Once installed, the suite of observation equipment will reportedly become a vital component of the integrated ocean observing system (IOOS), providing valuable data for use in hurricane research, forecasting, and coastal resource management.
Under US federal regulations, deepwater oil and gas platform operators in the northern Gulf of Mexico (GoM) are required to collect and transmit current profile observations to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Data Buoy Center.
Shell has said that this agreement will surpass those requirements and calls for an upgrade of all weather stations on four Shell platforms to include direct transmission to NOAA’s geostationary satellites (GOES), and emergency power ensuring an uninterrupted stream of information even if the platform is evacuated. Other related installations and upgrades will also be part of the co-operation agreement.
John Hofmeister, president of the Shell Oil Company, said: The Gulf of Mexico is a critical resource and plays a vital role in delivering a secure energy supply to the US. Shell believes this information will benefit everyone living along the Gulf Coast and its customers across the country. For Shell, this information could help to protect our people and assets.
