E&P Magazine - August 2009
As I See It
Adapting to change ensures survival
For those of us who are older than 40, the Web is a tool we use to do our jobs. It is not, however, the lifeline for us that it is for the under-35 crowd.
Exploration Technologies
Downhole headlights
A new seismic-while-drilling system is the first to provide real-time data.
Drilling Technologies
In search of the oily grail
Formation fluid sampling may finally have hit the mark.
Completions and Production
The famous valve myth lives on
Extreme oversimplification continues to infect the minds of otherwise intelligent people — who controls production?
Digital Solutions
Make better decisions through virtualization
Having multiple petro-technical applications on a single workstation, even when they run on different operating systems, can ease the collaborative burden in today’s upstream space.
Features
Best practices emerging for ERD wells
Once again, experience proves to be the best teacher as operators find success at the end of a long string.
Data integration aids in shale plays
Combining standard petrophysical measurements with new rock physics observations can help characterize unconventional reservoirs.
Decommissioning and Abandonment: Coordination ensures decommissioning success
Precise planning, careful project and contract management, and a positive working environment enable successful well abandonment in the North Sea.
Digital rock physics bridges scales of measurement
New sampling techniques bring field-size tests into the laboratory.
Integrated services aid in platform decommissioning
Despite some rather inclement weather, a platform is successfully removed from the GoM.
Malaysia moves into deepwater spotlight
In an exclusive interview, Wee Yiaw Hin, managing director of Shell Malaysia Exploration & Production, discusses the company’s presence in Malaysia and the groundwork being laid for the future.
Multilateral wells come from Russia, with love
Multilateral technology is undergoing a renaissance as operators and service companies learn how to use it to improve production while saving money.
Multilaterals lower development costs in challenging gas plays
Multilateral completions have strong economic potential in unconventional gas developments.
New approach maximizes horizontal fracturing investment
Multizone completion technology and best stimulation practices minimize economic and environmental impacts, especially in horizontal wells.
New shale play takes flight
A fresh Cretaceous shale play in South Texas has slipped into the industry’s future.
Rock physics unlocks reservoir characterization, monitoring
Interpreting the changes in seismic signature for time-lapse monitoring requires a rock physics model that can handle stress changes.
Unconventional approach unlocks unconventional gas play
The Haynesville shale play has become the focal point for North American gas production, given the relatively sustained activity when compared to other regions and the Gulf Mexico. As a result, the service sector has focused on developing performance and knowledge of this unconventional shale.
‘Breaking new ground’ in an unconventional play
A new study is combining the benefits of multistage fracturing with the additional data gained from time-lapse seismic.
Tech Trends
CT technology holds key to UCG
Underground coal gasification extends coal reserves.
Petroleum systems modeling in exploration
Modeling aids in predicting petroleum occurrence, volumes, and composition and helping to quantify exploration risk.
Tech Trends
A look at September tech trends
On The Move
On the Move
Who's going where in the upstream sector.
Last Word
Stop the war on the poor
If the Waxman-Markey bill is passed into law, it will have devastating effects on working Americans.
Activity Spotlight
Survey to map Brazil’s presalt
New multiclient surveys are imaging the next major discoveries.
UK takes on energy security challenge
British government officials discuss plans to achieve energy security through domestic and international means as part of the transition to a low carbon economy.
Management Report
Is it time to look for career options?
Changing jobs is about more than money.