An expert system known as the Automated Project Design System (APDS TM) has been developed to assist process and facilities engineers in performing preliminary feasibility studies, optimization studies, and provide the basic information required for the initiation of the detailed design for offshore oil and gas production facilities.Given the feedstock and product specifications, the expert system produces a preliminary process flow diagram showing all major pieces of equipment and determines all utility system requirements. Rigorous material and energy balance calculations are done via an interface to a conventional process simulator. All of the required equipment is sized and an estimated cost for each item is produced. An overall cost estimate for the production facility is also produced. Various reports, drawings, and equipment datasheets are generated to summarize the final results. The system is extremely flexible and allows the user to easily change input parameters, to customize equipment sizes and costs and to produce customized reports containing whatever information is desired.