Conference Director's and Advisory Board Chairs' Welcome, Grand Ballroom AB
David Paganie - Endeavor Business Media
Lars Ronning - Equinor
Michiel Heuven - SBM Offshore
Digital Solutions Panel, Grand Ballroom AB
Chair: Nic Wills - MODEC
Co-chair: Terry Mienie - Audubon Engineering Solutions
Volunteer: Mary Nash - bp
Panelist: Caio Sene - Shape Digital
This panel session will explore the oil and gas industry's digital transformation journey, emphasizing the foundational role of robust data management. It will showcase how strategic collaboration with external digital partners accelerates innovation while maintaining consistent digital frameworks. Attendees will gain insights into how AI-driven solutions are enhancing productivity, enabling partial remote operations, and reshaping day-to-day workflows.
Operations Improvements, Grand Ballroom AB
Chair: Jim Melancon - Chevron North America
Co-chair: Jim Siercks - Woodside Energy
1:00-1:30 PM Hurricane Evacuation Remote Operations Project Enhances Safety and Improves Production
Speaker: Jim Melancon - Chevron North America
Chevron's Hurricane Evacuation Remote Operations project aims to ensure the continuous operation of offshore production facilities in the Gulf of Mexico Business Unit prior to an approaching hurricane by remotely monitoring and controlling deepwater facilities from an onshore control room in Covington, Louisiana. This initiative enhances personnel safety and maintains production to meet the nation's energy needs. The project scope includes obtaining confirmation from Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement for remote operations, defining shut-in triggers and safeguards, and conducting initial and annual function tests. It also highlights the importance of safety, continued production, and collaboration with regulatory bodies to ensure successful implementation.
1:30-2:00 PM Shut-In Excellence Process Leads to Turn Around of Planned Downtime
Speaker: TBA
In an environment where an established production company is acquired by a larger operator with a focus on increased efficiency and return on investment - there is no shortage of change and paradigm shifts. This challenging period provides ample opportunity for the rollout and implementation of new processes that are subject to cynicism / hesitancy / and even direct opposition. The acquisition of Anadarko (APC) by Occidental Petroleum (OXY) was no different. A recently developed Shut-In (Turn-Around) Excellence process spearheaded by APC was in the final approval stage in mid-2019 with the first opportunities for implementation and results coming in 2020. During the first phase, the initial goal was one major shut-in per year. During the second phase, the goal shifted to two years between major shut-ins. This presentation will discuss the challenges and opportunities that were encountered during the phases of the development process.
2:00-2:30 PM Offshore Measurement, Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification Study Informs Targeted Activities
Speaker: TBA
Woodside Energy has taken actions to measure and reduce its methane emissions profile and is developing a pathway to embed available measurements technologies. These actions will also support the operator’s responsibility to communicate mitigation activities and meet the transparency expectations of its stakeholders. In 2024, the operator, with support from the University of Texas (Austin), completed a study, at its Shenzi platform in the Gulf of America, to evaluate the performance of commercially available methane measurement technologies through a week-long field deployment trial. The study considered a variety of technologies such as satellite, aerial, drone, and handheld devices, results from which will also support the development of a longer-term measurement, monitoring, reporting and verification (MMRV) strategy. This presentation will outline the technology’s performance relative to measurement objectives including (i) the identification of mitigation projects, (ii) the alignment with reporting frameworks and, (iii) the potential for ongoing cost-effective deployment. It also provides an overview of the attributes of the technologies and the insights gained through their field deployment.
Design Improvements, Grand Ballroom C
Chair: David Lim - Exmar Offshore
Co-chair: Juan Cruz, SBM Offshore USA, Inc.
Volunteer: Robbie Quintana - Keystone Engineering
1:00-1:30 PM Semisubmersible Design Innovation - A Journey to Hull Standardization
Speaker: TBA
Over 20 years ago, the development started on a standard deep draft semisubmersible for oil and gas production provided to all operators under license. The design was named OPTI given its motion response and integrated approach across design, construction, and operation. The first of these units, the OPTI-EX later named WHO-DAT was installed in 2011. The 4th unit named Shenandoah will be installed in 2025, and detailed engineering for a 5th hull for Kaskida and FEED engineering for a 6th are under way. In the span of little more than a decade, the OPTI went from a solution enabling independent operators to broad acceptance, including oil majors. Along the way, the design has evolved with lessons learned from operators, shipyards, regulators and operations feedback. The standard approach that started in a design sizing model expanded to include fabrication, integration, installation, and operational optimizations that minimize risk throughout the phases of execution for an overall shorter schedule and lower life-cycle cost.
