The promise of West Africa
A torrent of E&P dollars is pouring into West Africa. Analysts agree that the region will not only see the lion’s share of deepwater investment in 2005, but that it will see a large increase in capital expenditure over the next four years.
That’s the conclusion ofInternational Editor Judy Maksoud, who put together this month’s special report on West Africa, which begins on page 26. Her report takes a look at the 11 major fields to come onstream between January 2004 and December 2006. Judy will be in Abuja, Nigeria, next month on her third trip to West Africa. She sees the region as one of the most dynamic offshore E&P arenas.
“West Africa dominates the international deepwater market,” she writes, “and will see over 40% of the $48 billion in deepwater exploration spending in 2005-2009.”
Sifting through projections by analysts such as PFC Energy, Infield Systems, and others, she concludes, “West Africa will account for approximately 43% of all E&P expenditure” this year. In addition, she reports, “West Africa is the largest projected growth area for FPSOs and subsea systems worldwide over the next five years.”
The complexity and challenges of extended reach drilling come under discussion in our report on drilling technology. Authors fromDevon Energy and M-I Swaco, along with two independent consultants, examine solutions to some of the most common problems that arise as the inclination toward horizontal and the distance drilled increase. A measure of difficulty for drilling a horizontal well is the ratio of horizontal displacement (HD) to true vertical depth (TVD). A higher ratio involves a more difficult completion. Typically, this ratio is less than 1:1. However, completions with ratios approaching 7:1 have been documented. When ratios reach 2:1 or higher, the drill pipe is susceptible to excess torque and drag, especially in the case of water-based muds. The challenges for completing a high-ratio horizontal well include reservoir drill-in fluid (RDF) selection and maintenance, wellbore stability, lubricity, torque, cuttings transport, solids control, and fracture gradient. Their analysis begins on page 46.
Hurricane Ivan more than left its mark on the Gulf of Mexico - but the long-range effects of the giant storm may be more far-reaching than at first suspected. In a special report forOffshore, authors Michael G. Dwyer, Juan J. Campo, and Kerry J. Kessler of J. Ray McDermott examine the changes that may be necessary because of Ivan. An industry response could take several forms, they report, including modifications to operating procedures, maintenance requirements, and design practices. Their in-depth examination begins on page 50.
Long-distance subsea tiebacks provide approximately the same challenges today as they did 10 years ago. New technology and techniques are emerging, however, that may make them the best economic solution for a growing number of offshore fields. In a special report for this issue,Steven Sasanow, editor of Subsea Engineering News and an authority on the subsea marketplace, examines the state of the long-distance tieback sector.
“From three landmark projects, five operators, and a number of different technical solutions,” he says, “the long-distance tieback, which has advanced from 50 km to 100 km and soon to 150 km, is now a regular feature of the subsea development landscape. There is more yet to come.” His extensive report begins onpage 66.