SUT’s Special Interest Group (SIG) on Environmental Forces (known as SUTGEF) originated in the 1970s and aims to understand and share knowledge about natural forces - waves, currents, winds and tides - that can impact offshore structures. This SIG helps engineers, designers and researchers make offshore structures safer, more efficient and better able to withstand environmental challenges.

Objectives of the Special Interest Group on Environmental Forces affecting offshore structure design

Provide a platform: To provide a forum for discussion between experts in industry, research and official bodies on the state of the technology of predicting and understanding of environmental forces
Collaboration: To promote collaboration, cooperation and the sharing of new knowledge and research papers
Share knowledge: To provide status reports and advice, through seminars and conferences

Group membership for Environmental Forces affecting offshore structure design

The group consists of members with a strong interest in its goals, ensuring a broad representation from multiple countries, industries, academia and research. Members will be appointed in a personal capacity, taking their affiliations into account, and each member may nominate one alternate.

For further information please contact the SUTGEF Chairman: Professor T Adcock on [email protected]

SIG members in this area can access the password-protected page via the link below.

How and why the SUTGEF was established

SUTGEF originated in the 1970s from collaboration between the North Sea oil and gas industry and UK regulatory authorities, aimed at promoting safer offshore operations.

Early guidance on offshore structures was provided through the Department of Energy’s “Guidance Notes,” supported by the Offshore Structures Fluid Loading Advisory Group (OSFLAG) and two key forums:

The UKOOA Structures Working Group
The Advisory Group on Environmental Forces (AGEF), founded in 1982.

When government support for AGEF ended in the early 1990s the committee chose to continue under SUT, becoming SUTGEF.

The SUTGEF became the country’s primary forum for specialists from industry, academia and government to discuss real-world offshore fluid loading challenges.

Environmental Forces

Pioneering research on Environmental Forces

SUTGEF has actively promoted research on fluid loading and environmental forces affecting offshore structures.

The Group regularly organised:

SUT conferences, seminars, and workshops
Sessions at the biannual Offshore International Conference
Research papers aimed at improving offshore safety and supporting engineering practices.
Selected candidates for the annual SUT Oceanography Award

How SUTGEF’s work influenced industry standards and safety

Research and discussions facilitated by SUTGEF have influenced offshore design standards and engineering practices.

By providing a forum for sharing results from industry and academic studies, the Group has contributed to safer, more efficient and more resilient offshore structures, particularly in the challenging North Sea environment.

COLLABORATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL FORCES AFFECTING OFFSHORE STRUCTURE DESIGN

SUTGEF has fostered international collaboration with universities, research institutions and professional organisations. Through meetings, workshops and joint projects, the Group has promoted knowledge exchange on environmental forces and offshore structural challenges, benefiting both UK and global offshore industries.

COLLABORATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL FORCES AFFECTING OFFSHORE STRUCTURE DESIGN

Recent developments and future direction of SUTGEF

In recent years, SUTGEF has shifted to a primarily academic discussion group. To adapt the SUTGEF has focused on collaborating with established research projects, successfully introducing the benefits of SUT to undergraduate and postgraduate students.