Engineering Visual Presentation E10: Accelerating deepwater gas: strategies for fast-track field development

Engineering Visual Presentation E10 As the number of potential deepwater gas developments grows, operators are aiming to accelerate production timelines to unlock maximum value. Traditionally, field development planning prioritises extended early-phase studies to optimise cost and outcomes. However, this can conflict with fast-track schedules. This paper presents strategies from project experience for executing a short-duration Concept Selection and Pre-Front End Engineering Design (FEED) study that enables critical decision-making while supporting accelerated development, using a representative remote deepwater gas opportunity as a case study. In Concept Selection, a streamlined approach is proposed; endorsing appraise stage work via traffic light grading, reworking only flagged areas to confirm technical feasibility and validating cost and schedule inputs to support a focused selection workshop. During Pre-FEED, an integrated strategy prioritises decisions – such as field layout configurations, hydrate management and processing options – allowing progress at pace. Key enablers include digitalisation to evaluate multiple scenarios, proactive management of change and early contractor engagement to maintain schedule integrity. While taking sufficient time in early project phases remains best practice, this paper demonstrates how targeted strategies can balance speed with rigour. By focusing on high-impact decisions and leveraging digital tools, operators can maintain development quality without compromising timelines. These insights offer practical guidance for navigating the tension between conventional planning and fast-track execution, helping operators unlock maximum value from deepwater gas opportunities. To access the Visual Presentation click on 'Supplementary data' below. To read the full paper click here