E&P Magazine - July 2012
As I See It
Cover Story
Shale's ripple effect goes global
Shale has been making the biggest noise heard in the oil and gas industry for some time, with North America's pioneering role to the fore. But a global picture is starting to emerge.
Exploration Technologies
Simultaneous sources move offshore
Long restricted to land acquisition, simultaneous source methodology has now been proven in a marine environment.
Drilling Technologies
What goes around comes around
Finding new hydrocarbons in old fields is not a thing of the past.
Completions and Production
Light well intervention systems perk up maintenance market
With older fields in areas like the North Sea requiring more field maintenance, purpose-built light well intervention vessels are designed to provide an alternative to using drilling rigs for workovers.
Digital Solutions
Big data elevates the game
New plays and more data multiply data management headaches. Integrated management systems provide some pain relief.
Realizing the returns of an integrated control and monitoring architecture
Advanced computing platforms enable service companies to run frac jobs at optimal efficiency.
Features
Curbing perception by telling the truth
It is time to have an honest conversation with the environmentalists.
Heavy-lift vessels tip the scales
Newbuild offshore structures are increasing in number and size, creating a virgin market for giant heavy-lift vessels that can transport facilities or carry out offshore dry-docking on location.
HP/HT logging challenges equipment
E&P activity increasingly involves operations in HP/HT downhole conditions. Engineers are developing advanced designs and are using new materials to address these challenges.
Land technology surpasses expectations
New acquisition system handles harsh environments.
Launching the next decade of smart solutions
As digital oilfield programs continue to gain momentum, the question now is what is next for one of the most innovative areas of the energy industry?
Logging the Martian oil well
If a system can be automated to work in outer space, it can certainly save time and money on this planet.
Low-impact seismic acquisition illuminates oil shale
A man-portable weight-drop system proved useful in daunting topography.
M&A transaction risks can hamper growth
Inorganic growth is an important goal for many companies. But like growth through the drill bit, transaction risks need to be managed.
Mediterranean hot with Eastern promise
The Mediterranean Sea has been dramatically transformed from a region containing mostly incremental oil and gas reserves to one that is now recognized as a world-class gas basin.
Mitigating risk a competitive advantage, potential life-saver
Security is often seen as a necessary but unwanted cost center and an obstruction to business overseas. But risk mitigation, a broader term, can save organizations a considerable amount of money, not to mention lives.
New sonic tool matches wireline data quality
A LWD program using sonic tools provides a South American operator with high-quality data with real-time access.
Pore pressure monitoring optimizes deepwater wells
Real-time monitoring calibrated the predrill model and enabled the drilling of a difficult well.
School is out, but Niobrara operators are still learning
Although it is early days for the Niobrara, this liquids-rich Rocky Mountain play has operators and analysts abuzz.
Speed, strength, and flexibility are key for offshore construction players
The constant demand by operators for increased heavy lifting capacity along with the requirement for operations in greater water depths and remote locations is seeing the offshore construction vessel sector innovate like never before.
Technology aids fracturing success
The growing emphasis on completion technology in North American E&P could be a double-edged sword.
Value-driven strategy starts to deliver results
Faced with declining reserves, Mexico's national oil company gets serious about exploration.
Tech Watch
Gas hydrates mapped using marine CSEM methods
Marine CSEM surveys could offer a solution to the problem of quantitatively mapping gas hydrate.
Tech Trends
Activity Highlights
On The Move
Management Report
ESP startup takes new approach to US artificial lift market
A new service provider chose a more engineered and operational strategy to set the foundation for its future growth.