INTEC accomplishes special studies to evaluate the technical feasibility and economic viability of concepts proposed by our clients. These studies require innovative thinking, engineering analyses, and honest assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of the concept as compared to other possible solutions. Often these studies result in novel approaches which make it possible to develop fields that could not be accomplished with traditional approaches.

Some of the more interesting feasibility studies conducted by INTEC include:

• TEXACO; Conversion of a VLCC into a Bottom Grounded Storage Vessel, to withstand major ice loads for year round operation in conjunction with ice breaking export tankers in the Timan Pechora area
• AMPOLEX; Technical evaluation and cost estimate for a SPAR for the Lufeng Field, offshore China
• ENRON; Conversion of LPG Carrier into a permanently moored storage vessel at several sites offshore China
• SHELL TODD; Evaluation of the technical suitability of an FPSO for the Maui B Field Expansion offshore New Zealand (this study resulted in the use of an FPSO that has been in operation since 1996)
• BP EXPLORATION; Comparison of Station Keeping Options and Evaluation of Riser Concepts (for a generic field in a water depth of 6,000 ft in the Gulf of Mexico)
• ENRON; Feasibility of Transporting Large Quantities of High Pressure Gas with a Custom Designed Vessel and Offloading System
• UNION PACIFIC; Suitability of a Mini-Spar for the development of a field in the Gulf of Mexico
• ESSO CHAD; Comparison of the Operability, CAPEX and OPEX for a weathervaning FSO and a Spread Moored FSO offshore West Africa

INTEC also evaluates offtake systems including pipelines, side-by- side offloading to a shuttle tanker, and tandem (end to end) mooring and offloading to a shuttle tanker. These evaluations include sensitivity analyses for the offloading criteria (environmental conditions, offloading rates, tanker sizes, capital and operating costs, and operating downtime).