E&P Magazine - March 2012
As I See It
Cover Story
Balancing Risk & Reward
‘Always be prepared’ is not just for Boy Scouts anymore.
New Bits, Technology Raise Bar On Drilling Performance
Improvements highlight benefits of advanced technology globally.
Exploration Technologies
Data Processing Meets Cloud Computing
A new company is standing conventional seismic data processing on its ear by offering its software for free.
USBs – Friend Or Foe?
The lowly, ubiquitous USB port is at the center of a controversy at major companies.
Drilling Technologies
Fracturing Technology Is In The Spotlight
Given the wide array of available tools and services, fracing technology is a major focus for many E&P companies.
New RSS Drills From Spud To TD In One Run
System offers smarter well bores with more directional control.
Completions and Production
A Capital Idea – Let’s Stick To The Budget
Nearly 30% of large E&P capex projects suffered 50% cost overruns last year, and the figure is still rising.
Is The Industry Brave Enough To Freeze Its Arctic Plans?
With Gazprom to start production drilling soon in the Arctic offshore, the need for the industry’s oil spill prevention and response capabilities in the frozen North to be ready for action should be paramount.
Digital Solutions
Bridging The Communication Gap In Iraq
Even hostile environments can be wired for operational needs.
MPC Technology Optimizes Production In Remote Locations
Advanced process control tools can help facilities increase production, remotely collaborate to improve issue support, and reduce operational costs.
Virtual Reality Simulation Improves Offshore Training, Safety
Three-D virtual reality simulators provide high-fidelity operations, maintenance, and safety training in a cost-effective, low-risk setting.
‘Big Data’ Requires Efficient Analytics, Bandwidth, Content
As the amount of important information continues to increase, companies will need to think creatively to manage and act on it.
Features
BP Pioneers Second Generation Of Digital Oil Fields
BP Norge enhances its existing experience in digital oilfield technology by creating two second-generation ‘fields of the future.’
Brazilian E&P Spending Fuels Major Supply Vessel Growth
A massive increase in upstream expenditure in Brazil is driving a strong demand for supply vessels as oil companies tackle deep and ultra-deepwater areas where there is little or no infrastructure.
Canadian Producers Target Tight Gas Opportunities
The big news in Canada is tight gas, particularly in northeast British Columbia, but markets and regulations could temper the country’s gas future.
Collaboration Enhances Process Safety
Working with service companies early in the planning process drives efficiency.
Collaboration Is Key To Expanding Subsea Technologies For Deep Water
As oil company subsea portfolios become increasingly large and diverse, the resultant demand for more complex technology solutions is driving the industry to innovate more rapidly than ever before.
Combined Experience Brings Designed-For-Purpose Top Drive To Market
Much like major operators, the top drive market is driven by a select number of players globally. A small Houston-based company hopes to level this playing field engineering an evolved generation of top drives from the ground up.
Delivering Improved Recovery Rates Through Digital Gas Lift
Greater flexibility of a real-time digital solution could produce more than 1,000 b/d extra oil from a typical well.
Extended For The Web: Going Digital: Optimizing Artificially Lifted Wells In Real Time
With 95% of the world’s wells now reliant on artificial lift, robust and effective well intervention is key to prolonging and sustaining the life of oil fields.
Extending The West African Play
The emerging presalt potential offshore West Africa and its similarity to Brazil’s giant reserves indicate that, despite decades of production, operators have seen only the tip of the iceberg.
First OBS-To-OBS Time Lapse Results Show Promise
A novel approach leads to new insights at the Mars field.
Fluid Regime Sheds New Light On Formation Damage In Tight Gas Reservoirs
Tight gas formations pose a multitude of challenges in formulating reservoir drill-in fluids (RDF).
Geological Review Of Deepwater Liberian Basin Outlines Prospectivity
New data and drilling results show great promise offshore Liberia.
Going Digital: Optimizing Artificially Lifted Wells In Real Time
With 95% of the world’s wells now reliant on artificial lift, robust and effective well intervention is key to prolonging and sustaining the life of oil fields.
Growing Up In The Digital Age
The industry needs to take decisive action if it is to take the next step and broaden its journey toward widescale adoption of intelligent energy solutions.
India In A Race Against Time To Find New Reserves
India’s thirst for more energy to feed the world’s second-fastest growing economy means it needs to find and produce new and large oil and gas reserves quickly if it is to achieve its growth goals.
