October 2009

• Smart companies are investing for the upturn

  Experience from previous downturns and periods of low oil prices implied that oil and gas companies would rein in capital expenditure during 2009. The truth, however, is that many companies are investing today to avoid having to catch up when the upturn materializes.

• Anadarko takes a stand on US energy policy

  James T. Hackett, chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Anadarko Petroleum Corp., discusses energy policy and the role of natural gas as well as the company’s plans for international E&P.

• Energy will choke China

  China is one of the biggest contributors to world energy demand growth, and even though that growth rate has slowed in the wake of the global recession, analysts continue to see China as one of the key figures.

• New technologies promise greater success

  Whether it’s new sources, new acquisition techniques, or new processing algorithms, advances in geophysical technology continue to test the limits.

• Contractors discuss business challenges

  A recent survey indicates that the geophysical contracting industry is still a tough place to make a living.

• Two techniques combine to add value

  Combining casing drilling with underbalanced operations adds efficiency while maximizing borehole quality and safety.

• Solvent-free consolidation system controls proppant flowback

  An aqueous-based consolidation system aids in maintaining production rates in fracture-stimulated wells.

• Innovations allow safer, smoother mooring operations

  Advances in mooring techniques are simplifying floatover installations.

• Energy waves revitalize mature fields

  Economical and ecologically benign technology has stimulated production increases from flowing and pump-assisted wells.

• Twin-screw pumps rival traditional artificial lift systems

  A new application of a proven technology opens the door to increased production.

• Australia continues to offer opportunity

  Upcoming licensing rounds will include unexplored acreage.

• Visund and Troll subsea contracts to Aker Solutions

• Jean-Georges Malcor to join CGGVeritas general management

• The crossroads on the road to renewables

  Thomas Thune Andersen, chairman of SPE Offshore Europe 2009, moderated the panel discussion at which Danish Minister of Climate and Energy Connie Hedegaard, one of the speakers, identified climate change and energy security as “the key conundrum of our time.”

• Vision to reality for an industry standard

  PRODML provides a data transfer mechanism independent of the software and workflow currently in use and offers a means of sharing a single asset model across all applications.

• What a difference a decade makes!

  E&P celebrates its 10th anniversary amidst a time of flux.

• ONGC bullish on drilling

  National oil company still controls lion’s share of domestic acreage despite NELP reforms and will drill 15% more wells in FY 2010.

• Achieve alpha performance in a capital-constrained environment

  Designing a successful development program requires an understanding of how the pieces fit together. This is the first of a two-part series.

• On the move

  Who's going where in the upstream sector.

• Timing is everything

  Politicos fret about ‘special interest groups’ and constantly assure us that they will protect us from these self-centered evil-doers. But what about the public? Aren’t we the biggest special interest group of all?

• Deliquification technology maximizes gas well production

  The industry needs to maximize production from mature assets to meet energy demand. A newly introduced approach supplies an innovative solution that can cost-effectively push production numbers higher in mature fields.

• Tech Trends

  A look at October tech trends.

• Reduce cycle times during prospect evaluation

  Companies are finding and eliminating bottlenecks in the hydrocarbon exploration process.