Production Exclusives

Susan Klann, managing editor of Oil and Gas Investor, reports from Enercom’s “The Oil and Gas Conference” in Denver. Petrohawk Chairman Floyd Wilson said, “Business 101 says it’s time to reel it in.”

People are joining together to protect energy-related jobs.

Rebecca Torrellas, online editor, reports from the NAPE Expo in Houston. Operators continue to focus on technologies that will monetize unconventional reserves.

A water cleaning process introduced more than a decade ago can now process 65,00 gal/day.

A recent ranking reveals companies again are looking to fast-track their developments and evaluate reserves.

Matt Simmons founded Simmons & Co. International, a specialized energy investment banking firm, in 1973.

As clean-up costs continue to soar, the company is divesting billions of dollars in assets.

A recent study by Canaccord Genuity on the Niobrara shale states that it is only a matter of time until one group (or more) finds itself on top of a delicious Niobrara treat.

Ernst & Young forecasts several bright spots for the energy industry during the 3Q in spite of facing significant unknowns.

Although the near future is unclear for oil and gas operations in the GoM, experts believe the current stoppage of work is only temporary.

For 2Q 2010, a healthy number of new projects is on the books, but analysis reflects a drop in overall investment value.

Global deepwater production (2,000 ft or 610 m of more water depth) capacity has more than tripled since 2000.

European countries are looking hard at shale gas potential within their borders, but substantial questions must be answered.

With operating costs showing a slight rise, and capital costs remaining flat, the future of upstream costs is open.

Recent completions in both Oklahoma and Texas show the Granite Wash is a contender in the unconventional game.

Poland is leading the way for unconventionals in Eastern Europe.

A recent report forecasts the play will grow at nearly 10% annually through 2020.

Pioneer Natural Resources and Common Resources LLC both have had successful forays in the increasingly popular Eagle Ford Shale.

In less than 60 years, technological advances brought Bakken from last resort to hot play. Niobrara, Mowry, and others to follow.

Research will unlock tomorrow’s reserves in the Middle East

Allied Energy plans to use new frac technologies that are currently economic for both oil and gas wells to enhance recoverable reserves in the East Texas Basin.

A new report reveals Canada is poised to become the top source of crude oil imports to the US

The recent economic downturn has underscored the necessity of increasing brownfield production.

A sizable acquisition and targeted product development have implications for the oil and gas industry.

Discussion shifts to the future of supply, demand, and market prices during Webinar Q&A.

A global outlook to 2030 presented at Rice University indicates energy efficiency is dependent on the development of new technologies.

Recent developments indicate LNG opportunities are gaining prominence in Latin America.

With dozens of applications on land or offshore, the company has taken the proactive step to ensure its engines and generator sets meet the latest environmental standard, so their customers are not impaired in their objectives waiting for compliant power packs.

Two technologies combine to place wells precisely in the target reservoir while forestalling premature water break-through offshore China.  

Natural gas has a lot going for it, according to those at the 5th annual DUG conference in Fort Worth. So, where is natural gas going?

A dedicated time-lapse survey finds new well locations in a North Sea field.

With operators looking to extend reservoir life and maximize reserves from new and existing wells, the spotlight is increasingly on completions technology providers to come up with more efficient and effective solutions.

Increasing industry demands are pushing the practical limits of line pipe construction.

Improved production and lower costs make the difference in aging assets.

New MMS Rule expected in June 2010 will set new expectations for the US OCS.

Sometimes the very permeability operators are trying to improve contributes to ineffective distribution of stimulation fluids.

Jakob Thomasen, president and CEO of Maersk Oil, talks about the company’s milestone achievements and the path to future goals.

A recent survey shows that the energy industry is taking advantage of the recession by investing in the future.

Going from a 32-bit to a 64-bit computing architecture—i.e., one in which operating system and software run on a 64-bit central processing unit—makes working with large data sets easier. 

As the unconventional designation suggests, traditional analyses, methods and tools may not be the best fit for shale reservoirs, extremely long horizontal laterals, and complex, multi-stage completions.

New report shows increase in number, value of new projects across all energy sectors.

All sectors are cautiously optimistic after 1Q results.

How the big service companies will evolve after the consolidation wave.

New IEA report says Canada made significant strides in 2009.

As gas prices rise, significant shift to renewable energy sources, gas, nuclear capacity expected.

EFD project educates operators and citizens on management procedures for developments in the Intermountain West

While some operators look for ways to get more out of established shales, others are looking for the next big play.

Making energy a political issue has been an impediment to developing a viable energy policy. To avoid calamity, the US needs a new approach.

In Colombia’s Girasol field, bed boundary mapping enables operators to accurately position horizontal wells on the first attempt, avoiding the need for sidetracks and reducing overall development costs.

