Offshore's Top 5 for 2010

David Paganie • Houston

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The editors ofOffshore magazine have made their choices for the Five Star Award – the top five offshore field development projects for 2010 – and proudly announce the winners in this issue.

The projects are selected on the basis on best use of innovation in production method, application of technology, and resolution of challenges, along with safety, environmental protection, and project execution. In no particular order, the top five offshore field development projects for 2010 are:

Perdido

Located in an isolated, ultra-deep sector of the Gulf of Mexico, Shell’s Perdido is the world’s deepest offshore drilling and production platform. Moored in 2,450 m (8,000 ft) of water in Alaminos Canyon block 857, the Perdido development opens up a new frontier in deepwater oil and gas production, and represents a number of firsts in the offshore oil and gas industry.

The project is described in detail byBruce Beaubouef, managing editor, beginning on page 30.

Cascade and Chinook

Petroleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras), the Brazilian operator of the Cascade and Chinook fields in the US Gulf of Mexico, says production will begin in early 2011, even though original plans called for first oil by the end of 2010.

When Cascade and Chinook begin production, Petrobras will become the first oil company to operate an FPSO-type production system in US waters. The Cascade and Chinook fields will employ shuttle tankers to transport produced oil and use self-sustainable submerged pumps and risers in the production train.

Eldon Ball, senior editor, technology & economics, gives the full details in his report beginning on page 40.

North Amethyst

Oil production is under way from the North Amethyst field offshore Newfoundland & Labrador. North Amethyst is the first satellite field development at Husky Energy Inc.’s White Rose project and is notable as the first subsea tieback offshore Canada. Wells in the subsea North Amethyst Drill Center tieback 6 km (3.75 mi) to theSeaRose FPSO through flexible underwater flowlines.

The project report byGene Kliewer, technology editor, subsea & seismic, begins on page 48.

Jubilee

Production was due to start this month on the Jubilee field off Ghana, catapulting the West African country into the ranks of deepwater producers with its first offshore development. Despite its size, the project is also a genuine example of a fast-track development, achieving first oil within three and a half years of discovery. Tullow Oil, the field unit operator, describes it as the “fastest ever full-scale deepwater development.”

See the full report byNick Terdre, contributing editor, beginning on page 36.

Gjøa

Gjøa is a mid-size field with recoverable reserves estimated at 82 MMbbl of oil and condensate and 40 bcm (1.4 tcf) of gas. Concurrently, Statoil has developed the satellite Vega field in two separate licenses, holding an estimated 26 MMbbl of condensate and 1.8 bcm (63.56 bcf) of gas. The combined project, incurring investments of around NOK 40 billion ($6.6 billion), is the company’s largest-scale new development since Snøhvit in the Barents Sea.

Jeremy Beckman, editor-Europe, gives a detailed report beginning on page 44.

Congratulations to all of our winners for their contribution to the successful application of new and innovative technology in developing offshore hydrocarbon resources.