Innovative developments and managerial factors as key enablers of deepwater riser project delivery

Abstract

The oil and gas industry is currently facing unprecedented challenges because of a negative impact from a declined commodity pricing trend. As the industry tackles deeper and more complex projects, the use of innovative technology to resolve technical challenges becomes an essential project enabler. Integrating proven designs and products with new technologies is a basic requirement in present business environment.

Companies are also underestimating the costs of completing projects, therefore they need to re-think established ways of working in order to better handle increasing project costs and complexity. This is now the time for companies to focus on efficiency to better insulate themselves from the runaway costs that have been a feature up until the oil price crash.

Cost efficiency of the project is driven by both technological breakthroughs and project management performance. A holistic approach to project management is now of paramount importance, meaning that all aspects of the project are to be taken into consideration from the beginning, ensuring that the project can be delivered on time, on cost and with certainty.

The aim of this thesis is to provide insights into multiple factors, which exert influence on a successful riser project delivery in the challenging conditions of deepwater, since it represents the largest source of energy supply growth in the near future. The best industry practices from recent major riser projects have been emphasized.