The recent US energy crisis underscores the need for an energy policy. Though the conversation has shifted focus toward carbon legislation and carbon monetization, the need for a sound energy policy has not disappeared.

‘Don’t despair’ was the message of a recent presentation.

After 14 years of exploration and development, Shell announces first oil in the deepest offshore facility in the world.

“When challenged, industry delivers,” says new Shell CEO

Companies have shown repeatedly how Intelligent Energy (IE) has been able to deliver tangible result in terms of safety, efficiency, and production. Until IE is adopted more broadly, however, the industry will not see the full extent of its potential.

Organizers of “Intelligent Energy 2010” believe the industry’s move to intelligent operations is inevitable because of the value it delivers.

As March goes out like a lion, the drop in temperatures means a spike in gasoline prices in the US.

Implementing Intelligent Energy (IE) solutions requires a change in management and mindset.

Intelligent Energy (IE) is taking hold in the oil and gas industry and in many cases is changing the face of daily operations.

The SPE Intelligent Energy conference and exhibition will take place in Utrecht, The Netherlands, March 23-25, 2010. The conference provides a platform to discuss digitally enabled and associated technology that helps maximize production, increase recovery, and improve HSE the oil and gas industry.

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has led the global oil and gas industry for some time, but it is possible that continued dominance has made these countries complacent.

The cost of services and supplies skyrocketed through 2008, but has not dropped significantly since the onset of the global recession. Major suppliers gathered at CERA Week to talk about where the industry has been, where it is today, and where they think it is going.

At a luncheon keynote address on Wednesday of CERA Week, Helge Lund, president and CEO of Statoil ASA, discussed the advantages of investing in gas development and a means of decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and securing energy security in the US.

Infrastructure technology and market evolution interact to the status quo.

The reason? That country’s astounding demographic shifts, said numerous speakers at IHS CERAWeek in Houston.

Provides potential for near-term CO2 cuts, but presents long-term challenges, study says.

Though the industry is still recovering from the global recession, there are opportunities for operating companies that have the foresight to invest through the downturn.

Previewing BP's annual strategy presentation to the financial community, Group Chief Executive Tony Hayward said the company had established strong momentum in its core businesses and had made great progress in reducing costs and improving absolute and relative financial performance in the past two years.

The Cascade-Chinook project, which will introduce the first FPSO to the GoM, required cooperation from equipment and service providers from more than 20 countries. The field is on target for production in 2010.

With the introduction of shale gas drilling in the northeastern US, newspapers have a new front-page headline, and politicians have a new subject to debate (mostly with a negative view) — hydraulic fracturing.

The country is host to several plays that could yield trillions of cubic feet of gas.

Sand, water and lots of sunshine make for an idyllic seaside setting. However, in the oilpatch, we can do without the first two.

The world’s major economies appear to have turned the corner after the ‘Great Recession,’ but short-term challenges remain.

Elegant in its simplicity, a new water reclamation service has been introduced, and it begs the question, “Why didn’t we think of this before?”

Dynamic surging, followed immediately by prepacking, enables more effective gravel packing for sand control and, in an example from Malaysia, improved well performance.

Operators, technology companies, and service providers need to work together to meet shale gas production water management challenges.

The inherent lags between changes in drilling and production created natural gas spikes over the last 10 years and will continue to do so after this and every trough.

A new study by UK-based ActionAid, an advocacy group for food for the poor, says that if the EU sticks to its biofuel mandate targets for 2020, millions around the world will starve.

Wireless connectivity provides good examples of progress made and challenges remaining.

Israel is hoping to secure international backing for a plan to apply financial pressure to curb Iranian investment in nuclear weapons.

If legislation being debated today is passed, it could have serious financial repercussions for the oil and gas industry.

Additional inquiries from Congress request more data on frac fluids used in unconventional developments in the US.

As the world’s view of energy evolves, Australia is open to new ideas and new business ventures.

While the US withdrawal from Iraq is being planned, representatives within the country are laying the groundwork for growth.

Data is a key enabler, but sheer volume is an impediment to deriving the greatest value.

Technology and process development are critical components for success.

On Jan. 28, 2010, the Chinese central government officially announced the formation of the National Energy Commission.

Working collaboratively has allowed solutions to be developed more rapidly to maximize productivity and profit.

Environment Canada, a federal regulatory agency, has announced it will award a contract to study whether biofuels are causing worse harm to the environment than the petroleum gasoline or diesel fuels they replace.

Project portfolio management software solutions help E&P companies profit in challenging times.

In an industry where downtime and inefficient field operations can be crippling, a new breed of innovative, easy-to-use technology solutions is helping companies in the oil and gas industry be more efficient, more informed, and more profitable. 

