The IEEE Seventh Working Conference on Current Measurement Technology

Current and Wave Monitoring and Emerging Technologies

March 13-15 | Bahia Hotel | San Diego, CA, USA

  
     

EddyNet: A Measurement Program for Collecting Real-Time Current Profiles from the Gulf of Mexico.

Steven P. Anderson

Status: Accepted

Horizon Marine, Inc.
15 Creek Road
Marion , MA USA
02738

Phone: 508-748-1860
Email: steve@horizonmarine.com

Co-Authors:
Cortis K. Cooper, ChevronTexaco
Kenneth J. Schaudt, Marathon Oil Company
and
Jan van Smirren, Fugro GEOS Inc.

This paper describes the development and implementation of a communications network that provides real-time access to ocean current profile measurements being collected from drilling rigs, oceanographic survey vessels, and production facilities located in the Gulf of Mexico. The Eddy Joint Industry Program developed the program, named EddyNet. This real-time network of observations improves the ability to provide analysis of ocean currents in the Gulf of Mexico in support of the operational needs of the deepwater exploration and production community. In addition, EddyNet provides a centralized, joint-industry, oceanographic database that can be used to develop environmental design criteria.

The offshore component of EddyNet includes the Real-Time ADCP (RTADCP) software developed specifically for EddyNet. RTADCP accesses data from the ADCP at user-defined intervals, adds additional information (such as site name, water depth, and position), and formats the data into RDI's Broadband ADCP file format. RTADCP then transmits the data files to the onshore EddyNet server through existing Internet connections or a stand-alone Iridium satellite data services link. The EddyNet server continuously receives and archives data from the offshore sites. The server also provides website access to real-time current profiles with links to both raw data and graphical data displays from each site. EddyNet participants provide either data from their own measurement systems or pay a subscription fee and have access to all the real-time data collected by the network.

Submitted on October 15, 2002