morocco, Mauritania, and Senegal, supporting a key phase in the development of the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP). The offshore campaign, which involves the deployment of critical oceanographic monitoring equipment, is now underway, with the crew returning to home port following the initial deployment.

Working alongside local research partners, including the Institut National de Recherche Halieutique (INRH), RPS has deployed six seabed measurement frames—two in each country—to capture vital oceanographic data, including wave, current, and tide conditions. This data will feed into the feasibility and engineering design of the pipeline, which is set to span approximately 6,000 km across 16 countries, strengthening energy networks throughout West Africa.

RPS MetOcean Survey Manager, Mike Matson, says this initiative is a significant step for the region.

“This project has the potential to transform the energy landscape in West Africa. By improving access to natural gas, it can support regional energy security and economic development.”

“Importantly, RPS has prioritised local partnerships, promoting the involvement of Moroccan resources and skills such as the Al Hassan Al Marrakchi Vessel and the INRH experts, given that Morocco is a co-Sponsor of the project. "

Mike highlights the critical role of RPS' data in ensuring the project’s success.

“The data we’re gathering is essential to the pipeline’s design and long-term viability. Understanding the ocean’s behaviour—how waves move, how currents shift, how tides fluctuate—helps engineers make informed decisions that will ultimately enhance the pipeline’s safety and performance in these complex marine environments.”

The MetOcean measurement program will continue over the next 12 months, with the first data retrieval scheduled in approximately six months. The insights gathered will help engineers refine pipeline design criteria and ensure its resilience against the region’s complex marine conditions.

With a strong focus on sustainability and regional collaboration, RPS remains committed to delivering world-class MetOcean support for projects that drive long-term benefits for communities and economies across West Africa.

Stretching across the Atlantic coast, the AAGP is expected to benefit over 400 million people and accelerate the region’s electrification process. The project ultimately aims to integrate with the Morocco-Europe Gas Pipeline and the European gas network. 

The African Atlantic Gas Pipeline project was conceived following the state visit of His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco to his excellency Mr Muhammadu Buhari former President of Nigeria in December 2016, and further endorsed by his Excellency Mr Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 

The AAGP will be a regional gas pipeline linking Nigeria with Morocco and connecting multiple countries. The proposed starting point is Brass Island, Nigeria, with the pipeline routed offshore from Nigeria to Morocco, making intermittent onshore returns for compression. It will ultimately connect to the Maghreb-Europe Pipeline in northern Morocco and extend to Spain.

RPS was awarded the MetOcean measurement program contract by Morocco’s Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines (ONHYM) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd.