Overview

Jacques B. Saliés, SPE, Drilling and Completion Manager, Petrobras America

Once again, OTC thrived with projects, new technologies, and presentations that met the highest standards and expectations. Boosted by oil prices, attendance reached more than 67,000, a 25-year high. Nearly 2,400 companies from more than 30 countries participated in the show. It was a great opportunity to exchange expertise in the development of offshore resources worldwide. Subsea technology, more than ever, was a key factor in the huge success of this “Engineering Celebration.”

Last year I highlighted challenges for subsea processing and boosting. Today, I believe even more that the great technical challenges bring huge opportunities for subsea processing and boosting. Such technologies, when put together, will be able to overcome the water-production challenge and will enable the production of increasingly heavier oil discoveries. Also, they will enable development of long tiebacks for oil and gas and will play an important role in the subsea-to-shore challenge.

Aligned with these principles, this year I picked papers that describe solutions adopted for subsea-compression systems (Ormen Lange), and integrated subsea separation, boosting, and injection (Tordis). I also picked a classical subsea development (Dalia) with great learning opportunities for all. Another subject that has generated much attention is the all-electric subsea tree. It is a great innovation with impressive results. I hope that next year we will be able to see another paper with the learning experience of the first system.

Therefore, I am especially pleased to invite you to read this impressive collection of topics for their scope, content, and effect on the industry. I hope you enjoy it.

Ormen Lange Subsea Production System

Dalia Subsea Production System

Operations Management Extends Field Life of a Long-Distance Subsea Tieback in Ultradeep Water

Jacques B. Saliés, SPE, is Drilling and Completion Manager of Petrobras America for the Gulf of Mexico. His 26-year career at Petrobras has been spent in various engineering and management positions in E&P, including co-ordination of the Petrobras Technological Program on Ultradeepwater Exploitation Systems—PROCAP 3000. Saliés holds a BS degree in mechanical engineering from the Military Institute of Engineering, Brazil, an MS degree in petroleum engineering from the Federal University of Ouro Petro, Brazil, and a PhD degree in petroleum engineering from the University of Tulsa. He has served on the SPE Board of Directors for Brazil and authored and coauthored several papers. Saliés serves on the JPT Editorial Committee.

Overview

Related Reading