E&P Magazine - July 2015
Digital
A major IOC is set to use CO2 and proppant in a first of its kind test well in the Bakken Shale.
As I See It
Good Advice Or Just Wonderland?
“I give myself very good advice. But I very seldom follow it.”
Cover Story
Energized Fracturing Comes To The Bakken
A major IOC is set to use CO2 and proppant in a first of its kind test well in the Bakken Shale.
Even With Low Oil Prices, Technology Still Drives Efficiency, Cost Savings
Service companies with technology that impacts efficiency, cost and risk are seeing an increase in customers.
Operators Win Completion Game With Lower Costs, Greater Efficiency, More Production
Although demand for completion services has declined at about the same rate as the price of oil, the need for technology to counterbalance cost reductions remains strong.
Production Technology Purpose-Built For Lower Tertiary
New system designed for ultradeepwater, deeper wells, higher pressures and temperatures.
The Refracture Debate
Some insist it’s over-hyped. Others say, ‘Give it time.’
Exploration Technologies
Women At The Helm
An all-female management team is one thing that sets this new company apart from its peers.
Drilling Technologies
Drilling Tidbits: New Macondo Area Drilling, Boosting Onshore Rig Fleet
LLOG tackles new well in Mississippi Canyon Block 252. Pioneer Natural Resources is adding rigs in the Permian and Eagle Ford plays.
Completions and Production
Fizzy Frack
CO2-energized fracturing fluids prove the fizzy gas’ utility goes beyond soda pop.
Offshore Advances
UK North Sea Suffering Consequences
The U.K. sector of the North Sea is, as the British would say, in a spot of bother.
Digital Solutions
The Overhead Of Inertia
The costs of centralized business system decisions often outweigh the benefits.
Features
Bullish View From Down Under
‘It is when we face challenges that we achieve great innovation and growth,’ says BHP Billiton Petroleum president.
CFD For VIM Estimation Of Semisubmersibles
A new approach uses CFD to overcome the drawbacks of the current VIM design practice based on model testing.
Compact Processing Solutions For Topsides
Efficient and cost-saving design is not just about saving space and weight.
Drilling Systems Improve Economics In Fewer Trips, Precise Geosteering
The RSS has a suite of application-specific drilling technologies that deliver high build rates and maintain stability at any inclination.
Egypt Warms Up Mediterranean Market
Egypt has emerged from the turmoil of the Arab Spring to reestablish itself as the Mediterranean’s most attractive offshore province.
Ground-breaking, Ground Truth
Far-field resistivity mapping yields answers for optimal field development.
Legendary ‘Third Coast’
The GoM continues to astound.
Little Brother To The Utica And Marcellus
The Upper Devonian Burket/Geneseo Shale holds yet more Appalachian riches.
Making Deals In The Delaware Basin
Operators see value in Permian acreage with stacked pay and good economics.
Multipole Sonic Service Helps Lower Well Construction Risks
SWD service offers robust real-time measurements for a range of drilling and completion operations.
New RLWI Vessel Ready For Duty In The Gulf Of Mexico
As offshore operators seek to increase hydrocarbon recovery from existing reservoirs, the need also increases for systems capable of performing well intervention services on subsea wells to increase or maintain production in a safe and cost-efficient manner.
New Sensors Improve Data Gathering In Extreme Drilling Environments
Advances in HP/HT and sonic sensors have made it possible to optimize reservoir production and decrease drilling risks.
New Service Increases Fracture Area, Boosts Production
A new horizontal hydraulic fracturing service taps the conductive fracture area above the lateral to improve production while reducing stage size and cost.
Sequenced Refracturing Boosts Production, EUR Without Drilling
Operator improves recovery in previously completed laterals through use of sequenced refracturing technique.
Service Cost Retrenchment
Per-stage pricing for well stimulation services have fallen from $80,000 to $90,000 for standard plug and perf in fourth-quarter 2014 to the mid-$50,000 range in second-quarter 2015, according to Hart Energy telephone surveys. But the carnage in oil services pricing could be nearing the end.
Technology, Workforce Keys To Industry’s Success
Meeting global energy challenges will require connecting science, safety and society.
Wettability: Critical Input For Reservoir Characterization
Displacement processes can be visualized with digital rock technology and solutions.
‘One-For-Two’ Design Demonstrates Benefits Of Consistency For Production Facilities
Adopting a single basic topsides design for two multibillion-dollar deepwater facilities in the U.S. GoM is helping the operator save both time and dollars.
Tech Watch
Moving CO2 EOR Offshore Requires Higher Prices
Technically it’s possible. Economically it needs to make sense.
Tech Trends
Tech Trends
Tech Trends
Activity Highlights
International Highlights
International Highlights
On The Move
On The Move
On The Move
Last Word
Striving For F’s
F doesn’t have to be a failing grade in the current commodity price environment.
MEA Innovations
Meritorious Awards for Engineering Innovation
Photos of Meritorious Awards for Engineering Innovation winners