Cost-Reduction Achieved By Convergence Of Subsea Technology In Both Shallow And Deep Water
Authors: White John , Adamson S.M. , Hadfield P.E. 
Published: October 2008

The potential for cost reduction resulting from the convergence of subsea technology used for hydrocarbon production in shallow water and deep water is considered in this paper. In particular, the paper addresses subsea completion systems with the North Sea and Gulf of Mexico being taken as primary examples of shallow and deepwater respectively.

Before addressing the specifics of subsea completions, comment is made on the past history of subsea developments and general issues which influence convergence. The paper concludes by describing a subsea production system which demonstrates the technical and commercial practicality of utilizing the same technology to cost effectively produce hydrocarbons in shallow and deepwater.

INTRODUCTION

There must be a motivating force to act on today's subsea production technology, that is deep water technology and shallow water technology, in order to facilitate convergence towards the use of common technology for all such applications. In a forum dedicated to technology, such as OTC, it is natural to look to technology identify and define this motivating force as, for the engineer, it would be an exciting prospect if convergence was to be driven by technological innovation.

During the 1980's, several major development programes1 targeted primarily at oil production in deep water, reference Table 1, gave the impression that covergence would be technology led, but now that we are in the "nervous ninety's" the engineer has come face to face with financial reality and has been taught the true meaning of life. Convergence, if it is to occur, will be driven by the accountant who will only buy into the engineers' dreams if it is profitable so to do! Nevertheless, the engineer should not despair but should treat the accountant as another of those natural phenomena that must be overcome, like corrosion, 100 year storms and 3,000 ft. water depth because, as history has demonstrated, technical innovation can occur on a grand scale with tremendous economic and social benefits.

Everyday examples include domestic appliances, such as the washing machine, dishwasher, vacuum cleaner etc. Engineering in genuity and technological innovation have produced very sophisticated domestic appliances relieving drudgery from household chores which, in the not too distant past, formed a major part of running a household. Perhaps the accountant can take a little credit too, for it is the pressure of economics which has driven the engineer to reduce the cost of domestic technology to the point where these appliances are affordable by many households. The automobile is another example where the pressure of the market place initiated tremendous innovation, both in the automobile itself and in production technology. Henry Ford would be amazed at the high level of automation in modern car plants; he might also be surprised at how low the real cost of a modern, complex, automobile has become.

There are many other examples of how technological development, associated with reduced cost, has made radical improvements in all manner of activity undertaken by human kind.