The 2015 Subsea Tieback Forum & Exhibition kicked off on Tuesday night as a high number of delegates representing all facets of the sector gathered at the conference’s opening reception. The exhibition returns to the host city of New Orleans after being held in San Antonio, Texas in 2014.

According to totals provided by Penn Well conference organizers on Tuesday night, the number of delegates registered by opening day was just shy of 3,000. More than 2,970 packed the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, already upping the record-breaking attendance number of 2,660-plus from opening night totals in 2014.

Attendance was bolstered by strong interest in the subsea market, which has continued to remain vibrant even in the midst of the general market downturn. Although challenging market conditions may yet stall some high-cost or high-risk subsea projects, the sector has remained somewhat insulated from the worst effects of falling oil prices.

A recent report from Infield Systems Ltd. affirms these trends (see full story on page 4 of the Day 1 SSTB Daily). Even with falling oil prices, Infield’s new Interim Subsea Market Report to 2019 forecasts growth potential for the sector over that time frame. If oil prices recover, the firm predicts that subsea capex could grow at a compound annual growth rate of 11.1% until 2019.

Companies occupying the subsea market might still tussle with some market fall-out, albeit to a more muted degree. Infield predicts a dip in subsea pioneer Statoil’s subsea capex this year and next, levelling off in 2016. However, in 2018, Statoil’s subsea capex is shown to grow substantially, with a small decline in 2019. ExxonMobil’s subsea capex is forecasted to stay less prone to such strong fluctuation, with a noticeable decline in 2015, but a quick rebound in 2016.

Penn Well conference organizers confirmed that nearly 500 delegates were present at the opening session to hear the speakers, including two presentations from executives with leading operating companies. A speech from Don Schlater, chairman of the Society of Underwater Technology’s Treasurer & Training Committee, got the conference underway. Subsea Tieback Forum and Exhibition Advisory Board Chairman Antonio Critsinelis of Chevron delivered the conference’s opening remarks. Attendees got a glimpse into the subsea market’s future when Paul Jones, also of Chevron, delivered the keynote presentation. It was entitled “Subsea 2015: A crystal ball view of our business, our technologies, and our value.” The comments were especially timely and of interest to delegates since Chevron and recently announced that it had expanded its GoM acreage and operatorship, working with BP and ConocoPhillips to explore and appraise 24

SSTB
schedule

THURSDAY, MARCH 5

7:00 AM – 8:00 AM

Continental Breakfast,
Level 2,
New Orleans Theater Foyer

7:30 AM – 1:30 PM

Registration Open Exhibit Hall H

8:00 AM – 9:30 AM

SESSION 4,
Level 2,
New Orleans Theater

9:00 AM – 1:30 PM

Exhibit Hall Open, Exhibit Hall H

9:30 AM – 10:30 AM

Coffee Break, Exhibit Hall H

10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

SESSION 5,
Level 2,
New Orleans Theater

12:00 PM – 12:45 PM

Delegate Lunch Exhibit Halls H & I

12:45 PM – 1:15 PM

Networking Dessert Exhibit Hall H

1:15 PM

Harley Davidson
Motorcycle Giveaway
Exhibit Hall H

1:20 PM – 1:40 PM
Subsea Engineering
Program Updates
Level 2,
New Orleans Theater

1:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Exhibitor Move-Out
Exhibit Hall H

1:40 PM – 3:10 PM
SESSION 6
Level 2,
New Orleans Theater

3:10 PM – 3:25 PM

Recognition Awards,
Closing Remarks,
Gift Card Drawing
Level 2,

World’s largest subsea exhibition
draws record crowds to The Big Easy

Delegates crowd registration at the 2015 Subsea Tieback Forum & Exhibition prior to the evening’s opening reception. Photo by Barchfield Photography.

Subsea Tieback Forum & Exhibition
Day Two
March 5, 2015
New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center | New Orleans, LA
www.subseatiebackforum.com

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A key point of interest in every Subsea Tieback Forum & Exhibition is the technical presen-
tations from operating company officials. Thursday’s sessions will include presentations on
project learnings and asset integrity. These will include:

• Brian Ferrier, Chevron Energy Technology Company, who will speak on “Big Gas Subsea Systems (The Rule of Thumb Applied to Oil Developments Should Not Be Applied to Big Gas)”

• Eric Chang, Shell, “Enablers For Robust Subsea Tieback Execution - Shell’s Europa A8”

• John Fasser, ExxonMobil, “Standardized ExxonMobil Master Control Station”

• John Lyons, ConocoPhillips, “Bayu Undan Phase 3 Wet Parking Subsea Trees”

• David Moss, Shell Oil, “Safely Delivering Subsea Tiebacks in the Gulf Of Mexico”

jointly-held offshore leases in Keathley Canyon.

Shell’s John Holloway concluded the plenary session with a scene-setting presentation entitled, “Unlocking the next frontier of Shell deepwater opportunities.” With Shell coming off a strong 2014 in the deepwater sector, Hol-laway’s comments were also of keen interest to attendees. During last year alone, Shell brought deepwater projects onstream in the GoM (Cardamom and Mars B), Nigeria (Bonga North West), and Malaysia (Gumusut-Kakap), all of which combine to produce 370,000 boe/d from its global deepwater production. It is just one year out from bringing the deepest production facility in the world online: its wholly-owned and operated Stones project, which is located 320 km (200 mi) southwest of New Orleans in 2,900 m (9,500 ft) of water.

Officials from three operating companies
spoke at the conference’s first session, “Project
Learnings 1.” Hess Corp.’s Tor Gavem discussed
“Tubular Bells – Managing Change.” Hess
bought an increased ownership stake and as
well as the operatorship for the GoM deepwa-
ter oil and gas field from BP in October 2010.
Bryan Kung of Shell then discussed “Learnings
from Shell Glider – Subsea Landscaping Tech-
niques.” ExxonMobil’s Susan Dent closed the
session with a presentation on HIPPS related to
the GoM Julia project.

Session 2 on flowlines, risers and umbilicals launched immediately following lunch with a presentation from Talos Energy’s David Hamilton which focused on “Phoenix Field Subsea Pigging.” The Phoenix field, located in the Green Canyon area of the GoM, began producing in May 2013. Danny Hough, of Deep Gulf Energy, gave a talk on the Kodiak subsea development flowline design. Kodiak, tied back to the Devil’s Tower truss spar, is located in the Mississippi Canyon area of the GoM.