E&P Magazine - December 2004
As I See It
E-mail records need attention
Regulatory and compliance issues demand management of e-mail communications in oil and gas activity.
Optimization revitalizes brownfields
New tools and technology bring new life to declining oil and gas operations.
Cover Story
Rethink reserve measures
Companies like to set metrics for performance and hold people accountable for those metrics.
Drilling Technologies
Drilling the limit
While there is no substitute for the continuing development of technology, a backward glance sometimes reveals that there were significant achievements worth noting long ago.
Completions and Production
Want a good perf? Drill it.
High conductivity oriented perforations for production or injection are delivered by an innovative articulated drilling system.
Features
The lure of Libya
As relations between Libya, the United States and Western Europe have warmed, oil companies are beginning to think again about exploring this desert country.
West Africa expects output surge
Deepwater discoveries will boost production from West Africa.
Tech Watch
Hart beats Fogg's records by 71 days!
In 1872, intrepid adventurer Phileas Fogg set out to prove he could circumnavigate the globe in 80 days, at least according to famous author Jules Verne. Not to be outdone, Hart made the journey in a mere 9 days.
Activity Highlights
Is the shortage serious?
We have talked for a long time now, among ourselves and to others, about the impending shortage of trained personnel in the upstream industry.
Another Perspective
Engineered drilling software pays off
A proactive approach to well construction can deliver big benefits in the areas of improved drilling efficiency and problem prevention.
Environmental watchdog benefits all
Online monitoring of dispersed oil in produced water is an essential first step in enabling high volume disposal methods.
Keyword for gas hydrates-patience
Worldwide interest has been focused on natural gas hydrates since they evolved from an interesting phenomenon to a potential energy supply, but there's no quick and easy solution to tapping this abundant, but elusive resource.
Marathon scores big with risky move
A new understanding of subsurface features has turned an old drilling hazard into a new play concept.
Powered RSS ups drilling performance
Combining a rotary steerable system (RSS) in tandem with a drilling motor delivers real bottomline value in a difficult Caspian Sea development well.
Seeing the unseen
Exploration technologies continue to push the limit to help find hidden riches.
Small is smart
Nanotechnology, which is the science of engineering at the sub-atomic level, may have profound implications for the oil and gas industry. Its influence may be felt in as little as 10 years from now.
Stretch for the perfect well
People, innovation, hardware, software, organization and processes count in ultimate drilling.
The value of water detection in gas wells
Water detection in gas wells is critical for reservoir management and prevention of scale and hydrates in pipelines. Concerns reside in three key areas, but a solution is at hand.
This cat can talk to you
As completions become intelligent, able to monitor and report a myriad of dynamic downhole conditions, telemetry demands an update.
Well workover vessel awaits endorsement
A small water plane area triple hull (SWATH) vessel concept was unveiled at ONS in Stavanger that could significantly change the way in which subsea well intervention campaigns are carried out.
World Map
Group therapy for seismic data
What are the data really trying to tell us? It's simple - just ask them.