1:30-2:00 PM Project Sparta - Design to Operational Excellence
Speaker: TBA
In 2015, when oil prices were low, Shell was faced with the challenge of delivering deepwater projects in a more cost-effective manner. Vito was Shell’s answer to this challenge. With Vito, the challenge was to re-imagine how Shell designs their hosts and the number of personnel it needs to safely and efficiently operate them. With Whale, the challenge was to minimize change, fast follow (replicate) the Vito design, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. On Sparta, replication was again the name of the game, however, another challenge was raised - “where are we not maximizing the benefits of replication.” The result was a paradigm shift in the Shell Gulf of America new-host operations readiness cost competitiveness. The Sparta Operations Readiness team completed the first year of post investment operations readiness deliverables averaging only 2 full-time equivalent employees, a ~95% reduction from the first in the series of hosts. The Sparta Operational Readiness team expects to deliver Vito at nearly a 50% cost reduction to the first host in the series. The lessons from this effort have the potential to help reduce the owner’s costs further should future opportunities arise.
2:00-2:30 PM Managing Topsides Weight with an Existing Hull
Speaker: TBA
LLOG is the first company in Gulf of America to convert and repurpose an existing production semisubmersible for redeployment to its Leon and Castille fields. The Salamanca FPU conversion achieved many firsts and presented unique challenges not faced by the new construction approach common in the industry. One of the key challenges facing the operator at concept and during execution was to accommodate a completely new bulk oil production topside that was heavier and set at a higher elevation than the hull had previously been designed to support. This presentation will discuss at a high level the changes to the topside to stay within the hull's optimized payload capacity and in detail the challenges and solutions that were implemented on the refurbished hull during sail away.
Operations Innovation, Grand Ballroom AB
Chair: Colin Pickle - Occidental US Offshore
Co-chair: David Sedge - EFESO
Volunteer: Leigh Landry - Murphy Oil Corporation
3:15-3:45 PM Anchor Project Team Culture Underpins Successful Operational Journey
Speaker: Jacob Gros - Chevron
The objective of this presentation is to share the story of the Chevron-operated Anchor project and how the team worked together to overcome challenges and achieve success. This presentation will highlight the journey, including the challenges faced, accomplishments, and the keys to success. The Anchor Operations Story begins with the facility's sail away, followed by hookup and commissioning, startup, and the first year of production. This story includes overcoming the 20K technology challenges, executing through the pandemic, and starting up and operating a new state of the art facility. Culture is the foundation of the project’s operational success. The culture established served as the North Star, guiding the team throughout the project. This presentation will share the details of the challenges and successes the team encountered and the intentional efforts that were made to build a culture that underpins the project’s success. To summarize: “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.”
3:45-4:15 PM Delivering the World's First Multi-robot Toolkit for Special Survey Inspection of FPSO Hull Tanks
Speaker: Steven Trevino - Shell
This presentation will discuss the groundbreaking development and deployment of a fully robotic method for special surveys, utilizing the innovative iCOT remotely operated underwater vehicle equipped and integrated with advanced non-destructive testing (NDT) capabilities and the state-of-the-art Scout137 drone system equipped with an ultrasonic probe and specialized mapping software. This project marks a significant milestone as it achieved the world's first classification society approval for such a method which eliminated the need for confined space entry. This achievement was the result of progressive development stages, extensive testing, and operational improvements undertaken by a global team. This presentation will discuss how the multi-robot strategy that combined both the iCOT remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and novel drone technology established a capability that offers an alternative to manual entry into confined spaces. The results of the first offshore trial of this system shall be presented, highlighting the learnings and major advantages witnessed versus personnel entry. This presentation also will share the next steps for the system's evolution. This collaborative effort not only enhanced the efficiency and safety of class surveys but also set a new standard in the industry for the adoption of robotics and advanced non-destructive testing techniques.