Maintaining gas demand will be ‘an increasingly Sisyphean struggle’ without some help from Mother Nature, report says.

A complete frac additive program reduces costs, lowers HSE risk, and maximizes production.

As water and well depths increase, so do remediation costs, making flow assurance and other production chemicals a critical component of integrated well completion and production planning.

The EPA faces opposition on new GHG proposal.

New data indicates Iraq has huge reserves.

While the last 12 months have been a challenge for companies in the oil and gas sector, there have been substantial opportunities for those with strong balance sheets.

Federal tax credits support energy industry’s efforts to “go green.”

AccuWeather.com reports oil production in the GoM could be affected this weekend by a storm with potential for conditions similar to a minimal tropical storm.

Standoff between Russia and Belarus increases volatility of oil prices in the global market.

Survey says 65% of operating companies will not step up hiring this year.

In 2008, the United States imported more than 10 percent of its oil from Mexico – over 1.3 million barrels per day (Mb/d).

Svelte and sexy, yet efficient and reliable, linear rod pumps offer advantages for rod-pumped wells.

The increased focus on natural gas has been a catalyst for interest in FLNG, a business sector that is expected to see US $23 billion invested between 2010 and 2016.

Design innovations move TLP technology into the deepest application yet.

InterOil Corp.’s giant Papua New Guinea wells are building a new production base for LNG.

Times were, when it was easier, and perhaps cheaper, to drill a new well than to try to improve existing ones — not anymore.

Using a “one-stop” PPE company yields more efficiency and facilitates procurement of specialized products and services globally.

While ultimately good for the industry, the US $41 billion deal has implications for service companies.

The oil giant’s announcement to purchase XTO will put it front and center in the gas shale circus.

New report shows power sector is leading the way in worldwide economic recovery.

In its annual ranking of the world’s 50 largest oil companies, Petroleum Intelligence Weekly published a benchmark survey in early December that shows company rankings were little changed from the previous year.

Exploration is important, drilling is important, reservoir characterization is important, but at the end of the day, it’s production that pays the bills.

There is no end to the great ideas that come from our creative and innovative industry; unfortunately, the uptake of many of these ideas seems to move at geologic speed.

Financial indicators point to an economy in the early stages of recovery.

Capital expenditure of oil and gas companies, after surging from 2007 to 2008, witnessed a significant decrease in 2009. In 2010, capex activity is expected to go up, driven mainly by large national oil companies.

Managers from ExxonMobil and Shell give their views on the energy industry and what will be required in the coming years.

A report issued by IHS CERA says upstream facility construction costs have dropped 4%, while operating costs have gone up 1%.

Booz & Co. partners outline their 2010 oil and gas industry perspective.

Mary Hackett, Woodside Petroleum Ltd.’s onshore project manager for Pluto trains two and three, talks about the company’s vision to be a global LNG leader as well as the key projects and people that will help the company realize this goal.

In case you’re tired of hearing our industry being bashed in the press, by Congress or anyone else with an axe to grind, here’s a holiday present for you.

Analysts at Wood Mackenzie predict North American shale production will reach 30 Bcf/d by 2025.

BG Group announced the signing of a joint venture agreement with Petrobras focused on developing floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) as an additional option to commercialize the material associated natural gas reserves in the Santos Basin presalt offshore Brazil.

Aboveground drivers, not the amount of belowground resources, will be crucial factor to flow of supply in the coming decades.

Pundits bullish in light of recent earnings statements.

As business cycles back up, we will be presented with different talent management challenges than ever experienced in the past.

The Australian oil and gas industry could soon experience a major skill shortage, says a leading recruitment firm.

Many operators, especially those drilling in the shale gas plays, are finding out that there’s a big difference between perforating for production and perforating for stimulation.

Integrateds, independents are poised to take advantage of the end of the recession.

Tried-and-true methods can be used in a new way.

Carbon capture and storage has multiple benefits — but a wary public.

A recent study reports up to three alternative jet fuels – one derived from heavy oil – could be made easily and inexpensively.

As nations and corporations consider their energy strategies for the future, their beliefs about the sources of the current recession will prove critical in strategy formulation.

Today’s debate about the alleged evils of hydraulic fracturing call to mind Chicken Little’s dire predictions.

Expandable technology helps operators get more out of their wells at a time when higher productivity is number one on the priority list.

Karl Rove, former Deputy Chief of Staff and senior advisor to President George W. Bush will address the industry at the Next Generation Oil and Gas Summit in New Orleans Nov. 18-20, 2009.

At the rate it’s going, the UK could miss its 2020 emission reduction targets by 150 million metric tons of CO2/yr.

