 http://www.simorc.com
System of Industry Metocean data for the Offshore and Research Communities (SIMORC)
Metocean data are an important and highly useful category of oceanographic and marine data which comprises observed measurements of current, wave, sea level and meteorological data.
A large amount of metocean data are collected in situ by or under contract to major oil and gas companies at considerable cost. These companies have many offshore oil and gas fields scattered worldwide in seas and on continental shelves, often in remote areas. Metocean analyses provide them with essential information needed to complement their working practices, such as in the design and engineering of offshore installations and for the forecasting of meteorological events.
Rationale of SIMORC:
Despite various joint projects within the oil and gas industry, there is no common awareness, indexing or archival of metocean data sets. Access to these data sets by other parties, particularly the scientific community, is also fairly limited. By providing information and access to external users, these data could be used to valuable effect, increasing knowledge of both local and regional ocean and marine systems.
What is SIMORC?:
A System of Industry Metocean data for the Offshore and Research Communities (SIMORC) has been established comprising an index metadata base and a database of data sets. The index metadata base (a database containing descriptive information about the data sets) allows users to identify data useful for their particular interest. Access to the data sets themselves is available through the SIMORC web site (http://www.simorc.org/) and is regulated by a SIMORC protocol. Only registered users are allowed access to the data sets. SIMORC is a unique project, which falls under the EU Sixth Framework Programme, 'Sustainable Development, Global Change and Ecosystems'. It is funded by the EU for two years from 01 June 2005 (and is being extended for 6 months), although the participants aim to develop an operational SIMORC service that will continue beyond the completion of the project.
The objectives of the SIMORC project are:
- To create a central index and database of past and present metocean data sets collected globally by the oil and gas industry
- To standardize data quality control, data format, storage and retrieval of these industry metocean datasets for use by industry partners and scientific users
- To create a searchable overview of hind cast studies, performed under contract to the oil and gas industry at various sites
- To define and to establish arrangements for use, updating and long term operation of the SIMORC facility beyond the project period
- To promote and to disseminate the SIMORC facility in both the oil and gas industry and scientific communities to achieve an increasing number of contributing parties and users
Target users and their use for SIMORC:
It is foreseen that the SIMORC data sets and the SIMORC data service will be of great use and importance to a wide variety of users, some of the major groups comprising:
- Scientific institutes and universities in the oceanographic research community
- Scientific institutes, universities, monitoring and forecasting agencies in the operational oceanographic communities
- Governmental marine and coastal zone managers
- Oceanographers and environmental managers in developing countries
- Metocean departments of oil and gas companies
- Third parties, active in offshore engineering in support services for offshore operations
At present, six of the world's major oil companies (Shell, Total, BP, Statoil, Chevron and Hydro) have signed up to the project. As participants these companies will contribute their data sets to SIMORC.
Together these companies will contribute to the SIMORC database a very substantial volume of metocean in situ data, collected near offshore oil & gas fields, scattered around the globe. Within Europe major offshore oil & gas fields can be found in the North Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Caspian Sea, Norwegian Sea, and on the North Western Atlantic shelf. Beyond Europe major offshore activity areas are located in e.g. the Gulf of Mexico, offshore Brazil, China Sea, Australasia, Middle East and offshore West-Africa. Often these data sets are acquired at substantial costs.
The SIMORC partners include:
Marine Information Service (MARIS)
The International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (OGP)
British Oceanographic Data Centre (BODC)
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-IODE)
An advisory board has also been appointed.
Figure 1 - Global Preliminary inventory of Metocean stations of Shell (dots) and Total (triangles)
Figure 2 - Regional Preliminary inventory of Metocean stations of Shell (dots) and Total (triangles)
The volume of data sets, collected at these locations over many years, is very substantial. For example Shell has acquired about 2.000 data sets, from 600 locations worldwide, which cover 1850 years of time series of currents, waves, and winds. Many ADCPs are included, providing extra value for ocean modelers, because ADCPs are measuring currents at various levels in the vertical.
Access to data sets is regulated. A dedicated SIMORC protocol has been established involving rules for access and use of data sets by scientific users, by oil & gas companies between each other, and by third parties, private and public. First-time users of data sets have to apply for registration through the SIMORC web site (http://www.simorc.org/), which includes accepting the SIMORC protocol.
Registered users from the scientific community have free access to data sets.
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