Overview: Subsea Technology (August 2007)

Once again, OTC thrived with projects, new technologies, and presentations that met the highest standards and expectations. Boosted by oil prices, attendance reached more than 67,000, a 25-year high. Nearly 2,400 companies from more than 30 countries participated in the show. It was a great opportunity to exchange expertise in the development of offshore resources worldwide. Subsea technology, more than ever, was a key factor in the huge success of this "Engineering Celebration." Last year I highlighted challenges for subsea processing and boosting. Today, I believe even more that the great technical challenges bring huge opportunities for subsea processing and boosting. Such technologies, when put together, will be able to overcome the water-production challenge and will enable the production of increasingly heavier oil discoveries. Also, they will enable development of long tiebacks for oil and gas and will play an important role in the subsea-to-shore challenge. Aligned with these principles, this year I picked papers that describe solutions adopted for subsea-compression systems (Ormen Lange), and integrated subsea separation, boosting, and injection (Tordis). I also picked a classical subsea development (Dalia) with great learning opportunities for all. Another subject that has generated much attention is the all-electric subsea tree. It is a great innovation with impressive results. I hope that next year we will be able to see another paper with the learning experience of the first system. 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 OTC Library: www.otcnet.org OTC 18749 "The Tordis IOR Project" by Ann Christin Gjerdseth, FMC Technologies, et al. OTC 18969 "Ormen Lange Subsea Compression Pilot" by Bernt Bjerkreim, Hydro, et al. OTC 18819 "First Application of the All-Electric Subsea Production System—Implementation of a New Technology" by Laurent Bouquier, Total, et al. (See JPT, June 2007, page 52.)