ABSTRACT Surveys of the velocity structure in high-speed ocean currents are being conducted utilizing the expendable current profiler (XCP). Profiles are obtained at sea from the surface to 1500 meters depth in real time from aircraft, ships, and stationary platforms. Horizon Marine has conducted surveys in the Gulf Stream, in the Middle and South Atlantic OCS regions, in warm-core rings in the North Atlantic, in the Loop Current in the Gulf o£ Mexico, and major eddy features in the Gulf of Mexico. Profiles of current speed and direction vs depth, and temperature vs depth, have been obtained in these features over a w1de spatial scale and within extremely short periods of time. The speed and accuracy of the surveys has shown significant advantage in identifying the spatial structure of the features and the ability to observe a near-synoptic section through a feature. Significant findings within these features are presented. The nature of the flows themselves, and the ability of the XCP to observe the features to great depth has enabled the presentation of the profiles in absolute speed and direction coordinates. INTRODUCTION For the purpose of predicting the forces to be encountered by offshore structures, the observation of ocean current profiles in an operating area is necessary. The movement of offshore exploration and production operations to deeper water presents many new problems. Strong oceanic features, not present on the Shelf, affect many of these deep water sites. Features such as major ocean currents, eddies spun off from these currents, rings, filaments, and other phenomena, present unique problems. It has been difficult to obtain reliable ocean velocity profiles within strong currents or under conditions of strong wind and waves. Yet, it is under such conditions that current and wave information is most needed. Moored current meters and ones attached to platforms have been the principal sources of current observations during severe conditions. With the advent of the expendable current profiler (XCP), it is possible to conduct surveys under all conditions, even during hurricanes. The XCP approach overcomes many limitations of moored and over-the-side current meters and is particularly useful in strong flows, such as major currents, eddies and rings. Marine riser design and operational decisions during drilling operations necessitate a predictive capability for current loading forces, and thus profiles of ocean current have become increasingly important. Horizon Marine was formed to conduct surveys in difficult environments such as within strong ocean current flows in remote areas, and in those environments under adverse weather conditions. The method described here enables the user to conduct rapid surveys with expendable instrumentation deployed from underway ships and aircraft. This permits extensive spatial coverage in a limited amount of time.