 |
|
|
What is ROFFS™ Oil and Gas? |
| Roffer's Ocean Fishing Forecasting Service,
Inc. (ROFFS™) is a scientific
consulting company based in Miami, Florida (U.S.A.) that has been
providing consulting services to the petroleum oil and gas industry
shortly after we incorporated in 1987. While we are well known for
providing a worldwide fisheries oceanographic consulting service
our involvement with the oil and gas industry has expended and we
currently offer our services on a worldwide basis. |
|
Our
products are designed to provide real-time detailed information
on ocean currents to maximize the operational efficiency and for
risk abatement. ROFFS™ integrates infrared, ocean color_chlorophyll,
altimeter, radar, current meter, and meteorological data and produces
a detailed oceanographic analyses. Depending on the needs of our
clients we offer different geographic coverage, with variable spatial
and temporal resolution solutions to provide the most cost effective
service. |
Recently
we have formed a joint venture with Schaudt.us (http://www.schaudt.us/kjs/index.html)
and are leveraging the talents and experience of both companies
to provide a variety of services including oceanographic analyses
and forecasts in support of drilling (construction and operations),
as well as, tow and rig transportation. This includes response and
horsepower forecasting. Depending on the project we also partner
with other companies that allows us to provide the best solution
with lowest cost to the client. We have a team that uses advanced
satellite image interpretation, private-industry developed numerical
weather and current models, as well as, simulators to monitor and
predict operational efficiency. |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
| The ROFFS™
Oceanographic Analysis is designed to optimize operational efficiency,
safety of drilling and navigation, voyage performance, and fuel conservation.
The analyses are composed of a map and a text summary that are designed
to identify ocean currents from the coastline to the far reaches of the
ocean. The map provides a representation of the ocean conditions that
presently exist and a short-term forecast of the future conditions. The
analysis is the result of studying the ocean conditions for several days
while focusing on the most current 1-12-24 hour period. We provide an
overall review of ocean conditions and furnish details on the locations
where the conditions may impact operations and safety. This is based on
our time-tested and field proven analysis techniques. Subtle changes in
the ocean conditions often have great consequences on current velocity.
We are focused on detail. |
| TOP |
|
|
| |
|
| ROFFS™ employs
the top oceanography graduates and image analysis experts who conduct
oceanographic analyses. We are experts in observing ocean circulation
features from a variety of space satellites under varying atmospheric
conditions. We remain active in NASA funded science, with other research
scientists, and application developers. Mitchell A. Roffer incorporated
Roffer's Ocean Fishing Forecasting Service Inc. (ROFFS™) in 1987
after receiving his Ph.D. from the University of Miami Rosenstiel School
of Marine and Atmospheric Science where he studied the effects of the
ocean environment on the distribution and catchability of a variety of
fish species using oceanographic data derived in-situ (ships, buoys, etc.)
and remotely using satellites. |
| TOP |
|
|
| |
|
| Providing comprehensive
oceanographic analyses is an intensive process that requires expertise
in a variety of scientific disciplines including physical oceanography,
satellite remote sensing, image analysis, and computer science to name
a few. ROFFS™ has developed advanced image analysis techniques,
particularly when working with water motion and clouds. This allows us
to provide useful information more often than others. We do not limit
our analyses to simple sea surface temperature contour maps or pretty
color images. Often a simple sea surface temperature map or a pretty color
image will only provide a combination of cloud cover, other atmospheric
effects (e.g. uneven humidity, fog, haze) and computer artifacts from
automated processing of the satellite data. It certainly will not allow
you to understand the changes in the short-term history and motion of
the ocean currents which are critical to operational efficiency. ROFFS™
uses infrared, ocean color-chlorophyll, altimeter, radar, current meter,
and meteorological data which are integrated in our analyses. |
| TOP |
|
|
| |
|
| You receive personalized
attention when you call ROFFS™. We have several telephone lines
for incoming calls, and you speak with a knowledgeable person, not an
answering machine or computer. We are open five - seven days per week,
10-15 hours per day or more when conditions necessitate. ROFFS™
strives to never miss sending an accurate analysis or leave a customer
in jeopardy. We often extend our hours to serve our clients. Our oceanographers
are available to discuss the analyses. |
| TOP |
|
|
| |
|
| We are a service
oriented business and enjoy helping people. We are flexible and user friendly.
We provide a color oceanographic analysis over the Internet via electronic
mail or a black & white version via fax. With ROFFS™ there is
no need to learn a complex computer program. Our file sizes are small
and cost effective for satellite based e-mail systems. We have spent several
years developing and refining the background bottom topographic charts
which cover the areas that a majority of the fishermen want to use. These
background charts are easy to read. |
| TOP |
|
|
| |
Compared with ROFFS™, What Else is Out There? |
| Pretty Colorized Images |
| Others are providing
colorized satellite images or sea surface temperature traces which are
claimed to be equivalent to our analyses. ROFFS™ provides the same
temperature and water color information provided in color-enhanced satellite
images. However, we highlight the significant data and reduce the superfluous
information. In all cases we have seen to date, our analyses contain more
useful information than any single color image product. We use numerous
images with the highest temperature and color resolution with the most
accurate calibration to conduct our analyses. Images provided by others
do not provide such resolution, accuracy or precision. Single satellite
images can not provide the important information about water motion that
critical to forecasting ocean currents. Observing water motion from satellite
imagery is not trivial. We have the experience to differentiate between
the real ocean features and clouds or other artifacts created by a variety
of atmospheric interference. ROFFS™ provides an interpretation of
the satellite data and integrates other oceanographic and meteorological
data to provide a comprehensive product which is unequaled. ROFFS™
receives and uses the infrared (temperature) and visible (water color,
chlorophyll, and turbidity) data from all functioning NOAA, as well as,
NASA (Terra and Aqua) satellites in addition to the other radar, satellite,
ship, and buoy (public and private) data. |
| TOP |
| Models of Ocean Features and Circulation |
| Our experience suggests
that the present generation of ocean models available from the government
and academic sectors do not provide useful results for real-time monitoring
of ocean currents. The temporal resolution and geographic coverage of
the output is insufficient. Many times the model output is a day late.
In addition, the output provide incomplete information as many important
ocean features are missing compared with the actual observed currents.
ROFFS™ has been successful in blending our real-time oceanographic
analyses with models developed and operated by private industry oceanographers
and meteorologists. |
| TOP |
|
|
| |
|
|
Roffer's Ocean Fishing Forecasting Service (ROFFS™) - 60 Westover Drive - West Melbourne, FL 32904 |
|