In order to design and operate offshore installations in a safe and efficient manner it is essential that a good knowledge is available of the metocean (meteorological and oceanographic) conditions to which the installation may be exposed. Of most importance are the wind, wave current and tidal conditions at the location of the installation. However, at some locations and for specific types of operations, other parameters may be important (eg air and sea temperature, visibility and ice conditions).

For design purposes it is the metocean conditions that may occur once in a hundred years, for example, that may be required. Estimating extreme values associated with return periods of 100 years and beyond is an area of active research. In order to plan a weather sensitive offshore operation it is the metocean conditions that may be expected to occur during the course of the operation that are of interest.

The Metocean Committee provides the focal point through which OGP members promote the development of metocean data and the tools necessary to use it in the design and operation of offshore installations.