4:15-4:45 PM Additive Manufacturing in Oil & Gas: Unlocking New Possibilities from Topsides to Subsea
Speaker: Chelsea Green - bp
The offshore oil and gas industry faces increasing pressure to enhance operational agility, reduce costs, and build resilient supply chains amid aging infrastructure, part obsolescence, long lead times, and global logistics challenges. Additive manufacturing (AM), or 3D printing, offers a transformative solution by enabling localized, on-demand production of critical components. This presentation will explore the adaptation of AM for offshore applications to improve maintenance efficiency, optimize inventory management, and minimize equipment downtime. From rapid prototyping and accelerated design iterations to producing functional, end-use metal parts, AM supports quicker turnarounds and extends the life of aging assets. As industry standards and qualification frameworks mature, AM’s role is expanding beyond prototyping to certified production. This presentation also will highlight real-world use cases where AM has replaced traditional supply chains for legacy components and specialized tooling. Key considerations including material readiness, certification requirements, and digital part inventories will also be discussed. Having already started to transform topside and onshore operations, AM is now poised to revolutionize offshore, enabling faster, more cost-effective, and sustainable operations in challenging underwater environments.
Life Extensions, Grand Ballroom C
Chair: Jon Husby - Aker Solutions
Co-chairs: Derrick Nickerson - Hess
and YC Park - Williams
Volunteer: Marc Paquette - Shell Global Solutions
3:15-3:45 PM Completing an Industry First Full Deepwater Mooring System Replacement at Horn Mountain
Speaker: Manoj Jegannathan - Occidental Petroleum
Oxy U.S. Offshore recently completed a full mooring system replacement project at Horn Mountain Facility located in the Eastern Gulf of America (GOA) in a water depth of 5,400 ft. This project is a significant accomplishment for the operator in the GOA with many industry firsts and unique features on the project. The original Horn Mountain spar and mooring system were installed in 2002 with a design service life of 20 years. The mooring system comprises 9 lines with each line consisting of a top chain segment near the waterline, wire rope segments in the middle and a ground chain segment at the seafloor. Oxy launched a comprehensive first-of-a-kind full mooring replacement program at Horn Mountain in 2022. Over the past 3 years, the operator partnered with some of the offshore industry’s most experienced engineering companies, research institutions, hardware suppliers and vessel providers to plan, engineer and successfully execute this mega project. This project was safely executed in February 2025, three weeks ahead of schedule with very minimal impact to production during the campaign. The new mooring system successfully positions Horn Mountain for 20+ more years of extended life and continued production.
3:45-4:15 PM Planning and Executing Facility Life Extensions in Deepwater Gulf of Mexico
Speaker: Ryan Grekowicz - bp
Deepwater developments within the Gulf of America saw significant growth between the years 2000 and 2010, with the average design life of the facilities being between 20 to 30 years. Operators have now reached a point where if they see economic value in continued production beyond the original design life, they must receive formal approval from the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE). Without this approval from BSEE, the facility is required to cease production on the official end of design life date. With the increase of subsea tiebacks, directional drilling and improved seismic imaging, producing beyond the original design life has become the norm for the majority of deepwater facilities. This presentation will break the life extension process down into key stages, providing an overview of key inputs, processes, activities, outputs/deliverables, and lessons learned based on multiple life extension projects. It also will provide a structure for the life extension process that can assist operators in planning and executing their own projects and build understanding of key life extension requirements.
4:15-4:45 PM Planning and Executing a Top Tension Riser Cylinder Replacement at Titan
Speaker: Alejandro Orozco - Equinor
The Titan platform is a hybrid semi-sub/spar (MinDOC design) originally installed by ATP in the Gulf of America in 2010. Its production comes from 3 dry tree wells supported by a top tension riser (TTR) system. Each tensioner system has 4 nitrogen cylinder “shock absorbers” required to support the weight of the riser, managing the stress of the risers while compensating for the heave between the floating platform and the sea floor. Over time, the seals inside the tensioner cylinders have degraded, leading to a gradual loss of pressure that has led to the implementation of an active management plan consisting of a constant monitoring of the cylinders, nitrogen refills at regular intervals, management risk of cylinder failure (particularly during storm conditions) and management of the platform draft. Ultimately, many cylinders have been replaced with refurbished cylinders during turn-around activities. As the platform nears P&A activities and expected increased loads, additional considerations for operating parameters of the TTR tensioner system must be explored. This presentation will focus on planning and safe execution of the replacement work offshore while minimizing impacts to production.
