Deepwater Gulf of MexicoTechnology Challenges

Richard S. MercierDirector, OTRC

OTRC Core Mission

To provide technology, expertise, and services needed for thedevelopment of drilling, production, and transportation systems

that enable the safe and economically viable exploitation ofhydrocarbon resources in deep and ultra-deep water

OTRC Technology Focus

Development of theDevelopment of theDeepwater Gulf of MexicoDeepwater Gulf of Mexico

March Into TheDeepwater

Gulf Of Mexico

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

1988 1993 1998 2003 2008

Wat

er D

epth

(m

)

Hub and Spoke Field DevelopmentModel

Na Kika Semisubmersible(2,000 m WD, installed 2003)

Recently Installed Hubs

Atlantis(2,150 m WD)

IndependenceHub (2,400 m WD)

Hubs Under Installation

Tahiti Spar(2,130 m WD)

Blind FaithSemisubmersible

(2,400 m WD)

Hubs Under Design or Construction

ThunderHawk Semisubmersible (1,745 m WD)

Shenzi TLP (1,467 m WD)

Mirage MinDoc(1,200 m WD)

Perdido Spar(2,400 m WD)

Cascade/Chinook FPSO600,000 bbls storage capacity

Disconnectable turret buoy

Free standing hybrid risers

Shuttle tanker for oil

Gas export pipeline

Polyester mooring

Torpedo pile VLAs

Mitigation of hurricane risk

Short field life solution

Dry TreeSemisubmersible

for Ultra-deep Water

AdvantagesDirect vertical access to wellsQuayside facilities integrationAvoid long duration offshore installation

ChallengeRiser tensioners to handle ~10 m stroke

New and Updated API GuidelinesInterim Guidance Bulletins2INT-MET Hurricane Conditions in the GoM2INT-EX Assessment of Existing Structures for Hurricane Conditions2INT-DG Design of Offshore Structures for Hurricane Conditions

Updated Recommended Practice (to be issued in next few months)RP 2T Planning, Designing and Constructing TLPsRP 2SK Design and Analysis of Stationkeeping Systems

Updated Recommended Practice (committees being formed)RP 2SM Design, Manufacture, Installation, and Maintenance of

Synthetic Fiber Ropes for Offshore MooringRP 2FPS Planning, Designing and Constructing Floating Production

Systems

Effect of non-collinear wave and current on• linear wave radiation & diffraction• low frequency drift, especially yaw motions• effectiveness of bilge keels

Offloading operability• interactions of multiple bodies in close proximity• tank sloshing

Hydrodynamics of Turret-Moored FPSOs

Riser VIV in Sheared and Uniform Currents

Mechanics & modeling of multi-mode inline & cross-flow VIV

Power supply during hurricaneevacuation

Instrument reliability (currentmeters, strain gages)

Structural health monitoring(large number of channels)

Remote monitoring (highbandwidth data transfer)

Data assimilation, QA/QC,analysis

Database management

Performance Monitoring ofOffshore Systems

Torpedo Piles & Anchors

CFD/FE modeling & scale model testing of• penetration/installation• set-up• pull-out

Calibration of simple models for predictingpenetration and pull-out capacity

Model verification with lab and field data

0

2.5

5

7.5

10

Penetration Depth (m)

Velo

city

(m/s

)

0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4

MeasuredPredicted using CFD

Deep Sea Furrows (Sigsbee Escarpment)

Physical characteristics, mechanisms of formation& associated environmental processes

Well Systems Technology

High pressure, high temperature (HPHT) equipment

High integrity pressure protection systems (HIPPS)

Long distance multiphase transport - flow assurance

Fatigue performance of high strength riser materials

Composite risers for ultra-deep water high pressure wells

Performance monitoring of subsea systems

Miscellaneous Technology Challenges

Measurement and modeling of ocean currents(hurricane & Loop current eddies)

Gas handling options for ultra-deep water (CNG,LNG, GTL, GTW)

Ultra-deepwater TLP concepts

In Closing …

Looking back over the past 20 years, the pace of deepwatertechnology development has been truly remarkable.

Although deepwater operators are generally risk averse,extraction of hydrocarbons from ever deeper waters requiresdeployment of new enabling technologies.

The challenges faced today in developing the ultra-deepwater (> 1800 m) are different but no less severe than thosefaced 20 years ago when stepping out into deepwater (> 500m).

As always, prudent risk takers will be well rewarded.