Tackling The Ultra-Deepwater Challenge: The Lower Tertiary/Paleogene is the emerging 'next big thing' in the deepwater GoM. But it is also the most technically challenging arena for the first-movers undertaking these pioneering projects, especially when dealing with high temperature/high pressure issues that can raise breakevens well above the current oil price. What has been the experience so far, and what are the technologies proving most valuable?

  • Roy Long, ultra-deepwater technology manager for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory;
  • David Reid, deepwater appraisal manager at Shell Upstream Americas; and
  • Bret Montaruli, senior vice president at Technology ABS.