MetOcean Solutions: Engineering Grade Metocean Intelligence Supporting New Zealand’s Offshore Energy Sector 

Written By Mariana Horigome

As New Zealand re-enters a phase of offshore oil and gas exploration, the demand for engineering grade metocean intelligence has intensified. For more than two decades, MetOcean Solutions, soon to be acquired by Earth Sciences New Zealand (ESNZ) under the MetService umbrella, has provided the offshore sector with scientifically rigorous, operationally validated environmental data and modelling systems that meet the technical requirements of exploration, development, and production activities. 

With new exploration and prospecting applications under assessment in the Taranaki and Canterbury basins (Figure below), the company’s integrated national capability has become a critical component of New Zealand’s offshore engineering landscape 

Figure 1. Tui Oil Field decommissioning. Photo credit: Port Taranaki

Understanding the offshore metocean environment.

MetOcean Solutions applies peer reviewed, industry standard numerical modelling frameworks to quantify the metocean conditions that drive offshore engineering design, development and operations, including 

Hydrodynamic Modelling

  • 3D current fields using ROMS and other advanced hydrodynamic solvers such as SCHISM 

  • Tidal harmonics, stratification, and density driven flows 

  • Shelf break and canyon driven circulation relevant to deepwater operations 

Wave Modelling

  • Longterm hindcasts using WAVEWATCH III and SWAN or coupled Wave and Hydrodynamic modelling using SCHISM. 

  • Directional wave climate statistics 

  • Extreme value analyses for 1-year to 10,000-year return periods 

  • Joint probability distributions for combined sea states 

  • Wave spectral analysis to aid in fatigue and Response Amplitude Operator (RAO) calculations 

Atmospheric Forcing

  • High-resolution wind fields from MetService’s operational NWP systems 

  • Coupled atmosphere–wave–ocean boundary conditions 

  • Cyclone and low-pressure system scenario modelling 

These datasets support structural design, mooring analysis, riser engineering, station keeping, and installation planning and operations. 

Evaluating potential impacts 

Beyond understanding the relevant offshore metocean conditions, MetOcean Solutions has long provided industry-standard, scientifically robust dispersion modelling for both planned and unplanned offshore discharges: 

Drill Cuttings Dispersion

  • Particle tracking with size dependent settling velocities 

  • Deposition footprint mapping 

  • Sensitivity testing for drilling fluid types and discharge depths 

Hydrocarbon Release Modelling

  • Subsurface blowout plume modelling 

  • Surface slick transport and weathering 

  • Emulsification, entrainment, and shoreline interaction 

  • Integration with real-time metocean forecasts for emergency response 

These outputs are used in environmental impact assessments, safety cases, and regulatory submissions. 

Operational Support for Offshore exploration 

Over the past 10–20 years, MetOcean Solutions has provided operational metocean support for every major jackup rig offload in New Zealand waters.  Services include: 

  • Realtime metocean forecasting 

  • Workability assessments for tow out, offload, and jacking 

  • Onsite and remote operational support 

  • Site positioning and environmental window analysis 

This operational track record spans multiple basins and operators, demonstrating the company’s ability to support high risk offshore engineering operations. 

Supporting exploration, offloads and touch-down/jack-up activities, MetOcean Solutions benefits from the 24/7 operational infrastructure of MetService, including: 

  • High availability HPC clusters or cloud infrastructure 

  • Redundant power and data pathways 

  • Continuous model performance monitoring 

  • Strict change control and versioning protocols 

  • ISOaligned operational governance 

24/7 Forecasting Centre

  • Duty forecasters trained in rapid hazard escalation 

  • Realtime monitoring of atmospheric and marine conditions 

  • Integrated atmosphere–wave–ocean forecast production 

  • Operational support for offshore assets, tow outs, and rig moves 

This national capability ensures that research grade models can be deployed as reliable operational tools, supporting both routine offshore activities and emergency response. 

Looking Forward: Engineering Certainty in a Renewed Exploration Era 

With new exploration and prospecting applications now under review, New Zealand’s offshore sector is entering a new phase of activity. MetOcean Solutions and MetServiceprovides a nationally integrated, scientifically rigorous, and operationally proven capability to support this transition. 

MetOcean Solutions delivers the engineering certainty required for safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible offshore development, with a proven track record supplying metocean expertise for many of the offshore basins around New Zealand (e.g. Taranaki Basin, Canterbury Basin, Pegasus Basin, Great South Basin etc.) 

Figure 2. Map of New Zealand showing the locations and names of major petroleum basins, color-coded by geological period and tectonic setting (source. https://www.nzpam.govt.nz/nz-industry/nz-petroleum/resource-potential). 

Mariana Horigome
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