A recent study examines possible scenarios and the cause and effect of the global economic slowdown.

The EU Court of First Instance has ruled that the European Commission exceeded its powers in imposing a ceiling on carbon allowances for member states.

A recent sector study sheds light on oil and gas upturn priorities for 2010.

Target acquisition technique uses logs to identify the best targets for multistage frac jobs. Production results prove the technique’s value—by far.

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.

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.

Detecting and reacting to sand in the well and flow stream have never been more crucial.

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

Innovative mooring anchors developed by Petrobras will soon be installed in a new region.

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

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

Fiber optics provide leap forward in ability to monitor sand screens and casing shape.

Blending real-time data capture with contract management offers an innovative process for optimizing gas supply with demand in a high-value onshore/offshore gas delivery network.

Hughes invention revolutionized fledgling oil industry.

According to BP Americas Chairman and President Lamar McKay, individuals have a greater influence on guiding US energy policy than big business does.

Europe’s shale-gas potential holds choice promise, but evaluations are in the introductory stage.

Final decision on greenhouse gas reporting will impact 13,000 US facilities.

How to change our paradigms when the uncommon is becoming common.

Copenhagen may be complicated by large governments seeking their own solutions to greenhouse gas emissions.

Speakers at Offshore Europe warn of increased competition in the face of rising costs.

Two recent reports indicate that the US President is well aware of the size of his country’s carbon footprint.

Consumers and employers in the state of California continue to pay the price for stringent state fuel policies.

Finding critical lessons for both industry and government in the work of J. Howard Marshall II.

US government encourages development of products based on renewables.

Despite some rather inclement weather, a platform is successfully removed from the GoM.

The Haynesville shale play has become the focal point for North American gas production, given the relatively sustained activity when compared to other regions and the Gulf Mexico. As a result, the service sector has focused on developing performance and knowledge of this unconventional shale.

A fresh Cretaceous shale play in South Texas has slipped into the industry’s future.

A new pan-European survey conducted by DNV answers how the European power sector is coping with climate change challenges and opportunities.

Industrialized nations are hardest hit by the global financial crisis.

New technique is expected to cut carbon emissions from heated soil by 10 to 15%.

Underbalanced sidetrack drilling produces flowing-while-drilling conditions that could expedite time to first oil.

Naturally occurring gas hydrates could be part of the solution to US energy security.

Politicians have been saying for years that greenhouse gas emissions are the primary culprit of global warming and the reason for melting ice caps. When in fact late last year, a report from NASA said satellites and other monitoring equipment confirmed most of the changes seen in the upper Arctic Ocean are in fact the result of natural ocean circulation patterns and not trends in global warming. 

A crushing fall in profits in 2Q 2009 has pushed Chevron to cut it losses.

Chesapeake Energy and Schlumberger collaborate to solve gas blocking, significantly improve uptime of ESPs in difficult wells.

Artificial lift coaxes oil to the surface, stimulates production, and extends a project’s lifespan by up to 10%.

Integrated systems provide operators with single-source approach to well revival.

International experts presented views today at a Web based gathering addressing climate change and the challenges these changes present to establishing climate policy.

Chevron latest to announce very disappointing results.

Gulf of Mexico deep water exploration is set in motion.

The oil giant endures a 53% decrease in earnings.

The climate change legislation debate under way in the US will have repercussions around the world.

Perception is powerful, particularly when a perception becomes reality regardless of the facts. This is the first of a three-part series.

The findings – if later confirmed by more scientists and then adopted by policy-makers – could have a devastating impact on supposed “climate-friendly” solutions including biofuels combustion and nuclear power, since such schemes cut net CO2 but don’t reduce heat emissions.

Shaper sees short-term challenges, long-term opportunities for US natural gas markets.

Technology said to efficiently solve an age-old oil industry problem.

Shell, Baker Hughes say strain detection allows measurement of multiple deformation modes. To view a video on the real-time compaction imaging system discussed in this story, click here.

Systems emerge that provide structure for ad hoc processes, while retaining needed flexibility.

While many oil and gas company executives continue to think their organizations are sufficiently served by their antiquated SCADA systems, I would argue that to thrive in today’s economic climate and changing industry, companies must look beyond SCADA to enterprise platforms that help them achieve operational excellence and optimize the supply chain.

Coupled with tools for establishing strategic business architecture, solutions bring process rigor in a framework that allows constant change.

Combination of technical, operational, and financial data puts analytical tool set in hands of wide range of expert and business users.

Russia has not been exempt from the effects of the global financial crisis. The oil and gas industry is set for a period of downward pressure in both activity and pricing, but will see an upward trend in the near future.

