Technology Growth Through DeepStar
Authors: Hays Paul R. 
Published: October 2008

Since its inception in 1992, DeepStar has progressed from a $500,000 paper study of the feasibility of extended reach subsea tiebacks to a focus on developing generic deepwater technology. A large component of the Phase III program involves testing. The emphasis on testing has continued in Phase IV, which began in January 1998. DeepStar committees focus on regulatory interface, flow assurance, subsea equipment, vessels, mooring and risers, drilling and completions and reservoir engineering. This special session will cover highlights of activities recently completed, provide an overview of the present $12 million Phase IV program and project DeepStar's future direction. The benefits of cooperative research efforts continue to be reaped. Illustrative examples of DeepStar technology include: novel pigging and instrumentation, flow assurance instrumentation, prediction of hydrate plug movement, subsea intervention, dynamic steel tube umbilicals, composite drilling risers and methods to alleviate shallow water flows. Phase IV continues to include a significant component of field-scale testing. This will range from four significant flow assurance tests, to deployment of an electrically heated pipeline system to be tested in an ocean environment.

Introduction

This paper has three components. First is an overview of the special session on DeepStar for OTC 98 which contains five (5) technical papers in addition to this one. These papers provide an overview of technology progressed in DeepStar Phase III. Plans for DeepStar Phase IV that are being Implemented are also discussed along with DeepStar Stretch goals. The presentation will begin with the stretch goals, then cover Phase IV plans, and conclude with Phase III as a lead in to the other papers of the session. DeepStar was initiated by Texaco in mid-1992. Efforts were begun immediately to bring other participants into the program, and in effect make it an industry initiative. Since that time, DeepStar has expanded from a $500,000 program to a $12,000,000 two-year program involving 21 international oil companies. We anticipate that 2–4 additional companies may join us over the next two years. Hence, a program that was begun to address the feasibility of developments with extended reach tie-backs over 40-60 mile offsets continues to have vibrancy six years later. The reason for the intoned interest, of course, has been the heightened pace of the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) deepwater Development activity. Coupled with the activity, is the fact that a myriad of problems facing us remains to be solved.

Where is DeepStar Heading?

Here, time is taken to put on paper some stretch goals that, If achieved, could be cal1ed "Significant Accomplishments," or DeepStar "Jewels." These goals have been discussed with committee chairs, but by no means represent either the cumulative or the final view of the committees. Please view these stretch goals as possibilities; as goals around which to focus our efforts as we seek to develop new technology, to pick up the pace at which the deepwater GOM is developed. Further, as these technologies have inherent worldwide applications, we should be aware that more than the GOM is at stake. Below, we will consider the six DeepStar Technical Committees one by one.