October 2012

• A rising tide

  Surging market demand and advances in materials and modeling technologies are pushing the boundaries for flexible risers.

• Technology changes the LNG equation

  New floating LNG concepts are changing the way operators are looking at field development and will open production in formerly ‘unreachable’ areas.

• Securing the future of Norway's mature fields

  Improving the recovery from mature fields offshore Norway can provide a way forward for regional output, but ‘bold decisions’ must be made to spur new drilling, according to Petoro President and CEO Kjell Pedersen.

• Sustainable development relies on biocide usage reduction

  UV light disinfection helps operators save money and promote sustainable development.

• First mover advantage

  Statoil’s incubator strategy for nurturing emerging technologies shows that the early bird does catch the worm.

• Scientific target selection optimizes horizontal shale completions

  Determining reservoir stress anisotropy in advance of completion design leads to more productive perforations.

• Wide-azimuth seismic enables better shale play economics

  The use of conventional wide-angle, wide-azimuth 3-D seismic as a first step in profitable shale play production is reviewed in this case study from central Alberta, Canada.

• MPD boosted with hands-free connection of mud bypass

  Continuous circulation sub opens up opportunities to drill in reservoirs with narrow windows between pore- and fracture-pressure gradients.

• Improving dynamic well control in MPD operations

  One result of current research is a refinement of the condition that ensures the influx has ceased. The new research shows that a single, pressure-based signature alone is sufficient to determine when the influx stops.

• Production tank protection eliminates traditional corrosion mechanisms

  One persistent and costly problem is production tank corrosion. A unique tank base design can break the chain of corrosion mechanisms to eliminate problem sources and extend tank life.

• Producing a water management solution

  Managing produced water from oil and gas operations is a major challenge for operators around the world. In the Middle East, specific external factors make the issue of produced water even more pertinent.

• Integration enhances shale production

  Seismic attributes that correlate to drilling and completions data aid in reservoir understanding.

• Economic method improves conformance in CO2 flood

  The use of polymer gels in fractured CO2 floods can lead to more economic projects and extended flood life.

• Closed-loop drilling boosts deepwater MPD success

  Getting a rig ready for MPD must come through a coordinated industry effort to develop procedures and standards for equipment, procurement, rig modification, design, and training.

• Floating systems market rides the wave

  Floating production systems are the most adaptable offshore development solution, and the growth in demand for these facilities shows no sign of slowing.

• New horizon for remote gas fields

  The E&P industry is witnessing the advent of the FLNG era with offshore terminals offering a viable alternative for previously stranded reserves.

• Eagle Ford activity continues at a frenzied pace

  Operators barely have time to catch their breath as they ramp up production in this world-class play.

• New EOR technology uses chemicals to generate gas for oil recovery

  Surfactant-enhanced product recovery, an environmental remediation system, finds a potential new home in the EOR toolbox.

• Drilling down operator costs onshore, offshore

• Gas gets a nod from the greens

• Attributes play important role in seismic interpretation

  A new family of attributes aids in geological understanding.

• Real-time community meets the well bore

  A new platform integrates formation evaluation, drilling, and completions engineering.

• Tuning in to geology

  A new geophysical technique uses radio waves to determine rock types.

• Fewer, better rigs for unconventional plays

   As unconventional plays mature, operators are doing more with less.

• ERP systems provide efficient supply chain management

  An efficient extended supply chain requires an integrated system.

• From meters to millimeters: Satellites explore the Amazon

  Satellite images are enhancing geological data acquisition in the heart of the Amazon forest in the Solem?s basin, allowing scientists to tell a story that has not been revealed up to now.

• International Highlights

• On the Move

• MEOR: Activation of bacteria in formation boosts oil production

  Glori Energy claims a 9% to 12% increase in oil production by activating naturally occurring microbes in the formation to improve oil mobility during waterfloods.

• Canadian liquids plays offer continuous upside

  Although natural gas producers may be experiencing challenging times amid low gas prices, unconventional resource development is ramping up in Canada’s light, tight oil plays.

• Canada’s oil sands: Balancing risk and opportunity to reap rewards

  Canadian oil sands producton could reach more than 4 MMb/d by 2020.

• TECH TRENDS

• Unlocking shale’s economic potential with upfront planning, collaboration

  Despite all of the opportunities and the years of experience gained in developing shale plays, has our industry truly reached its adulthood in shale?

• Preventing problems in saltwater disposal system piping

  Grooved coupling systems provide reliable and headache-free aid in unconventional fields.