--> Abstract: The Deepwater Gulf of Mexico Development Challenge, by C. L. Wickizer; #90987 (1993).

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WICKIZER, CARL L., Shell Offshore Inc., New Orleans, LA

ABSTRACT: The Deepwater Gulf of Mexico Development Challenge

During the past 10 years, industry has invested heavily in leasing and exploration of the Deepwater Gulf of Mexico and has proven the presence of world-class reservoirs and widespread hydrocarbon change. During the same time period, many technological barriers to deepwater development have been overcome, giving industry the capability to develop deepwater reserves with a wide variety of concepts, including rigid platforms, compliant towers, tension-leg platforms, floating production systems, and subsea systems. Each of these systems has already been employed in one or more Gulf of Mexico deepwater developments, and the Auger TLP will establish a new world water-depth record when installed late in 1993. However, most discoveries are not yet being developed due to the high costs and fin ncial risks in the face of weak price forecasts and technical uncertainties. It is thus clear that the technical community faces a severe challenge to improve profitability of the deepwater play by reducing costs, risks, lead-time, and uncertainties. A critical step in meeting this challenge is for multi-disciplined teams to understand the interdependence of reservoir characteristics, depletion plan, development concepts, and financial performance. The presentation will describe the current state-of-the-art for development concepts and illustrate the need for integrated exploration and development planning.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90987©1993 AAPG Annual Convention, New Orleans, Louisiana, April 25-28, 1993.