Second Annual LRET/NUS Lecture, 2008
The selection of the optimum concept for the development of a deep water offshore oilfield involves a trade-off between competing factors. The decision to develop an oilfield often has to be made with significant uncertainty in these factors.
Engineering Auditorium, National University of Singapore. 7 November 2008.
Organised by Centre for Offshore Research & Engineering, NUS
Deepwater oilfield facilities concept selection - the key factors
Mr Richard Snell
Independent Consultant. Visiting Professor at Oxford University
Abstract: The selection of the optimum concept for the development of a deep water offshore oilfield involves a trade-off between competing factors. The decision to develop an oilfield often has to be made with significant uncertainty in these factors. The impact of the classic uncertainties in reservoir and facilities performance and cost are magnified in deepwater developments and additional factors such the balance between subsea and surface facilities, global equipment sourcing, schedule, transport and installation and the risks associated with the introduction of new technology become significant. A large deepwater oilfield project is one of the most challenging endeavours in industry. The lecture will describe the key factors and how they influence the selection process.
Biography: Richard Snell has some 39 years experience of marine and offshore civil and structural engineering. He worked for BP Exploration since 1980 on offshore structures design, R&D and operations and on retirement at the end of 2007 was the most senior structural engineer in the company responsible for the technical practices applied in projects and operations worldwide. In is career he has seen the evolution of offshore structures from the problematic early move of fixed platforms into harsh conditions and the introduction of floating systems through to today's robust structures.
He was a leading contributor to the deepwater systems R&D which has guided most of BP's deep water developments and in the R&D conducted after the Piper Alpha incident leading to enhanced fire and blast engineering design methodologies. He has authored or co-authored more than 35 papers. He is Chairman of the ISO Offshore Structures Standards Committee which is developing a new suite of standards for fixed and floating offshore structures. He is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. He is currently a Visiting Professor in the Principles of Civil Engineering Design at Oxford University and practices as an independent consultant.
Downloads:The Transcript for the lecture (2mb pdf)