As a result of years of research and development work on subsea completions, manifolds and flowlines, followed by field installations in relatively shallow and calm waters, a number of well completion and flowline laying and connecting methods are available and operational. The installation methods are basically diverless and control and maintenance are achieved by sophisticated systems; likewise the floating offshore terminals such as the E.L.S.B.M. and the Spar have been designed, built and put into operation. Although these systems were meant to be installed mainly in deeper waters, say beyond 210 m where diver access and the use of conventional techniques would become rather limited for technical and economic reasons, it is now evident that many fields in shallower waters can be more economically and efficiently developed or complemented by the use of deepwater techniques. Current development work concentrates on the design and evaluation of multibore production risers, floating production platforms and pipelaying and repair.
Summary of research and development work done for OQMG from Oct. 1, 1951 to Oct. 1, 1952