Iranian Discoveries Continue
In this world-class setting, the potential for major gas discoveries is high.
Is There A Future For Land 4-D?
It is easy to justify 4-D surveys offshore. Land surveys provide a few additional hurdles.
Navigation Sensor Technology Aids Marine Seismic Survey
A new digital compass provides a clear view of the geology from the seabed.
New Approach Describes The Indescribable
An innovative application of advanced mathematics has provided geoscientists and engineers with an accurate, model-independent way to predict critical reservoir properties from well log data.
New Pipe Design Seeks Industry Uptake
Controlling differential pressure is the key to reducing wall thickness and costs for deepwater gas export systems.
Offshore Drilling Regulation Two Years After the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill
Redundancies and additions affect safety and cost in new government regulations.
Offshore Support Fleet Steering A Positive Course
After troubled times for some regions, the OSV market around the world looks set to enjoy better times as offshore support vessel operators move to meet growing demand from oil and gas companies.
Portfolio Combines Old, New Assets
Breitling Oil and Gas is examining Chinese shales while continuing to breathe new life into aging resources.
Putting An End To ‘Successful Failures’
The difference between success and failure often lies in the ability to communicate properly with key decision-makers in a timely fashion. Here is how one North Sea operator ensured a ‘successful success.’
ROV Simulation Training Tool Cuts Operational Costs And Risks
With ROV support vessel costs increasing significantly over recent years, contractors are examining their costs carefully to maximize value and identify performance benefits.
Seabed Compression Advances Boost Development Options
A Norwegian player is lining up a queue of gas compression projects that will greatly enhance the industry’s subsea toolbox for IOR and much more.
Seismic Can Be Relevant In Shales
A novel interpretation and characterization of an Eagle Ford shale play used geometric, mechanical, and full-azimuth seismic attributes.
Specialized Fluid System Improves Horizontal Applications
A lubricious and inhibitive fluid system can improve efficiency when drilling lateral production intervals prone to stuckpipe and lost circulation.
Spending Increases In 2012 With A Close Eye On Certain Challenges
Oil and gas industry leaders have forecast a year of significant capital expenditure in 2012, but companies are prepared to cut back if the economy fails.
The Classic ‘Elephant’ Hunter Takes Aim In Central Asia
An independent operator in three underexplored republics in Central Asia has the know-how to access a huge pool of resources in the region’s vast and prolific hydrocarbon basins.
The Haynesville Can Compete
As the largest producing gas play in North America, the Haynesville shale is a highly competitive asset.
Transactions Bring Renewed Life To Offshore Drilling
The Gulf of Mexico and the jackup rig markets are the latest to exhibit evidence of an improving 2012 offshore picture.
Two Brakes In One Improve Performance, Maintain Cost
In many situations, engineering innovation helps to contain development costs rather than contribute to the upward spiral.
Ventura Basin Still Holds Hidden Treasure
A multimeasurement exploration approach breathes new life into an old basin.
Tech Watch
Heat Capture Technology Minimizes Waste
Capturing produced heat at various stages in the energy supply chain helps provide onsite electricity.
R&D Investment In Brazil Continues To Surge
Increased investment at Cenpes and other Brazilian research centers is facilitating growth in technology R&D and innovation.
Tech Trends
Activity Highlights
On The Move
Last Word
Methane In Water Wells Unrelated To Hydraulic Fracturing
An extensive study backs what the locals already know – water wells in Pennsylvania have contained methane for hundreds of years.
Taking The Well Construction Conversation To Total Depth
Total depth engineering is fast becoming a deep conversation in the well construction sector.
Activity Spotlight
Rig Rates Climb For Midwater Units As Rig Supply Tightens
With the tightness in rig availability, companies are likely to start stepping up new orders for drilling rigs in the near future.
International Spotlight
Cyprus Gears Up For Second Offshore Licensing Round
Giant gas discoveries have spurred interest in this part of the Mediterranean Sea.
Management Report
Managing Employee Fatigue: A New Approach To A Long-Standing Challenge
An automated approach keeps workers alert and safe.
The Face Of The Oil And Gas Industry Is Changing
How are large, global organizations – many with long and entrenched histories and practices – aligning their workforces to leverage today’s business opportunities in the new world?
Using Balanced Scorecarding In Mature Fields
A ‘balanced view’ can help ensure that efforts in field management are supporting the overarching goals of the corporation.