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spread, faults, domes, traps, permeability, etc. and an approximate estimate

for recoverable reserves of hydrocarbons.

* Depending on the water depth, environment and the availability, a suitable

exploration scheme is selected.

* The design spiral shown in fig. 4,1 illustrates the iterative process involved

in selecting and designing an offshore production system. Each loop of the

spiral indicates one design cycle.

Figure 4.1 – Design Spiral and Field Development Timeline

* The first loop around the spiral generally involves evaluating several field
development options, which satisfy the input requirements and establishing

their relative merits with respect to the decision criteria. In this loop, not

only alternatives for field development systems, but also alternatives for

each major system component are identified, developed and ranked.

* The next loop involves preparing a preliminary design for the selected

system. In this phase, the selection activity is focused on the system

components and detail elements.

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