Overview: Subsea Technology (August 2006)

Abstract

Once again, OTC thrived with projects, new technologies, and presentations that met the highest standards and expectations. This year, boosted by the steady increase in oil prices—having surpassed U.S. $70/bbl—attendance reached 59,236, the highest since 1982. Attendees from more than 110 countries were able to exchange their expertise on the development of offshore resources in the fields of drilling, exploration, production, and environmental protection. Subsea technology, more than ever, was a key factor in the huge success of this "Engineering Celebration." As such, it is the focus of the papers selected for this feature, by means of which JPT seeks to present state-of-the-art technology in the quest to find and produce offshore oil and gas. Highlights include the development of two gigantic fields in western Africa and Brazil. These two fields will provide invaluable knowledge on how to use floating production, storage, and offloading vessels in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), our next technological frontier. Another highlight is the technical challenges and opportunities for subsea processing and boosting. Several companies are investing in these technologies, aiming at applying them in the North Sea, GOM, Brazil, and western Africa. Such technologies, when put together, will be able to tackle the water-production challenge and will allow the production of new heavier-oil discoveries; they also will enable development of long tiebacks for oil and will play an important role in the subsea-to-shore challenge. The efforts of our industry to overcome challenges in the development of subsea fields are well evidenced by the "Spotlight on New Technology Awards" at this year's OTC. From the 13 new technologies recognized with the award, one was for subsea boosting and another for subsea separation. In the near future, most certainly, new- or old-field developments will adopt a combined solution of sub-sea processing and boosting. The benefits seem very clear. Therefore, I am especially pleased to invite you to read this impressive collection of topics for their scope, content, and effect on the industry. I hope you enjoy it. Subsea Technology additional reading available at the SPE eLibrary: www.spe.org SPE 100662 "Scale-Inhibitor Testing for Multiphase Pipelines in a Subsea-to-Shore Development With a Closed MEG-Loop System" by E.N. Halvorsen, Hydro Oil & Energy, et al. Available at the OTC Library: www.otcnet.org OTC 17810 "NDP Review of State of the Art in Riser Monitoring: Lessons Learned and Experiences Gained," by M. Chezhian, Det Norske Veritas, et al. OTC 18318 "Evaluation of Low-Dose Hydrate Inhibitors (LDHI) for a Long-Distance Subsea Tieback in Ultradeep Water," by A. Singh, SPE, Total E&P U.S.A. Inc., et al.