Following the successful addition of the Dutch sector platforms during 2006, Muir Matheson spent 2007 upgrading their METNET 3G web-based system to be compliant with Shell’s requirements.

METNET3G is a networked safety-critical system linked to the Adverse Weather Working Standard (AWWS). It currently provides real-time metocean data for 19 Shell EPE offshore installations in the UK sector and 4 in the Dutch.

Operations (Shell) Manager, Kathleen Boyd comments: “2007 has proved to be a busy year for the Muir Matheson METNET Team. As well as carrying out the annual maintenance of the Metocean Equipment on all the platforms we have now upgraded all the Industrial PC’s to Desktop PC’s on the office domain (GI Compliant). This has posed a few hurdles along the way but we have managed to get over them! The final two Dutch platforms were upgraded successfully during December 2007”.

Kathleen continued: “We have also been making changes to the METNET Website, which is just about ready to be rolled out. I am sure anyone that uses METNET will agree that it is a huge improvement to the old site and this is a credit to our software department. The colours used within the website represent the sun, sea and sky.”

Looking ahead to 2008, Kathleen remarks: “Next on our list will be upgrading all the Intrinsically Safe SO/8 Wind Sensors since this type of sensor is now obsolete. A Gill Ultrasonic Wind Sensor has been purchased and will be installed in the Brent field for trials. If the trials are a success this type of sensor will be installed on all other UK Shell platforms”.

“As I am sure you will be aware, the number of platforms on METNET is due to decrease over the next year. The Dunlin Alpha will be the first to go when it is handed over to Fairfield Energy in the near future. However, we hope to continue to carry out the maintenance of the met station and have the data displayed on UK WebMET instead of METNET3G.”

Muir Matheson’s contract with Shell covers all aspects of METNET3G including the provision of their own PACE software, hardware, system engineering and data archiving.

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