The installation of almost 50,000 km of pipeline is forecast over the next five years in the new second edition of The World Offshore Pipelines and Umbilicals Report 2002-2006, published today by leading offshore analysts Douglas-Westwood and offshore data specialists Infield Systems. According to the report’s lead author, Dominic Harbinson of Douglas-Westwood, “This total represents an increase of 44 percent over the previous 5-year period, and will require a global Capex of almost $53.6 billion. Three regions dominate the market, accounting for almost 60 percent of forecast pipeline lengths and over half of forecast global Capex.” The three regions are: North West Europe (with a forecast spend of $11.4 billion), Asia Pacific ($9.5 billion) and the US Gulf of Mexico ($8.2 billion).