E&P Magazine - March 2004
As I See It
A link in the knowledge chain
ConocoPhillips' TechLink tool enables intra-company technology transfer.
Apply new thinking to exploration
Changing times call for changing strategies and winning choices.
Cover Story
Satisfy your inner customer
Do you give the customer what he wants or what you think he should have?
Drilling Technologies
Salt Changes
Prevalent worldwide, massive salt sections add to well construction challenges.
Completions and Production
Reducing exploration risk
Electromagnetic seabed logging (SBL) has the potential to eliminate a large chunk of exploration uncertainty.
Features
Saudis turn up the gas on projects
Massive reserves opened to international development.
Tech Watch
ICoTA, an event worth attending
Later this month, on March 23 and 24 to be exact, the 9th Annual SPE ICoTA Conference and Exhibition will be held in The Woodlands, Texas. It promises to be an outstanding event.
Activity Highlights
They can't be serious?
I pay taxes, as do most of you. I grumble about it, but don't complain too hard given the relative comfort and safety in which I live.
Another Perspective
Antidote to well placement uncertainty
Real-time checkshot and interval velocity reduces uncertainty ahead of the bit - prevents drilling surprises.
Deepwater testing pushes the envelope
Heavy oil deepwater well testing with riser requires an engineered solution involving an electric submersible progressing cavity pump (ESPCP).
Fiber-optic seismic: Seeing is believing
A new sensing system moves seismic technology from an exploration tool to a production tool.
Finding security at depth
Using pre-set mooring technology allows fourth-generation drilling rigs to compete in deepwater operations while suction anchors offer a competitive alternative.
LNG projects go for growth
During a conference in Tokyo in June 2003 Sir Philip Watts, chairman of the committee of managing directors of Royal Dutch/Shell said, "Gas has the potential to become the most important fuel for a generation."
Optimal marine 4-D acquisition
A new methodology reduces 4-D seismic acquisition and processing differences and delivers better seismic repeatability and 4-D signal enhancement.
Passive seismic seeing active interest
Using the Earth's "creaks and groans" as a seismic source provides high-resolution images at a fraction of the cost of a traditional survey.
Records fall to technology
2003 may not have been a banner year for the number of new records in the drilling and production sectors...
Rotary steering in harsh environments
Even as rotary steerable assemblies prove their worth around the world, exceptional drilling challenges call for special solutions.
Seagas group seeks GTL test
Members of a joint industry project examining the possibilities for a commercial offshore gas to liquids (GTL) plant are ready to look for a real field development to test their findings.
Steering technology points to success
After considerable experience, ADCO reports excellent results using rotary steerable systems to drill onshore Abu Dhabi wells.
World Map
Do forecasts promise new horizons?
I recently attended the Third Annual Nanotechnology Innovation Forum at Rice University in Houston, Texas.