Talk in Washington about energy security has focused on renewable energy resources, but a successful agenda will have to include the entire energy spectrum.

The pursuit of a policy for energy independence in Washington has an admirable goal, but experts caution that the route to energy security cannot bypass oil and gas.

A new concept for developing marginal deepwater fields has arrived in the GoM and is scheduled to begin operations early next year.

More than 20 years after one of the most infamous anthropogenic environmental disasters, ExxonMobil is still feeling the effects of the disaster that many refer to as Exxon Valdez and that the company views as one of the lowest points in its 125 years.

With the “green shoots” of recovery more numerous by the day, dark warnings of a new spike in oil prices are also multiplying.

New approach provides an intuitive framework to monitor production-induced fluid movements with 4-D seismic.

‘Toothbrush standards’ — everyone has one, no one wants to use someone else’s

Combination of technical, operational, and financial data puts analytical tool set in hands of wide range of expert and business users.

How to protect yourself from the coming possibility of cap-and-trade system.

Chesapeake Energy and Schlumberger collaborate to solve gas blocking, significantly improve uptime of electrical submersible pumps in difficult wells.

Unique characteristics of “V-cone” meter conserves space in crowded modules.

Aeromagnetic surveys found an important place in the geology toolbox as operators home in on resource plays that depend on faulting detection and natural fracturing for maximum production.

Technology development and knowledge sharing increase innovation and safety. So when the industry is facing challenges, the best way of meeting them is for industry players to join forces through JIPs. The world’s best practices and standards can be developed collectively.

For countries like the US and China, which consume large amounts of energy, establishing energy security is a critical concern. Both countries are actively pursuing energy policies, but a close look at their actions indicates their approaches couldn’t be more different.

Removing guesswork and uncertainty from production operations can save millions of dollars by reducing or eliminating interventions, indentifying potentially hazardous leaks, and maximizing production.

Major US oil deposits can be tapped at current prices.

Analysts predict that declining demand matched with rising supplies of natural gas and LNG will affect the market for at least the next four years.

Declines in investment could lead to a re-tightening of oil supply as the economy recovers.

The FPSO was forced to disconnect due to adverse conditions associated with the recent severe tropical storm, Chan-Hom (Emong), which passed to the north of the Galoc field on May 7.

A winner of Hart’s E&P’s Meritorious Awards for Engineering Innovation, Cameron’s all-electric subsea production system sets another industry first.

With the expectation that 150 FPSOs will be in service or on order by 2010, ABS has established requirements for conversions and plans to announce newbuild requirements soon

It is hard to imagine a more traumatic time for the oil and gas industry. The depth and breadth of the economic crisis has significantly decreased hydrocarbon demand. Notwithstanding actions by OPEC and domestic producers, it remains unclear when supply and demand will regain their balance, especially in the natural gas market. The time for investing in strategic growth is now.

Generally, the report notes that uncertainty has increased as announcements of capital expenditure decreases have rippled through supply chains. As with offshore activity, those regions most affected onshore are mature basins, such as in North America and Russia.

The oil and gas sector has been unevenly impacted by the global economic downturn, which has created new risks for the industry. A report issued in mid-May by Ernst & Young identifies the risks that threaten the near-term survival and prospects of a number of oil and gas companies.

Underground sensors send real-time well data to monitoring and control systems integral to a comprehensive digital and telecommunications infrastructure.

The need to preserve and give broad access to important institutional knowledge can be achieved by creating role-based information portals accessible by a wide base of asset team members.

ILS introduces deviceWISE for Siemens S7 PLCs; SMT Kingdom now supports Windows Vista; Iconics releases OPC ToolWorX Version 3.50; EDSA, OSIsoft announce integration of Paladin Power Analytics with PI System; iStore and Infusion launch Digital Oilfield on Microsoft Surface; DONG Energy A/S adopts Paradigm Geolog as corporate standard; PetroVR 7 enhances consistency and flexibility in E&P decision models

A report released by CERA late last month says that Europe’s new energy goals are going to be extremely challenging to realize in the midst of a global economic downturn.

On Tuesday at OTC, subsea solution provider FMC Technologies briefed interested parties on the full panoply of innovative subsea processing and intervention technologies that it has developed for the most challenging deep-water projects.

Accurate, reliable, clamp-on measurement of wet gas flow has been a long-standing challenge for the upstream oil and gas industry. Sonar-based technology could be the answer.

Risk-based integrity management is ensuring flexible pipe technology remains a competitive and safe enabling solution for harsh and deepwater offshore environments.

Emerson’s move also could be seen as part of an ongoing trend that will widely disseminate closed-loop control technologies much used in other industrial sectors — including downstream processing industries — within the upstream

A just-released survey of nearly 400 financial executives from oil and gas companies conducted by KPMG Global Energy Institute says that two-thirds of them don’t believe U.S. energy independence is attainable till 2030 or beyond.

