May 2008

• Seismic for life

  Permanently monitored fields are providing BP with regular reservoir snapshots.

• Time-lapse survey challenges

  Time-lapse or 4-D seismic is gaining in popularity. But processing issues remain.

• Alternatives in low density cement formulation

  Conventional neat cement can be used in the majority of drilling situations, but in special cases density adjustment is critical to successful well completion and long term zonal isolation.

• Deepwater wells drive salt cementing advances

  Thick, deep salt structures challenge wellbore design, making cement a key factor in ensuring casing integrity and isolation over the life of the well.

• Integrated approach to interventionless zonal isolation

  In cemented completions, maintaining long-term zonal isolation is critical to helping ensure that worker health, safety, and environmental (HSE) standards are met and that the well is operated economically.

• New cement forms permanent seal for the life of the well

  Active set-cement technology mitigates risk of future gas leaks in the Central Alberta Foothills region.

• Drilling in the right place

  The best data in the world is useless if the mapping is incorrect.

• Prospects for deepwater drilling 2008-2012

  “The World Deepwater Market Forecast,” published by energy analysts Douglas-Westwood, forecasts continued growth in the deepwater sector with annual expenditures reaching over US $24.6 billion by 2012.

• Vertical trees take production deeper

  Deep water brings with it demanding operating conditions for subsea equipment. A new vertical christmas tree resolves some of these challenges as it takes production to greater depths.

• Pride plunges into deepwater

  Since its entry into the offshore in 1997 with the purchase of the Noble Drilling jackup, Pride International has been a company in transition. With its recent move toward deepwater, the company is establishing a new niche for itself on a global scale.

• New subsea wellhead offers increased deepwater capacities

  As a significant part of its efforts to find new resources for meeting this demand, the oil and gas industry continues to push the boundaries of deepwater exploration and development.

• Meeting Arctic exploration, production challenges

  “The rising interest in the Barents Sea in connection with petroleum activities and shipping pose considerable environmental challenges, and ambitious solutions must be sought for production, transport, and emergency response systems” (Research Council of Norway).

• Shore power reduces emissions

  Norway and North Sea operators want to use shore power offshore if they can justify the cost. Now, they can.

• Environmental control and remediation

  Advanced technology and innovative approaches to environmental management can improve operations and increase efficiency.

• New risk management systems improve compliance

  Software tools can help companies to improve compliance in real time, increase operational efficiencies and take advantage of new opportunities such as emissions credits trading markets.

• Companies aid migratory birds

  Wetlands and coastlines are also beneficiaries.

• Breaking new ground, setting new standards

  A hub-and-spoke development approach offshore Trinidad and Tobago has involved local companies in establishing unmanned platforms as a viable means of producing gas.

• Fields recover from Katrina’s punch

  Independent restores production after hurricane’s devastation.

• Drilling, production spar replaces sixth generation MODUs

  The scarcity of mobile offshore drilling units (MODUs) for the Gulf of Mexico is pushing research and development groups to think about drilling in new ways. A new spar design takes a proven production process and adds to it the ability to perform green-field drilling.

• Peru raises exploration sights

  Planned licensing round builds on area successes.

• Industry must get on board with standardization

  Standardization is one of the most challenging yet potentially highest value issues facing the upstream oil and gas industry today.

• A one-act play

  The recent political theater passed off as a US Congressional “investigation” into high energy prices makes one wish for a new play.

• Reducing rig software risk

  Effective software change management reduces costly software-related problems.

• Believe in your data

  Seismic data are imperfect. Knowing the extent of that imperfection will pay big dividends.

• Roughneck reality

  On the rig floor, makeup gets a new meaning.

• Service Orientated Architecture: Setting new standards of performance

  A sharp rise in oil and gas prices, vigorous M&A activity and increased regulatory scrutiny has presented oil and gas companies with an array of opportunities and problems.

• News and Analysis

  May news and analysis.

• Seventy years of service

  A successful service company has to be innovative. It has to respond to rapidly changing field demands, and it has to look ahead to develop solutions for tomorrow’s complex and challenging drilling environments. By achieving these objectives and adding capabilities through acquisitions, one service company has managed to keep its name in the business for nearly 70 years.

• On the Move

  Who's going where in the upstream sector.

• Is oil the new gold?

  A press release put out by CERA in mid-March addresses what the company refers to as “the new fundamentals” that are pushing up oil prices.

• Quenching the dragon’s thirst

  With imports expected to account for 80% of China’s oil demand by 2030, China is revisiting its energy policy to meet current and future energy supply challenges.

• Improving the odds for success

  An alternative decision-making approach provides greater confidence and clarity when making large capital investment decisions.

• Tech Trend briefs

  A look at the latest trends in technology. 

• Tool helps re-establish flow

  A new reverse circulating bit has been successfully used to drill through different crystalline materials including scale, salt bridges and cement plugs.

• Are we there yet?

  Today, in our industry, it seems very pertinent because it applies to so many areas, including intelligent operations, maximized recovery capabilities, deepwater technologies and a host of other issues.