Flow Assurance Panel, Grand Ballroom AB
Chair: Akhil Agarwal - Shell
Co-chair: Christa Lawson - bp
Asphaltene deposition remains a critical flow assurance challenge in deepwater oil and gas production, driven by high pressures, temperature changes, and complex subsea infrastructure. Left unmanaged, it leads to flow restrictions, production losses, and costly remediation efforts. This panel will explore how operators are addressing these challenges through advancements in prevention, surveillance, and remediation strategies.
Panel Moderator: Allison Lim - bp
Panelist: Scott Hickman - ExxonMobil
Panelist: Ana Martins - Shell
Platform Decommissioning Panel, Grand Ballroom C
Chair: Martin Hruska - Kiewit Energy Group
Co-chair: Nic Wills - MODEC
Volunteer: Andy Claerr - Danos
As global expectations evolve, the oil and gas industry faces increasing pressure to adopt more sustainable, transparent, and socially responsible decommissioning and end of life practices. Traditional approaches to dismantling and disposing of offshore production facilities are no longer acceptable in the eyes of the public, investors and regulators.
Panel Moderator: Glenn Legge - Endeavor Management
Panelist: Chris Green - International Shipbreaking Limited LLC/EMR
Panelist: Bert Van Grieken - Sea2Cradle BV
Projects, Grand Ballroom AB
Chair: Florencia Nakhle - Chevron
Co-chair: Robbie Primeaux - Worley
Volunteer: Arun Antony - Kent
11:00-11:30 AM Ballymore: Overcoming Challenges with Executing a Multi-Year Offshore Construction Project in a Brownfield Setting
Speaker: William Hughes - Chevron
Discovered in 2017, the Chevron-operated Ballymore reservoir is in the Norphlet trend approximately three miles from the operator’s Blind Faith facility in the Gulf of America. The chosen development concept utilizes a multi-well subsea development to flow Ballymore production back to a highly modified Blind Faith production system. To accommodate the H2S, Halite, GOR, high temperature, and high pressure associated with Ballymore production, a three-year offshore construction program was executed that touched almost every system and utility on the platform. This presentation will provide an overview of the selected development concept and an in-depth review of the offshore construction campaign used to modify Blind Faith’s topside production systems. The details covered will include: (1) the development concept; (2) offshore construction scope of work, work sequencing, weight management, material management, POB management, and resource management; (3) managing SIMOPs conflicts, weather, and conflicting priorities between the asset and project.
11:30 AM-12:00 PM Jack/St. Malo Stage 4: Managing the Risks of Offshore Heavy Lifts onto an Operating Semisubmersible
Speaker: TBA
The Chevron-operated Jack/St. Malo (JSM) Stage 4 project included the design, fabrication, and offshore installation of two modules (4000-ton water injection module and 900-ton power generation module). From Pre-FEED through the point in which the modules were landed on the JSM semisubmersible, the Chevron Integrated Project Team focused to identify and manage risks through collaborative engagement with key stakeholders and leveraging the knowledge of industry experts. This presentation will address the risk mitigations through crucial assurance steps taken throughout JSM Stage 4 design and execution, and how these steps enabled a successful installation of both modules in less than two days after mobilization of the heavy lift vessel to the JSM site.
12:00-12:30 PM Shenandoah: Embracing Industry-First Innovation and Efficiencies for Project Delivery
Speaker: TBA
The recent execution of the Beacon Offshore Energy (Beacon)-operated Shenandoah project is a major industry accomplishment following its discovery in 2009. The development of high pressure and high temperature fields in the deepwater Gulf of America is still relatively new to the industry and plays a very important part in the future of providing energy to society. Beacon is the first independent to deliver an HPHT development at Shenandoah. Combining the success of recent projects with a willingness to embrace innovative approaches and solutions is lesson from which all stakeholders in the deepwater can benefit. The operator will share some key factors that drove Shenandoah to success with a focus on first-of-its-kind approach to innovation. These include:
- Operation of first 8th generation drillship Deepwater Atlas (20K bop)
- First 20K development by an Independent oil company
- New approach to efficient platform design by leveraging an existing hull and topsides design
- Key contract strategy decisions to maintain an aggressive execution schedule