Enbase introduces lease opportunities management on Salesforce.com

ITF is calling for technology proposals to meet industry needs.

As operators seek innovative solutions to manage the cost of developing deepwater subsea fields, the use of TOW installation methods is demonstrating that significant system installation cost reductions can be accomplished.

In the current circumstances of global financial instability and turbulent oil prices it is not surprising that people are questioning what the potential impact on the offshore oil and gas industry will be. This forecast examines the expected impact on the floating production systems market.

Offshore LNG has different process requirements from LPG or traditional on-land, base-load liquefication plants. Three generic technology options are being put forward to satisfy key LNG requirements for remote, offshore environments.

Optimizing production in active fields has become one of the focus areas of oil and gas industry development. In Western Siberia, optimization is being achieved not only through extensive application of new advanced oil recovery technologies, but also through revival of traditional methods.

With current demand for hydrocarbons, the undeveloped resources in arctic regions will undoubtedly become an increasingly economic and profitable development opportunity. However, the extreme conditions force risk based management and unified approaches for operation and transport.

Transporting and installing the Shtokman semisubmersibles will break new ground in the arctic.

Each shale play has its own code to crack. The innovative use of new technologies can help.

Reservoir drainage and injection patterns in Norway’s largest oilfield are mapped using high-resolution time-lapse seismic technology.

The selection of proppant to provide highly conductive pathways in hydraulically generated fractures is typically based on the proppant crush strength, conductivity, availability, and cost.

The economic pressures of the current downturn are real and must be addressed, but those who wish to participate in the next “boom” in the energy industry must also realize an unprecedented opportunity exists.

With rigs moth-balled for the downturn’s duration, have the right procedures in place.

Even the pessimists probably haven’t adjusted their figures low enough.

Putting a number on digital benefits is one thing, but how important is the technology in a technology initiative?

“North America onshore is an important part of the business for BP,” he said. “I’m proud of the returns we’re getting.”

As the US works to define its energy policy, ideology is the biggest impediment to success.

Analytics also are increasingly being applied to what still remains very much an art, i.e., increasing production, recovery, and efficiency in upstream oil and gas operations.

Whenever you manage a specific set of tasks with a fixed set of people, you must have a plan to keep all of the tasks and people in sync.

Speakers on a recently broadcast E&P Technology Management Forum Broadcast noted that emerging capabilities are already being exploited in today’s upstream oil and gas environments that overcome these type limitations.

OSIsoft winner of Microsoft business business intelligence contest; Oildex processes US $136 billion in transaction detail; Terraspark and TrueOil sign interpretation software agreement; Energy Navigator brings capital tracking and evaluation solutions to US; Simutech offers free Ansys training during downturn

AspenTech aspenONE V7 engineering software released; IPS Brings immersive virtual reality process to life; Brooks announces universal camera head for dry or wet environments

Being bought brings with it access to innovation, expertise in market-centric product management, and capabilities for supply chain discipline.

Subsea gas-liquid separation coupled with liquid boosting can be an effective means of oil reservoir exploitation. Examples from several recent projects — including Pazflor, BC-10, and Perdido — demonstrate that recovery can be improved considerably more than with just boosting alone, while adding only limited incremental costs.

The world’s most powerful subsea raw water injection system requires subsea pumps capable of daily injecting nearly 90,000 bbl of untreated seawater back into the Tyrihans reservoir.

A dual pressure/temperature trigger APB solution tackles extreme conditions in wells drilled in water depths greater than 1,600 ft.

Deepwater E&P is the focal point for many operators in the global oil and gas industry today, and increased development of deepwater prospects is presenting fresh technology challenges.

When natural disasters strike, they create situations that require immediate attention, and creative thinking becomes a very valuable commodity.

With the global economy in the grip of a potentially lengthy downturn, it is a good time to consider some of the challenges facing deepwater players in the months and years ahead.

Deepwater E&P activity has long been a focal point for the global oil and gas industry. With fewer onshore and shallow-water reserves available, companies have to consider opportunities in ever increasing water depths.

Hydraulically expandable tubular systems are delivering real improvements in well design and integrity, providing more flexibility for North Sea operators. The range of possibilities for new expandable solutions applies to deep, slimhole wells and extended reach horizontal wells in workover or repair stages.

Pundits have started to worry about supply shortages. This is not necessarily a bad thing.

Never mind arguments about peak oil, the theory that global oil supply will decline. Management consultancy Arthur D. Little is questioning the energy industry’s conventional wisdom that oil demand will rise ever higher, driven in particular by the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China).

