Technology Focus: Subsea Technology (August 2009)

Abstract

Technology Focus As oil prices approach half of their value of last year, when they hit all-time highs above USD 147/bbl, here I am again to address the JPT audience. Against all odds and in spite of the difficult economic times, the 2009 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) had extraordinary attendance, proving the breath and strength of our industry. The fact is that we are accustomed to ups and downs and to riding out tough times with innovation and willingness to embrace new solutions. Actually, this is the time to hold and value a strong engineering team that is motivated to face challenges, come up with solutions, and deliver oil and gas on time and on budget. Those who attended the presentations at OTC had the privilege to witness the industry's accomplishments and promises. Among them was what might be one of the greatest developments offshore in ultradeep water in Brazil: the presalt formations. Last year, Petrobras started a pilot production project that allows testing technologies for the full development of these giant fields. The industry's accomplishments and promises are represented by the papers selected for highlighting and for additional reading in this issue. They illustrate developments in the Gulf of Mexico, the North Sea, and Africa. As you read them, you will have the opportunity to know more about the design/qualification of the Tahiti field in the Gulf of Mexico, Chevron's first high-pressure subsea development, and improvements in efficiency for subsea operations in deepwater Angola implemented by ExxonMobil. In addition, you will know how StatoilHydro proved subsea compression to be a cost-effective alternative to platform compression in the North Sea. Other highlights include multiphase boosting installed in the BP King field, the Moho Bilondo subsea-production system, and the Agbami field development and its subsea-equipment systems. Therefore, I would like to invite you to read this selection of papers, a testimony of our flexibility and willpower to endure and create in tough times. Enjoy it! Subsea Technology additional reading available at OnePetro: www.onepetro.org OTC 20146 • "BP King—Deep Multiphase Boosting Made Possible" by B.E. Davis, BP America, et al. OTC 20280 • "Moho Bilondo: Subsea-Production-System Experience" by D. Carré, Total, et al. OTC 19919 • "Agbami Field Development—Subsea-Equipment Systems, Trees, Manifolds, and Controls" by Thomas P. Kelly, SPE, FMC Technologies, et al. OTC 20186 • "Subsea Processing and Boosting—Building Blocks for Petrobras Scenarios" by M.L.L. Euphemio, Petrobras, et al.