ROFFS™ Trinidad/Venezuela Rig Monitoring

ROFFS™ – schaudt.us OCEANOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS
FOR THE TRINIDAD AND VENEZUELA MONITORING AREA
USING IMAGERY AND DATA FROM THE PAST 48 HOURS      

We continue to have minor problems with scattered cloud cover. However, we are able to provide this update of the ocean conditions today using a combination of high resolution infrared and MODIS chlorophyll satellite imagery over the past 48 hours.

Overall, the current ocean conditions suggest a relatively mild general northwestward current flow at both the Rig-1 and Rig-2 work sites today at strengths of between 0.6-1.2 knots. However, we are able to observe small areas of return flow (counter clockwise) in the proximity of both rigs that may provide a temporary shift in the direction of current flow at the Rig-1 and Rig-2 over the next 48 hours. We continue to believe the current strength will remain below 1.3 knots for the next 1-2 days. Eddy C-07 continues to move slowly in a northwestward direction and has a current center of circulation near 58°45’W &11°05’N. The western wall is currently between 40-55 miles east of the Rig-2. The decrease in speed and location of this eddy over the past week suggests that the eddy will start to change shape into a more oval shape, allowing the southern half of the eddy to move westward closer towards the work sites. If this should occur, we estimate the western wall will effect the conditions at the Rig-2 work site it between 4-6 days.