OTC technology award recipients; analyze offshore flowmeter use at OTC; Colfax’ new global organization; Boots & Coots coming off record year; Monolit uses gas engines to limit flaring in anticipation of Russian regulations.

Zone isolation systems popular in Canada; the latest seismic technology; maintain fluid flow with temperature controlled cable.

In February, NuPhysicia LLC, a provider of telemedicine health services, launched a service called InPlace Medical Solutions that takes remote operations to the next level.

Fragmented efforts have impeded progress and derailed some of national oil company Pemex’s long-range projects. Today, the company is re-focusing to pursue it goals.

The list of E&P Magazine's MEA award winners. 

It is almost 43 years since the first exploration well was drilled on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS). The well, located in the North Sea, was dry, but it paved the way for the successes to come — proven reserves of over 60 Bboe throughout the NCS.

Focus must be on fit-for-purpose; advances seen in surface-facilities modeling; BP Azeri is one good example.

Oil giants push employees to make greater use of social networking

Oracle Corp. lands key accounts in oil & gas; looks to further participate in industry.

Seismic Ventures selects forward modeling technology; Gazprom selects software for E&P projects; wireless as a key project component; advanced simulation software suite; SCADA system for PEMEX pipeline networks

Low-power remote controller for harsh environments; oil & gas field visualization tool for Microsoft SharePoint; Disk-based tape replacement storage solution; graphic visualization tool for better decision making

A newly formed alliance brings in the big guns of academia to develop technologies to reduce the carbon footprint of drilling in the US.

The theory behind applied fluid jetting is simple: to increase production rates and improve reservoir recovery rates by maximizing the reservoir area contacted by the well bore, both vertically and horizontally.

Lifeboats that work in harsh environments need different capabilities from those that operate in benign climates, but functionality of the craft is not the only concern. The other major component of lifeboat operation is the human factor. The way the lifeboat is designed ultimately affects the people whose lives the craft is intended to save.

A new crew transfer option is on the table as a result of a challenge put forward by the industry for a safe, efficient, low-cost device suitable for broad implementation.

The world financial crisis has impacted the budgets of operating companies, but deep water, which is developing into a long-term growth sector, will not be one of the line items that comes under scrutiny.

Standard definitions of well components; Schlumberger CEO speaks on management challenges; New proppant production plant opens; CrystaTech allies with GTC Technology; Boots & Coots expands services in Africa

Roxar launches third-generation multiphase meter; FMC contract incorporates all-electric technology; Pumping unit offers production cost advantages; Progressing cavity pump sets thermal recovery record

Opportunities include reduced costs, a chance to replace equipment and to bring on new technologies.

RPMs reduce water permeability and flow without significantly impacting petroleum production.

The project lays the foundation for Russia to become a leading exporter to energy markets of the Asia-Pacific region.

PdVSA hopes to stanch its financial losses.

A uniquely engineered vessel deployment system has completed what may be the world’s deepest rigless subsea production well abandonment.

Intervention is necessary to maintain production levels, but when workover rig and vessel day rates are high, the costs can sometimes outweigh the benefits.

Operating companies that have been active in Atlantic Canada have teamed up to speed drilling programs that could lead to additional production offshore Newfoundland and Labrador.

With the drop in oil price and limited access to credit, a lot of companies are re-evaluating their business plans. GE, however, is relying on its vision and its core competencies in the face of international financial uncertainty.

Energy independence is the primary goal; progress on alternatives to oil seems fitful at best.

First conceived as alternatives to costly or technically difficult interventions, intelligent wells that can be monitored and controlled remotely have evolved into a powerful reservoir management tool. As a result, after initially slow industry-wide uptake, their number is projected to increase fivefold in the next five years.

The move to deeper water has required more specialized and technically sophisticated vessels to support complex deepwater field developments. As a result, today’s offshore support vessels are a far cry from their predecessors.

The oil and gas industry has been aware of the constrained offshore rig market for some time, but unbeknownst to many, helicopter service providers are fighting the same battle in the air.

Following recent developments in the offshore industry, the time could now be right for operators to review their emergency transfer options and take a more comprehensive approach.

The world’s largest LNG carrier offers significant economies of scale over its smaller predecessors.

Based around what is literally a mobile pipeline, a new compressed gas liquids transport concept brings the full gas stream from remote wellheads to market in one stroke.

Improving openhole completions with inflow control devices and swellable zonal isolation can be the means to avoiding problems associated with early water and gas breakthrough and resulting reduced oil production.

From replacing explosive devices to chemical treatments for sand remediation, production environments are a constant stage for efforts aimed at productivity improvement.

