SYSTEM FOR ECONOMICALLY PRODUCING MARGINAL DEEPWATER GAS DISCOVERIES

COMMERCIAL DISCOVERIES OF OIL AND GAS DEPOSITS IN U.S. DOMESTIC WATERS, PRINCIPALLY GULF OF MEXICO, ARE MOVING TO SIGNIFICANTLY DEEPER WATERS (OVER 400 FT.) AS SHALLOW WATER RESERVES ARE BEING DEPLETED. DEEPWATER EXPLORATION IS CURRENTLY UNDERTAKEN PRIMARILY BY MAJOR OIL COMPANIES, DUE TO ITS VERY HIGH COST. THESE COMPANIES MUST DISCOVER OIL AND GAS FIELDS WITH LARGE RESERVES TO JUSTIFY THE LARGE CAPITAL EXPENDITURE NEEDED TO ESTABLISH COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION. THE VALUE OF THESE RESERVES IS DISCOUNTED BY THE LONG TIME REQUIRED TO BEGIN PRODUCTION USING CURRENT TECHNOLOGY. AT A TIME WHEN PETROLEUM IMPORTS ARE INCREASING DAILY AND SECURE DOMESTIC SUPPLIES ARE FALLING, ATLANTIA INTENDS TO DEVELOP A SYSTEM TO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE COST AND TIME REQUIRED TO PRODUCE A DEEPWATER GAS AND CONDENSATE DISCOVERY. SUCH REDUCTIONS OF COST AND TIME TO FIRST PRODUCTION WILL MAKE IT COMMERCIALLY ATTRACTIVE TO PRODUCE MANY SMALLER FIELDS WHICH WOULD NOT BE DEVELOPED WITH CONVENTIONAL TECHNOLOGY. AN INCREASE IN DOMESTIC ENERGY SUPPLY, MADE POSSIBLE BY SUCH TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCE, WOULD HELP TO REDUCE THE COST OF NATURAL GAS ACQUISITION BY THE ULTIMATE USER. PHASE I PROJECT WORK FOCUSES ON EVALUATING THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE NOVEL PRODUCTION SYSTEM CONFIGURATION AS ITRESPONDS DYNAMICALLY TO APPLIED ENVIRONMENTAL LOADS. SUBSIDIARY TASKS INCLUDE DEMONSTRATING THAT THE PRODUCTION SYSTEM CAN BE CONSTRUCTED AND OPERATED USING AVAILABLE GULF COAST INFRASTRUCTURE.