Solving Deepwater Challenges in a Low Price Environment

Abstract

Extracting maximum value is a tenet of the oil and gas industry. Whether it is a field located deep in the ocean or a rock formation located in the middle of a plain, companies are constantly searching for ways to get as much out of the resources available to them as possible with the tools they have. In the search for untapped resources, exploration and production (E&P) companies are moving their offshore operations into extreme water depths, and with that shift comes an increasing litany of technical challenges unique to deepwater projects. With the price of oil at a low mark, these companies are looking for the most efficient and economical strategies to solve these challenges as they push into uncharted territories. The 19th Annual Gulf of Mexico Deepwater Technical Symposium, held in New Orleans in August, featured several presentations on the challenges that operators face with deepwater projects in the current economic and technical environment. Speakers focused on a variety of issues, including construction costs, contractor involvement, flow assurance, and the integration of new technologies created to improve the production from their fields.