Developing oil and gas fields often involves testing technology over years to ensure that it will function as expected when installed in a field. Lengthy tests are expensive and may delay start of production, but the cost of failures may far exceed the cost of testing. Failures in deep water are particularly expensive, but operations on land also may require extensive pilot tests to ensure that the technology is optimized for the resource.A recent media tour of the Shell International E&P Inc. Gasmer prototype facility described tests on technologies for producing in two very different environments.The facility currently has tests with in situ electric heaters for producing unconventi...