The development of deepwater oil and gas reserves was long hampered by technological difficulties. Drilling in the deep offshore is more challenging than in the shallow offshore, because the combination of unconsolidated reservoirs, unstable soil, high pressure and very cold water requires innovative technology and materials. Recent technological breakthroughs now allow these resources to be developed, helping to extend and diversify sources of oil.

Along with the Arctic, the deep offshore remains one of the world’s last underexplored regions, offering the promise of a significant discovery potential. Deepwater (500 to 1,500 meters) and ultra deepwater (1,500 to 3,000 meters) reserves are today estimated to account for 6% of total world oil reserves, excluding heavy oil.

Conquering the deep-offshore
 
Deep offshore exploration began in the early 1980s in the Gulf of Mexico and the Brazilian offshore. As early as 1982, however, Total successfully applied the emerging technology in the Mediterranean, drilling a test well in 1,714 meters of water. Still, it was another decade before these techniques were widely used, spurred by the search for new sources of supply. That was when the deep offshore industry really came into its own.

A Significant Challenge
 
Today, finding and producing deep offshore fields is a major new economic challenge around the world. Total is an active participant in a number of development projects, with a world-class portfolio of deepwater acreage mainly located in the Gulf of Guinea.
 
Every field requires new solutions in terms of both technology and skills. The start-up of the Girassol field in Angola in 1,400 meters of water in 2001, the Dalia start-up in 2006 and Rosa's in 2007, illustrate our proficiency in the sophisticated technologies required to develop large deepwater fields.
 
 
These projects are proving grounds that have further broadened development possibilities. For instance, satellite fields can now be brought on stream. Examples include the 2003 production startup of Jasmim, adjacent to Girassol in Angola, followed by Rosa in 2007. Our expertise also enables us to meet the challenge of developing sour, viscous oil, such as that contained in Angola’s deepwater Dalia field, which came on stream at end-2006.

Rational Development
 
Neither physical challenges nor financial costs have curbed deepwater exploration. Know-how and experience are advancing apace, and limits that were considered to be impassable just five to ten years ago have been reached or exceeded.
 
These developments have to be implemented as safely as possible and in ways that protect an environment that is still relatively unfamiliar. That’s why major assessment surveys have been undertaken with the Institut Français de Recherche pour l’Exploitation de la Mer (Ifremer) to study ecosystems in environments representative of our deepwater acreage. These surveys have enhanced our understanding of these ecosystems, enabled us to assess the impact of our activities, and allowed us to develop solutions.