International Edition
Volume 73, Number 8
August 2013
COVER: New technology has
enabled North Sea operators to unlock
resources in a region that has been
declared past its prime more than once.
Ten years ago, the Forties feld, one
of the UK’s oldest and biggest, was
scheduled to begin decommissioning
in 2013. Instead, seismic and drilling
advances have helped Apache Corp.
recover 200 MMboe since acquiring the feld from BP in 2003 and to
tally up another 114 MMboe in proved
reserves. The jacket for a new platform
at Forties Alpha (cover) sailed out of the
OGN yard on the River Tyne last year;
topsides were installed in June, part
of a $4.3-billion investment that has
extended Forties’ feld life by 20 years.
(Photo courtesy Apache Corp.)
FLOWLINES & PIPELINES
New installation methods may facilitate ultra-deepwater pipelay ........................ 106
Since the 1970s, offshore oil and gas development has gradually proceeded from shallow-water
installations up to around 400 m ( 1,312 ft) to the ultra-deepwaters around 3,000 m ( 9,842 ft) that
represent the maximum today. The question is whether the curve will fatten out at 3,000 m, or if
this is just a temporary pause on the way to even greater depths.
Operators planning some 5,600 miles of offshore pipelines through 2017 ........... 112
The second annual Global Offshore Pipeline Construction Survey provides a detailed project-by-project listing of all the major large-diameter offshore oil and gas pipeline systems being built,
planned, and studied.
Castorone extends the threshold for deepwater, large-diameter pipelay.............. 115
The offshore market will increasingly require lay vessels capable of installing large-diameter
trunklines in all water depths, with more advanced dynamic positioning capability and higher
pipe storage capacity for remote locations. Saipem has engineered and constructed its latest fagship vessel Castorone with these industry needs in mind.
Intelligent fexible pipe can improve tieback design .............................................. 117
With discoveries in more challenging felds, the implementation of intelligent pipelines can be
a qualifed solution for both new and existing felds. Key advantages of intelligent options can
include improved thermal performance, reduced complexity of existing felds/new felds, and
minimized installation time.
DEPARTMENTS
Find us on Stand 4A160
Online .................................................... 6
Comment............................................... 8
Data..................................................... 10
Global E&P .......................................... 12
Offshore Europe .................................. 18
Gulf of Mexico..................................... 20
Subsea Systems ................................. 22
Vessels, Rigs, & Surface Systems ...... 24
Drilling & Production .......................... 26
Geosciences........................................ 28
Offshore Automation Solutions .......... 30
Business Briefs ................................. 122
Advertisers’ Index............................. 127
Beyond the Horizon .......................... 128
