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to 275 production ß oaters of various types will be required for the 233 projects we are tracking.Around 15% of the 233 visible planned projects are likely to advance to the EPC contracting stage within the next 18 months. These projects typically have either entered the FEED phase, pre-qualiÞ cation of ß oater contractors has been initiated or bidding/negotiation is in progress. Another 48% of the visible projects are at a stage of develop- ment where the EPC contract for the production unit is like- ly within the next 18 to 48 months. The remaining 37% of projects are less advanced in planning, with the EPC contract likely 4 to 10 years out. New Forecast of Production Floater Orders ? We have just completed a detailed analysis of the outlook for produc-tion and storage ß oater orders over the next Þ ve years. Utilizing our database of planned projects, we use a bottom up approach to establish the likely number of ß oating produc- tion projects to reach the investment stage between 2015 and 2019. Then we analyze the underlying business drivers likely to exist during this period Ð and assess how these drivers will likely impact the pace of investment decisions in project de- velopment starts. Having a large number of projects at the investment stage is certainly important. But ultimately, the Þ eld operator has to feel comfortable making the investment. The investment environment will determine whether projects go forward, get delayed or be considered non-starters. In our report we examine 12 underlying business drivers that will inß uence the pace of investment in ß oating production project starts. Some of these are positive drivers. Some are negative. All have an impact on the number and timing of future production ß oater orders. In the positive category are  oil and gas demand keeps growing as world output and population grows  supply disruption keeps the focus on  nding new sources of supply  oil prices are holding around $100 ? though prices have been weakening lately  many more deepwater drillships/rigs are entering service  the  nancial market is more open than several years back ? capital cost is low In the negative category are  major energy companies have been cutting back on capital expenditures  a lot more supply has suddenly come into the oil and gas market  shale/tight oil and gas projects are competing for investment funds  constraints in the supply chain are creating delays and overruns  cost escalation is impacting the viability of deepwater projects In the unknown category are  how competitive will deepwater be with shale oil supply  will a black swan event impact the sector The result is a forecast of orders that reß ects the growing number of projects in the planning pipeline and a future pace of ordering that reß ects the uncertainty about underlying busi- ness conditions in which investment decisions are made. Project LocationNumber of ProjectsAfrica49Brazil43SE Asia40GOM24No. Europe24Aust/NZ16Medit10SW Asia10Other17Total233 Breakdown of Planned Projects by Location of Field(As of 1 October 2014) Buy the Report. Subscribe to the Service. Details about our new October 2014 forecast report and the new online ß oat-ing production database are available at www.worldener- gyreports.com Marine Technology Reporter 21www.marinetechnologynews.com MTR #8 (18-33).indd 21MTR #8 (18-33).indd 2110/10/2014 1:48:18 PM10/10/2014 1:48:18 PM