Results: For the past seventy years oil and gas exploration experienced a steady movement away from inland fixed platforms to ultra-deep offshore reservoirs . From simple platforms constructed off barges in the early years, to multi-million dollar drillships with logging, production, and living facilities, the oil industry has benefitted from a steady diet of technological advancements. The depths of producing wells can be seen gradually increasing over time in the data acquired. In the 1940’s, the deepest wells drilled were in waters less than 100 feet. By the 1960’s that depth had increased to 600 feet of water with the advent of converted naval vessels into drillships. By the 70’s the depth had reached 2000 feet, aided mostly by digital seismography and larger jack up rigs were created. Digital seismometers made the lives of geologists easier by allowing them to analyze the rock formations deep below sea level, without having to travel to the ocean floor. By the 80’s the depth had spiked to 3000 feet, and 4000 feet by the early 1990’s facilitated mainly by larger platforms/drillships and subsea remotely operated vehicles (ROV). Today, companies are drilling at depths greater than 10,000 feet in areas explored less than the face of the moon.
Coordinate System: GCS North American 1927
Datum: North American 1927
Units: Degree
Conclusion: After analyzing our temporal maps, we can conclude that technology in the past has, in fact, allowed us to move into deeper water. There was a correlation between new innovations and migration approximately every 10 years and that we will be able to move into previously unattainable reservoirs, including those in the ultra-deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico. When we spatially joined the production data and the platform point data to the protraction polygons, we see that there is a large amount of hydrocarbons being produced. However, without knowing the exact geology and geometry of the reservoir/s, we can only speculate that new developments will facilitate further production by making the reservoir/s more economically viable.
The ultra-deep waters in the GOM have significantly fewer platforms in comparison to the shallow and deep waters, yet the production over the last 10 years has been on par with that over the past 70 years in shallow and deep waters. By looking at the cumulative production by protraction, we see evidence that leads us to believe there is a substantial reservoir/s in the southeastern region of our study area. The amount of hydrocarbons that have been produced confirms the trend of outward advancement.
In closing, we have shown that technology will allow us to drill and produce hydrocarbons in water depths that have been inaccessible thus far. We also believe that with the increasing demand for energy is a driving force to the ultra-deep southeastern region of our study area because of the production history surrounding protractions.