Semester 2, 2016 - CVEN5000 Subsea Field Equipment – Research Paper Guideline Purpose: Provide an opportunity for students to research field development planning in the early stages of the unit, in order to enhance initial understanding of the field development planning process. As a result students will be better informed, aware of the key issues, drivers and outcomes associated with subsea development planning. Students will also be given the opportunity to demonstrate post-graduate attributes through concise and clear reporting of the research activity. Report Submission & Assessment: Research paper contribution to unit total mark = 35%. Research paper to be submitted to Blackboard no later than 28th August 2016. While students have been assigned project topics based on a group allocation, the research paper is an individual reporting exercise. Collusion and plagiarism will be verified as part of the assessment process. Reports should be no more than 10 pages in total length (excluding references and appendices). Industry Case Studies: Each student will be required to review and report on the following subsea field developments Industry Development Case Operating Company Ormen Lange Shell Greater Western Flank WoodsideResearch paper scope guidance: This research paper exercise requires you to access public domain information on both your allocated industry cases to "paint the picture" demonstrating an understanding of the what, why, how and when associated with the field development maturation process (i.e. exploration discovery to first oil/gas to field abandonment) and the associated subsea development outcomes. With both subsea field development plans understood (i.e. as best you can given the public information available); you are also expected to compare and contrast the two to demonstrate an understanding of the driver and outcome differentiators (i.e. as best you can given the public domain information available). In researching the two industry case studies, consideration should be given to the following (i.e. these are not exhaustive but written to give you an indication of scope): 1. What are the facts (states of nature): hydrocarbon accumulation type (oil, gas), any reservoir fluid specifics (compositions, contaminants, corrosive products), location, geographical location and size, in place and expected recoverable volumes, water depth, type of metocean environment (benign, moderate, harsh) etc. 2. Consider the type of operating company, the location of the development as well as economic factors which may have had an impact on preferred solution. For example distance to and type of market, pricing of market and country "state" requirements (i.e. political need to send hydrocarbon to shore for local industry support or domestic gas supply reasons?). 3. Identify the key milestones in the field development maturation process from initial exploration success (i.e. gas or oil discovered), to concept select, financial investment decision (i.e. kick off of execution phase) and first production. This may uncover insights around drivers, constraints and development blockers. 4. Thinking about each development, how did the geographic location and other factors drive the development towards a subsea solution? Consider details such as water depth, distance from shore and other infrastructure, and weather conditions. What do you think were the technical challenges and feasibility issues or barriers? 5. What reservoir conditions are evident? Consider how the size and the extent of the reservoir and planned drilling scope may have impacted the company's decision to develop the field using subsea technology? How might subsea infrastructure have been affected by reservoir details? 6. What type of offshore processing and sub-structure was used (if any)? What factors were considered which helped the company arrive at this decision? How did this then impact the subsea infrastructure? 7. What subsea architecture is included? What other drivers were there to include these items? What material was required and why?8. Ensure that your discussion is focused on key drivers for the development decisions, then focus on the subsea and development infrastructure outcomes, providing your interpretation of what, why and how. 9. Finally provide a high level compare and contrast between both development cases.Research paper case study information: There are numerous online sources of information that you will find using key words associated with field development plan and the corresponding project title or operating company. Apart from the usual industry online publications, a good source of information are the public submissions which are made as part of the regulatory approvals processes. A good example would be the environmental plan or environmental impact statement submissions for exploration or development well drilling or for the facility installation itself; issued to NOPSEMA for Australian examples. Any information gathered or obtained from such sources must be correctly acknowledged and referenced in your report. Research paper reporting structure and content: The framework for the report should include the following:   Title Page (unit subject, case title, author, date)  Abstract or Summary (summarises the case studies, insights and outcomes in a concise paragraph)   Introduction (identifies the topic, the purpose and the how of the report)  Background (concise summary of the industry field development facts and commercial context: include items 1 to 3 above)  Discussion (discuss "what" the development options are, what were the drivers, what were the challenges. What solutions were reached, what alternatives may have been explored, what problems remain unresolved etc.  Include a high level compare and contrast between the two industry cases)  Conclusion (concluding statement/s. What were your key insights from the  case study investigations what were the key differentiators and why?)   References (details of wider reading)  Appendices (as required, too detailed for main body of report) This document may also be a useful guide to writing your report: http://ecp.engineering.utoronto.ca/online-handbook/types-ofdocuments/short-reports/