E&P Magazine - January 2013
As I See It
Cover Story
R&D SPOTLIGHT
It seems that for every problem solved, two more challenges emerge. The oil and gas industry spends billions of dollars developing new technologies to overcome these hurdles. Here is what they are working on now.
Exploration Technologies
Exploration success will continue in 2013
A new report paints a rosy picture for continued offshore discoveries.
Drilling Technologies
International rig utilization hits 95%
National Oilwell Varco’s 59th annual rig census showed strengthening in the international land rig market, and construction of new offshore mobile rigs topped 40 for the fourth year in a row.
Completions and Production
Bringing more ‘fizz’ to the Permian basin
A clean coal energy project would make more CO2 available for use in EOR projects in the Permian basin.
Offshore Advances
A series of trends worth tuning in for
Global spending forecasts indicate that the offshore sector’s star is very much in the ascendancy.
Digital Solutions
Selecting the best wellhead automation solution
Easy-to-use wellsite systems help operators maximize productivity.
The consumerization of the oil and gas enterprise
Smart technology provides relief for reporting headaches.
Features
Broadband marine data require new processing techniques
Variable-depth streamer data require algorithmic modifications to improve demultiple effectiveness
Change can be good
The FPSO Peregrino gets the job done for Statoil.
Diving deeper in the race for new reserves
When it comes to the future for the ultra-deepwater sector, the stage is set for growth – and then some.
Emerging technology for oil leak detection
Given successes in other applications, fluorescence detection may meet the exacting requirements for hydrocarbon leaks, especially when combined with other techniques.
Gas firming up as fuel of the future
With technological advances enabling the shale revolution in North America, gas is increasingly likely to end up being the global energy resource that eventually replaces oil – but not necessarily with shale as the driving force.
Getting the band back together
Thomas Petrie, Jon Hughes, and colleagues are back with a new boutique investment bank focused on mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures.
Great expectations for West Africa’s emerging frontiers
West Africa has been dominated by E&P activity in Nigeria and Angola. This heavyweight duo has been the main target of development dollars from the majors and large independents for years and will continue to attract the lion’s share in the near future – but the tide is changing.
HP/HT tools allow completion of challenging wells
Canada’s liquids-rich Duvernay shale has been the testing ground for innovative solutions in reservoirs that are defined by a unique set of completion challenges, including high fracture gradients and breakdown pressures, high differential pressures, and geological heterogeneity.
Improving efficiency through marine personnel transfer
Personnel transfer is one of the key challenges in the offshore environment, particularly in regions affected by extreme weather conditions.
Journal highlights interpretation process
Variable-depth streamer data require algorithmic modifications to improve demultiple effectiveness.
New rheology fluid simplifies engineering, enhances performance
Field trials conducted in extended-reach drilling and deepwater wells confirmed that many operational benefits can be achieved using a new flat rheology invert drilling fluid.
Oklahoma reverses 25-year decline in oil production
Operators have shifted to oil- and liquids-rich shale plays, tight sandstones, and the Mississippian limestone in jump-starting Oklahoma’s oil production once again.
Operators seek sustainable solutions to water management
A new water management system offers operators a sustainable and environmentally safer solution.
Reaching new highs and lows
Breakthrough in wet insulation meets industry need for subsea flow assurance at high- and low-temperature extremes.
Tech Trends
Industry Impact
Cost-effective cable system increases reliability downhole
Feed-through packer allows passage of lines without cutting or splicing to zonally isolate both cased-hole and openhole completions.
Management Report
Shale vs. big exploration
What sorts of risks are you taking?