Technology Focus: Field Development Projects (October 2010)

Abstract

Technology Focus World demand for oil has moved the industry to increase its exploration in deep and ultradeep water, resulting in several oil discoveries. Brazil, West Africa, and the Gulf of Mexico are places where significant reserves have been found in recent years and where several deepwater fields are now producing oil. The recent disaster in the Gulf of Mexico and its environmental effects call everybody’s attention to the risks involved in offshore operation, particularly in deep water. This accident will move the industry to find new solutions to minimize the risks to continue exploring for and producing oil from deepwater fields. Changes in regulation, new equipment requirements, and safety procedures will be implemented to make operations in deep water safer. We should also expect increased costs, but this will allow the industry to develop and produce in deep water with less environmental risk. Several fields are producing oil from deep water. For this feature, I have selected papers presenting interesting and successful field-development projects. Akpo field producing light oil in Nigeria, Parque das Conchas producing heavy oil in Brazil, and Azurite in the Republic of Congo are good references. Azurite is also the first development project to use a floating drilling, production, storage, and offloading vessel. Field Development Projects additional reading available at OnePetro: www.onepetro.org OTC 20395 • “Thunder Horse and Atlantis: The Development and Operation of Twin Giants in the Deepwater Gulf of Mexico,” by Simon Todd, BP plc, et al. SPE 126598 • “IA for the Goliat Offshore Oilfield Development: World’s Northernmost Offshore Oil Development?” by Erik Bjørnbom, Eni Norge A/S, et al. SPE 127819 • “High-Rate Gas-Well Completions in Egypt’s Mediterranean Sea: Tao Field Development Strategy and Case Histories,” by Ashraf Mekawy, Nospco, et al.