Eldon Ball • Houston
The Deep Offshore International Conference & Exhibition (DOT) will return to Houston on Feb. 12-14 at the George R. Brown Convention Center. The conference, sponsored by ExxonMobil, will feature a program of more than 90 presentations on deepwater E&P technology.
The conference theme, “Risks, Resources & Rewards,” captures three key challenges facing the deepwater industry – safely and successfully managing risks, completing projects on time and under budget with limited resources, and assuring profitability in the face of increasing costs and difficult operating environments.
This year’s DOT provides a new program by which engineering students can attend the full three-day event and all technical sessions at no cost through a special sponsorship program with major universities and industry sponsors.
In return, the students agree to attend a luncheon put on by the conference host and a 30-minute session put on by the schools’ sponsor.
Students receive free entrance to all technical sessions, access to the show floor, and entrance to all events and networking receptions; receive all lunches free, and are given full delegate conference materials and a certificate of completion at the conclusion of the event.
The sponsored-student program has received enthusiastic support from both universities and industry sponsors alike, who see it as a win-win program for both. (See details athttp://dot08.events.pennnet.com)
For a sample of some of the more than 90 presentations coming your way, see the>DOT Preview, page 52.
Deepwater GoM growth continues
The most definitive indicator of the E&P outlook for a region is lease sale results. With over $3 billion in high bids on more than 100 blocks in 2007, the level of interest in the Gulf of Mexico is solid. Meanwhile, oil hit a record $100/bbl in early 2008, and almost 80 Bboe are undiscovered and technically recoverable (95% chance of recovery) in the GoM outer continental shelf, according to a 2006 MMS survey.Managing Editor David Paganie takes a look at the status and future of the Gulf of Mexico in this month’s special report beginning on page 30.
Subsea boosting enhances production
The recent delivery of subsea booster pumps to BP’s King field in the Gulf of Mexico marks a breakthrough for Aker Kvaerner Subsea in multiphase pumping. Two pumps (a third was also supplied as a spare) were installed in August 2007. Following commissioning, both have been operational since November.
In BP’s words, “The two pumps will enhance production from the King field by an average of 20%...In addition to the increase in production, the project will allow a 7% increase in recovery, extending the economic life of the field by five years.”Contributing Editor Nick Terdre gives the full details in his article on page 50.
Brazil’s huge discovery – and more
The estimated 5-8 Bbbl of recoverable Tupi area 28° API oil discovered offshore Brazil in the Santos basin moves the country into the elite category of world producers.
Brazil’s proved reserves of oil and natural gas now stands at 14.4 Bbbl. Petrobras’ president Jose Sergio Gabrielli says this find alone may push Brazil’s oil reserves into the top 10 in the world, up from its present 24th place. The Tupi discovery in block BM-S-11 is just a “tiny’’ part of a new oil province that the company believes is beneath existing fields, Gabrielli says.
Meanwhile, in the wake of the Tupi discovery and the optimism surrounding the reserves estimates, Brazil is reported to be talking about possible membership in OPEC, according to its ambassador to Saudi Arabia.
For the complete story, see the report and analysis byContributing Editor Peter Howard Wertheim beginning on page 66.
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