By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Nov. 26 -- DeepStar, a group of 12 leading deepwater operators and 48 service-supply companies, has awarded Aker Kværner a contract to execute Phase VI of the Deepwater Staged Recovery (DeepStar) Project in the Gulf of Mexico.
DeepStar is a project initiated in 1992 as an effort to develop economically viable, fit-for-purpose, deepwater production technology, with global applicability, to accommodate development in deeper water, smaller fields, and deeper formations, all of which drive up exploration and production costs (OGJ, Sept. 2, 2002, p. 32).
In addition, the industry-led DeepStar seeks to develop technology to recover more oil and gas from already discovered fields, through intensive development, from extension drilling into smaller pools, and from new efforts in enhanced oil recovery. It also supports regulatory acceptance of these new technologies. Phase I was completed this spring (OGJ Online, Apr 25, 2002).
Aker Kværner's contract for Phase VI of the project includes conducting a systems engineering effort, including technical and economic studies necessary for the group, to evaluate new technology scenarios that would enable them to identify the elements needed to make accessing these smaller deepwater reservoirs economical.
Aker Kværner's engineering resources in Houston will develop the study called "Techno-Economic Evaluation of Marginal Fields." The study will be based on three fictitious reservoirs that represent what is believed will be the most likely deepwater reservoir sizes: the Gulf of Mexico in 5,000 and 10,000 ft of water and West Africa in 5,000 ft of water.
Knut Eriksen, senior vice-president of Aker Kværner Field Development Inc. is heading up the company's Deepwater Group for this project.
