Guyana Offshore Real-time Metocean Monitoring System

ExxonMobil contracted with RPS to conduct a multi-year, multiple mooring and Mobile Operational Drilling Unit (MODU) based, real-time met-ocean observation system, in the rigorous offshore conditions off the coast of Guyana, South America.

RPS Metocean in Houston teamed with RPS Metocean Perth and vessel and crew contractors in Trinidad and Guyana, respectively to perform the project. RPS designed, constructed and tested all of the equipment in our facilities in Houston and Perth, shipping them to a Guyana staging area for final assembly, testing, and deployment.

RPS began work in 2016 for ExxonMobil in Guyana to characterize the region for development of their Liza field.  The project started off with a surface met buoy and four full column current moorings in water depths ranging from 1500-2800m.  The success of the initial program led to several extensions and expansion of measurements at various depths in the development area, in the nearshore area along a proposed pipeline route, and onshore meteorological stations.  RPS has completed over 50 successful deployments in the region for ExxonMobil and continues to provide critical data for development of their production facilities.  Overall data return for all deployments from 2016 to present is 97%.

Offshore Oceanographic Characterizations: 

  • Waves (Hs, direction, period) 
  • Current Profiles (intensity, direction) 
  • Tides (constituent amplitude, phase)  
  • Temperature, Salinity, & Density Profiles 
  • Corrosion testing 
  • Marine growth 

Offshore Meteorological Conditions: 

  • Wind (intensity, direction)  
  • Air temperature 
  • Precipitation  
  • Relative humidity 
  • Sunlight 
  • Atmospheric pressure 

RPS has also been the sole provider of current measurement systems for ExxonMobil’s drilling and production platforms in Guyana.  Installation and maintenance of six systems has been performed since the start of exploratory operations in 2016.  Systems are comprised of a surface current meter, mid-column current meter, and a seabed deployed current meter all reporting in real-time.  Data is assimilated and displayed using RPS’ proprietary software.  RPS web display, automated reports, and other analytical tools are also available to the client to utilize the data.

Timeline

  • 2021

    This project is ongoing.

  • 2020

    August 2020 – Award of new project for two sub-surface moorings in deepwater for a duration of 24 months.

    October 2020 – Release of new user-friendly data visualization and instrument monitoring tool.

    December 2020 – Deployment of two new sub-surface moorings in deepwater and final recovery of 6 sub-surface moorings.

  • 2019

    February 2019 – Award of new project for metocean measurements at two new sites.  Program included 6 sub-surface moorings for an anticipated duration of 12 months

    April 2019 – Initial deployment of 6 sub-surface moorings.

    May 2019 – Final data recovery from onshore met station sites.

  • 2018

    October 2018 - Final recovery of nearshore instrumentation

  • 2017

    June 2017 - One year extension granted for two deepwater sub-surface moorings and the surface buoy. New one year project awarded for metocean measurements at 12 sites in nearshore water depths from 20 to 165m and two sites onshore.

    September 2017  - Deployment of nearshore and onshore sites measurement instrumentation.

  • 2016

    March 2016 - Deployment of initial four sub-surface moorings and one surface buoy..

  • 2015

    November 2015 -  Award of initial project for four sub-surface moorings and one surface buoy in water depths ranging from 1500-2800m. 15 month project duration.

1 /07
2021

This project is ongoing.

2020

August 2020 – Award of new project for two sub-surface moorings in deepwater for a duration of 24 months.

October 2020 – Release of new user-friendly data visualization and instrument monitoring tool.

December 2020 – Deployment of two new sub-surface moorings in deepwater and final recovery of 6 sub-surface moorings.

2019

February 2019 – Award of new project for metocean measurements at two new sites.  Program included 6 sub-surface moorings for an anticipated duration of 12 months

April 2019 – Initial deployment of 6 sub-surface moorings.

May 2019 – Final data recovery from onshore met station sites.

2018

October 2018 - Final recovery of nearshore instrumentation

2017

June 2017 - One year extension granted for two deepwater sub-surface moorings and the surface buoy. New one year project awarded for metocean measurements at 12 sites in nearshore water depths from 20 to 165m and two sites onshore.

September 2017  - Deployment of nearshore and onshore sites measurement instrumentation.

2016

March 2016 - Deployment of initial four sub-surface moorings and one surface buoy..

2015

November 2015 -  Award of initial project for four sub-surface moorings and one surface buoy in water depths ranging from 1500-2800m. 15 month project duration.

Key Details

Project Name

Guyana Offshore Real-time Metocean Monitoring System 

Client

ExxonMobil

Sector

  • Oil and gas

Location

  • Offshore Guyana, South America

Services Provided

  • Metocean data collection 
  • Deep water current profile moorings 
  • Real time metocean buoy mooring 
  • Mobile Operational Drilling Unit based and bottom mounted real time current profile

Project Statistics

17
subsurface taut line moorings
1
real-time metocean buoy mooring
2
Onshore met stations
15
Bottom mounted measurement systems
160
acoustic doppler current profilers
>20 km
mooring cable
6
month servicing interval
50
deployments to date
Kurrus_Keith_2018.11.jpg

Keith Kurrus

General Manager MetOcean - NAm T: +1 281 495 0883 Email
View profile »
Houston - Missouri City | US
Berry_Samuel_2018.11.jpg

Sam Berry

Field Operations Manager T: +1 281 495 0883 Email
View profile »
Houston - Missouri City | US
Zarate-Jimenez_Luz_2018.jpg

Luz Zarate

Physical Oceanographer T: +1 281 495 0883 Email
View profile »
Houston - Missouri City | US

Get in touch

Your contact information:

All fields are mandatory *

Get in touch

Your contact information:

All fields are mandatory *