Optimization of offshore field development to minimize investment

Offshore oil and gas development is identified with high investment. Considerable incentive therefore exists to reduce investment and to improve field profitability. A computational method has been developed to optimize field development and to minimize investment. The solution of extremely large economic problems of this nature has not been reported previously. An integer mathematical porgraming computational tool, using a method called ''zero-one implicit enumeration,'' was developed for modeling and solving this problem. This technique allows for efficient problem solution on a computer.