Market Challenges And Opportunities

Drivers

Increasing demand for oil and natural gas in emerging economies is driving the SURF (subsea umbilicals, risers, and flowlines) market growth in the Asia Pacific region. Increasing subsea installation has also positively impacted the SURF market. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), in 2018, Asia Pacific’s oil demand was increased by 34.8 billion barrels/day from 34 billion barrels/day in 2017.

Increasing oil and gas exploration and production activity in deep and ultra-deep water depths has boosted the growth of the Asia Pacific SURF (subsea umbilicals, risers, and flowlines) market. According to the IEA, the spending for offshore exploration and production amounted to US$ 343 billion in 2014, an increase of 6% from 2013. Furthermore, increasing oil and gas exploration, production activities, projects, and initiatives of major players to build advanced technologies have surged the SURF market in APAC. For instance, in October 2018, Aker Solutions, an engineering company based in Oslo, received orders from the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) to provide the subsea production system and umbilicals for Lingshui 17-2 gas field.

Market Restraints

High capital investment and flexible oil prices is anticipated to hamper the APAC SURF market over the forecast period. Oil and gas from subsea system is transported to the host by flowlines and umbilicals control well and production equipment, which are very expensive. Divers and remotely operated vehicles are used to perform many deep-water work functions on subsea installation and maintenance.