Deepwater technology and deepwater developments

This paper discusses the challenge of successful deepwater development. The logic and structure of a technology development programme, and the application of developing technologies to projects, is discussed. Integration across the various technologies is a key factor, and a continual challenge. The technological areas include safety, environment, survey and imaging, drilling, production operations, subsea, intervention, pipelines and platforms. The future direction of deepwater development is discussed in the context of the competitive pressures in the: energy market, and the implications for technological progress are considered.