Technical Update and Field Data from the New Generation Microwave Directional Wave Radar

Abstract

In 1989, a technical appraisal of the MIROS Directional Wave and Surface Current Radar was completed for a joint industry project involving BP International, Shell UK Exploration and Production, and the UK Department of Energy. The study involved contributions from three scientists working in the fields of wave measurements (M J Tucker), statistics (R G Tickell) and kinematics (J R Chaplin). The findings and recommendations of this study have now been incorporated into a new generation of Wave Radar, and this paper describes the rationale for the changes, and how they have been implemented, and presents data obtained from the Esso Odin Field using the new version of the Wave Radar where it has been trialed. The data shows that the new implementation of the design, in an equivalent configuration, has been validated against the previous design, while providing increased flexibility in configuration, and enabling all the major recommendations of the joint industry project to be realised.