July 2008

• Smart water management yields extra barrels

  In a world where easy oil is a thing of the past, technology remains key to unleashing difficult resources.

• Aeration improves water remediation

  Increasing demand for oil is pushing the industry to produce greater amounts of hydrocarbons. Advances in water treatment technologies will allow increased oil production without the liability of large volumes of contaminated water.

• Applied asset management pays off

  Asset team calls on eight technologies to answer critical reservoir delineation questions.

• Validating a new azimuthal LWD sensor

  A new azimuthal deep-resistivity logging-while-drilling (LWD) sensor can detect events as far as 18 ft (5.5 m) laterally from a wellbore path and help determine the direction to the approaching event.

• Use collaborative earth models in LWD navigation

  A common understanding across disciplines can be achieved by sharing real-time LWD data using the familiar environment of a geological framework surrounding the well bore — a three-dimensional earth model.

• Detect near-bit vibration in real time

  Severe downhole vibrations can damage drilling equipment, including the drill bit, drill collars, stabilizers, measurement-while-drilling/logging-while-drilling (MWD/LWD) tools, and rotary steerable systems (RSSs). Advances in near-bit sensor technology are now allowing drillers to use vibration sensor information while drilling to optimize rotary-steerable operations.

• Excitement building for rotary steerables

  West Texas operators experience dramatic savings in cost per reservoir-foot in zone when they take a high-tech approach.

• LCM, pre-drill planning contend with hole instability

  A wellbore strengthening treatment initiative incorporating particulate or chemical-based lost-circulation material (LCM) and comprehensive pre-drill planning addresses the hazards associated with hole instability.

• Preserve near-wellbore permeability

  A new chemical sand-consolidation method is reliably controlling sand production and increasing oil-recovery rates from weakly consolidated sandstone reservoirs in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea.

• Treat production problems before they occur

  Pumped with a frac deep into the formation, long-life specialty chemicals prevent expensive post-stimulation buildups of scale, paraffin, bacteria, and other troublesome contaminants.

• Formation mineralogy key to inhibiting scale

  Correct planning can reduce the frequency of squeeze operations needed to place scale inhibitors into the formation.

• Integrative opportunity planning

  Shell seeks to reduce time without sacrificing understanding using a new software tool in front-end planning.

• Software provides new insight

  New methodologies enable geologists to map old fields with logging data.

• Resolving thin stringer sands

  Novel processing techniques help one operator overcoming obstacles related to thin, sub-seismic features in the shallow Gulf of Mexico.

• Human capital strategies

  Companies that continue to thrive must develop unique and creative ways of attracting and retaining human capital that will allow their organization to grow and prosper.

• It's about who you've known

  Web-based alumni networks are helping oil and gas companies maintain their most valuable asset — experienced employees.

• Turning the tide

  Human Resources (HR) executives list the talent void as one of the top five business issues facing their companies.

• Introducing 'greengineers'

  The big challenge of the 21st century is more than simply protecting our environment; it’s about thriving in a future that is environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable.

• Newfoundland seeks new finds

  Newfoundland and Labrador offer up 10 parcels for long-term developments in its burgeoning offshore arena.

• Demographic challenges facing the E&P industry

  New workers will be faced with growing challenges in the years to come.

• As I see it: Pain killer at the pump

  Here, presented as a public service, is an extremely simple way to determine how to maintain automobile fuel expenses at whatever rate you wistfully recall, within the range of possibility. You only have to do one thing — consume less.

• Model and simulate subsea control systems

  By using a simulation tool to test a system virtually before putting it into production, various alternative solutions can be tested in ways that are not practicable in real life.

• Global Exploration: Ain't technology grand?

  Recent trade shows have demonstrated that we’re in a golden age for new technology developments.

• The only records that count

  Among industry “firsts,” extended reach operations are achieving bold advances that only promise to enhance the industry’s capability to attain more reserves with less of an impact.

• Tips for making effective presentations

  We’ve all suffered through poorly executed talks. Here’s how to make sure yours isn’t one of them. This is the first of a two-part series.

• News and Analysis

  July news and analysis in exploration, drilling, and production.

• Ancient Chinese drilling

  Drilling technology is older than we think.

• On the Move

  Who's going where in the upstream sector.

• Where the deer and the antelope play

  Seldom is heard an encouraging word on operators and environmental stewardship, but on the ground in Pinedale, Wyo., everyone is considered a stakeholder in keeping things pure and natural.

• Offshore Operations: Limited rig availability and innovative agreements

  Shipyards are going full tilt to fill orders to make up the deficit in the international rig fleet, but there seems to be no near-term solution in sight that will resolve the worldwide shortage.

• IDM changes the game

  Integrated decision management (IDM) changes how decisions are made. This final article of the three-part series shows how IDM promotes and contributes to successful implementation of those decisions.

• Collapsing depth imaging cycle time

  A new algorithm is up to today’s demanding business climate.

• New vessel concept simplifies intervention

  Unique combination of proven technologies makes heavy well intervention offshore feasible and more cost-effective.

• Tech Trend briefs

  July Tech Trends.

• Last Word: Trip log

  We all travel a lot, and we all have the occasional trip from Hades. Here is one for the books.