A Sea of Change for the Global Oil and Gas Sector

Statistical methods optimise integrity assessment of offshore facilities

Statisticians at Lancaster have produced a significant change in how offshore engineers design, maintain and refurbish billions of dollars worth of facilities.

Application-driven research by the Extreme Value Theory group has been fundamental to optimising assessment of the structural integrity of over 8% of global offshore oil and gas facilities against a range of individual and joint natural hazards.

The University has worked closely with industry partners to address key sectoral problems and provide a direct pathway to impact. Through improved statistical modelling and inference, they have enabled organisations ranging from multinationals to consultancies and regulators to secure substantial, sustainable financial and societal benefits.

Underpinning development of Shell’s metocean statistical software – applied globally across over 50 offshore structures.
Important modelling components of Total’s ground breaking Abnormal Wave Assessment and Risk (AWARE) project to refurbish facilities in the Danish sector of the North Sea.
Influencing leaders across the offshore engineering industry – plus the regulatory framework for design and re-assessment of offshore structures worldwide

“Many of the statistical methods used by OCG owe their existence [to Lancaster’s research].”

Managing Director, Offshore Consulting Group, 2020

“Lancaster University has contributed considerable research.”

Lead Structural Engineer, Project Manager, AWARE Project, Total Danmark, 2020