Operators, engineering firms, service companies, classification societies, and universities are working together to develop the technologies that will take the offshore industry into deeper water, extreme high-pressure/high-temperature environments, and frigid operating conditions.

On a global playing field, IOCs, NOCs, and independents pushed hard throughout 2008 to meet what seemed at the time to be never-ending demand growth. Now, when that time comes again — and it will — they’ll be ready.

The move to deeper water was one of the primary drivers behind a number of milestones reached in 2008. Noteworthy records were set across the board in the offshore segment of the industry, from deepwater mooring to advances in subsea systems to classification of new production systems.

Traditional gas lift delivers only limited success in long interval environments. Newer techniques overcome shortcomings, but a single tool does not solve every problem.

Faced with trying to produce 8.6°API crude with viscosity beyond 10,000 cP, PdVSA found innovative solutions to lifting and metering problems.

Two recent projects in Argentina demonstrate how polymer gels can be effective in improving oil recovery in mature waterfloods.

Production optimization must extend across levels and be based on an integrated environment.

A new mixed-integer constrained global optimization algorithm tackles oilfield production system challenges.

Heavy oil is difficult to mobilize and produce. Improved methodology, however, is making heavy oil production less costly.

With an increasing percentage of future subsea production expected to occur in ultra-deep water, suppliers to the world’s oil and gas operators continue to push development of technology to make ultra-deepwater production more economic with less risk.

Shipyards are busier than ever, and record order books list deliveries to 2012 and beyond. With yards at capacity, the time is ripe for new ideas and innovative approaches to construction.

A look at the big picture is driving some operators to improve their predictive ability to enhance sand management as a whole.

Unconsolidated sands are among the most difficult type of reservoirs in which to obtain core and to analyze in the laboratory. With the value of a proper core analysis typically exceeding 10 times the cost, it pays to get it right.

An all-metal insulated pipeline can guard against flow assurance problems in harsh subsea environments.

Developing offshore reserves presents many challenges and risks that must be managed during the design and operational phases. Risers are a particular focus due to their complex structural response and are one element of equally critical integrated subsea architecture.

The closing ceremony in Beijing, with the Olympic torch being passed from China to Great Britain, was ironic. In truth, Asia forcefully grabbed the economic initiative some time ago. If global business were a decathlon, it would be the Asian countries that would be tipped to run fastest, jump highest, and throw farthest in the years ahead.

Fracturing has a major impact on well productivity and ultimate recovery, and the current methods used to determine propped fracture geometry are not providing the information necessary for engineers to substantially improve fracturing results. A new alternative offers a better solution.

The emergence and increasing adoption of Web services, based on standard Internet protocols, is beginning to transform E&P data management, reducing entrenched costs and facilitating faster, tighter integration of disparate systems.

Testing subsea actuators with live condensate fluids from actual field developments may become a new industry standard.

New concepts and designs have pushed class societies to anticipate and develop rules for the next generation of offshore installations. Floating production advances are calling for class design review to be conducted in a truly holistic manner.

The industry faces some interesting challenges as it prepares to move into Arctic areas in the years ahead, and there is no basis for complacency or over-confidence in thinking that tools are in place to contend adequately with the challenges this area poses.

Winds, waves, ice, and sub-freezing temperatures complicate Arctic operations, but forward-thinking designs are paving the way into the frontier.

A common challenge for designers of turret moored FPSOs is ensuring alignment of the FPSO to the predominant environmental loading in extreme conditions. Use of thrusters to assist turret moorings under specific operating conditions to secure this alignment improves FPSO response, increases safety, and expands production windows. It is then necessary to carefully engineer the interaction between the thruster and mooring systems so that, should the thruster system fail, its consequences can be safely managed.

Twenty years of decommissioning offshore oil and gas facilities creates a knowledgeable framework for estimating new projects.

Hurricane Katrina created abandonment challenges in the form of complicated platform and well conditions that, in some cases, required a new way of tackling projects.

Extending the life of mature assets is as important as bringing oil to market rapidly. Products that can facilitate both of these objectives are in short supply.

A new micro-scale, low-cost nitrogen rejection plant can now upgrade low-BTU gas and improve marginal fields.

New system uses spare subsea electrical circuitry or co-existent power supplies to convey increased well and reservoir data to topside data acquisition systems for analysis.

Mature fields may lack the sparkle of a new play, but can still yield enormous returns.

All the easy oil has been found. It is more economical to produce an incremental barrel from a known field. Increasing ultimate recovery from existing fields – as well as new discoveries – is a key challenge for operators, and the tools and techniques for doing so are the focus of much research and development.

Arctic oil and gas development requires specialized techniques for production and people.

New technology expands stranded gas development options.

Shell employees gear up for careers at the operator’s college.