Deep Water Development: What's Next?
The Industry has a recent impressive track record of large size deep water field development, particularly in West Africa, Brazil and Gulf of Mexico. Does it mean that the trend for the years to come is to expand this technology to other areas or deeper water? There is first a need for rationalisation of now proven concepts in terms of cost effectiveness. Secondly, the remaining prospectivity may prove to be different from present discoveries. Smaller fields, remote from existing facilities, deeper water, more difficult fluids (viscous oil, High pressure and temperature effluents) may be the challenges to come, with a need for different, more effective solutions. Total, involved as Operator and partner in several significant deep water fields, is building on actual operational experience to develop a vision of a systematic approach to deep water basin development, from initial surveys to qualification of up to date technology and commercial models, with a view to allow a fast and efficient decision making process from discovery to first oil. Examples of various methodologies and technologies will be advised : environmental and geotechnical survey, geoscience study chain, well engineering, flow assurance engineering, concept selection, subsea technology, for oil and gas in deep and ultra deep water.
Global Deep-Water Review with Examples of Cycle Time Reduction
2004 AAPG International Conference and Exhibition Technical Program