Westwood Global Energy Group expects the Americas to account for 47% of subsea development wells from 2025 to 2031.

Westwood Global Energy Group expects the Americas to account for 47% of subsea development wells from 2025 to 2031, according to the consultancy's report released Dec. 11.

This compares with 37% in Westwood's previous long-term forecast. It reflects growing activity in Brazil's deepwater fields, where 360 subsea development wells could be spud, according to Ben Wilby, Westwood research manager.

Guyana also should experience increased activity, with 220 subsea development wells.

Other active areas will be Suriname, following the recent sanction for the GranMorgu project; Petronas' development of nearby discoveries in offshore Block 52; and offshore Colombia, with the likely development of Petrobras' and Shell's gas discoveries.

Continued investment in the deepwater US Gulf of Mexico should lead to about 115 subsea tree installations during the period. The first deepwater development wells offshore Mexico and possibly the Falkland Islands could also come online in the forecast period.