August 2012

• NOCs tackle global resources through {competition, collaboration

  Cash-rich national oil companies are taking on the majors across the globe in locking up reserves while at the same time pushing collaboration to develop domestic resources.

• Mobile gas lift and well unloading units combine best of both worlds

  The goal of all oil companies must be not only to find new reserves but to maximize what they can extract from existing mature assets.

• Subsea gas compression to boost recovery rates

  The introduction of subsea gas compression technology has been one of the biggest offshore stories of 2012 so far, representing a technological leap forward by the upstream industry that could hold huge potential for further improving field recovery rates.

• Barents Sea has the potential to be the 'New Norway'

  Norway's sustained effort to revitalize and rejuvenate its offshore sector is having some outstanding results. But it is the exploration potential of the Barents Sea, dubbed by many to be the 'New Norway,' that is really focusing the attention of the industry.

• Subsea oil production shows promise

  Emerging solutions provide aid to alternative oil recovery.

• A shared agenda for subsea

  It is always difficult to strike a balance between developing subsea technologies for challenging harsh environment frontiers while also trying to supply ‘off the shelf’ kit for smaller-scale or standard projects.

• The field that built a company

  A simple conversation could revolutionize China’s natural gas industry.

• ‘Dispatches from the real Gasland’

  In ‘Truthland,’ one Pennsylvania farmer attempts to set the record straight.

• Industry salaries continue gradual rise

  A compensation survey indicates that the oil and gas industry is robust.

• Consolidating in the 'mother of all stacked plays'

  A privately held E&P has combined its Granite Wash, Cleveland, Marmaton, and Tonkawa assets with an international super-independent's legacy western Anadarko basin position.

• Plugs help overcome cementing issues

  Acid-soluble cement plugs were used in three wells drilled in the highly karstified area of the Kashagan field at the northeast end of the Caspian Sea.

• Think tank pushes boundaries for borehole seismic imaging

  Borehole seismic imaging is a technology that has long been proven in the oil and gas industry, both for exploration purposes and enhancing production and field development projects. But there is still room for improvement.

• Cavitation process enhances treatment of flowback water

  An innovative water treatment system can reduce organic concentrations through oxidation and potentially lower heavy metals and salt concentrations.

• Flow metering provides field-proven accuracy

  Choosing the right meter for the job optimizes production.

• Workflow enables first successful GoM subsalt post-stack inversion

  Achieving a reliable post-stack seismic inversion represents an important objective in subsalt exploration.

• Templates lead to improved interpretation

  Rock physics templates provide great utility as both a calibration method and a visual, multiscale integration platform.

• Oil sands operators target smartest use, reuse of water resources

  Tailings ponds in Canada’s oil sands development area are a focus for environmentalists and regulators, requiring new technology and regulations to reduce fluid tailings and reclaim them.

• It’s Canada’s turn to burnish its image

• Reducing uncertainty in the riskiest part of operations

  Operational leaders can better understand the relationship between performance and risk to proactively manage their organizations.

• Is the pace of innovation accelerating?

  When service companies pull out all of the stops, the result can be dizzying.

• Awaiting the monsoon

  A legume used for cow feed in India has had a disproportionate impact on well stimulation costs in North America’s tight oil plays.

• International Highlights

• On The Move

• East Siberian fields challenge Russian developers

  With nearly 1,165 Tcf of estimated resources in eastern Siberia and the Far East, Russia is focusing on new gas production centers in the regions.

• Tech Trends

• 'Stop rolling the risk dice'

  The industry will never be safe until employees learn from past mistakes.

• Full-azimuth seismic aids in fracture detection

  Azimuthal prestack depth migration displays faults in the same place regardless of source-receiver azimuth.