Douglas-Westwood: Expenditures for floating production systems to rise through 2007

May 5, 2003
Oil and natural gas companies' capital expenditures on floating production systems (FPSs) are expected to reach $32 billion over the next 5 years compared with the $17 billion spent over the last half decade.

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, May 5 -- Oil and natural gas companies' capital expenditures on floating production systems (FPSs) are expected to reach $32 billion over the next 5 years compared with the $17 billion spent over the last half decade. Currently, there are 116 floating production systems being installed worldwide, according to a soon-to-be released study by Douglas-Westwood Ltd. and industry data specialist Infield Systems. The study will be launched Monday in Houston at the annual Offshore Technology Conference, the analysts reported.

Floating production, storage, and offloading vessels will comprise the bulk of these production systems, Douglas-Westwood said. About 77 FPSOs are expected to be built over the next 5 years at a cost of $21 billion, or 67% of the forecast spend. The remaining capex will be spent equally over the next 5 years on the following FPSs: 10 floating production semisubmersibles (FPSSs), 16 tension-leg platforms, and 13 spars, according to the study.

"The past year has seen some quite significant changes in terms of the numbers of floater prospects on screen," said Infield Systems data manager Roger Knight. "A considerable number of existing prospects have slipped backwards in time, some have been rejected in favor of alternative development scenarios, and others—particularly in Western Europe—now appear much less compelling," he added.

"Deepwater is undoubtedly the most influential driver for growth in this sector, said Douglas-Westwood's Dominic Harbinson, the study's lead author. "We reckon that the world's three major deepwater regions will account for around 75% of the capex forecast for the period 2003-07," he said, adding, "Despite dampening effects such as structural changes in the North Sea, and political pressures in countries such as Brazil, the sector seems poised for strong growth."

The next 5 years "should see a lot of 'firsts,'" Harbinson noted. These will begin with the introduction of dry completion concepts into the African and Asian regions, and possibly the first FPSO in the US Gulf of Mexico, he said, adding, "not to mention the potential for floating LNG plants and other innovative floater concepts."

The study pinpointed Africa as the area expected to get the "lion's share" of future activity in the sector, with 34 installations and investments of nearly $12 billion destined for the region over the 5-year period.

"Asia is second only to Africa in terms of the number of vessels forecast for the period. However, its capex ($5.5 billion) is lower than that forecast for North America ($7.4 billion) and not far ahead of Latin America ($4.4 billion) —regions where newbuilds and/or higher specification vessels predominate," Douglas-Westwood said.