An iterative process of reservoir modeling helps avoid costly mistakes. Approximately 80,000 wells are drilled a year worldwide, but 40% of those are dry or economically marginal. Sub-optimal drilling, operational and... more

Conceptual model building provides a key to success in fractured reservoir characterization. There is a common misconception in fractured reservoir modeling that "all fractures are equal." This often drives the... more

With more than 64% of the world drilling records for bi-center bits last year, DPI has become a recognized leader in bi-center drill bit technology. DIAMOND PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL (DPI) With more than... more

New opportunities are found in real-time drilling technologies. Faced with tapping reserves located in increasingly tough environments, the petroleum industry has looked to advanced directional drilling techniques, and the well placement... more

A new acquisition by The Expro Group promises benefits in many areas of downhole production operations. Recently, The Expro Group announced the acquisition of the downhole tractoring business of SmartTract. The... more

Modular subsea production equipment is nearing the end of a qualification process to provide off the shelf facilities for a major operator. Shell Technology Ventures has backed qualification of modular subsea... more

As deepwater oil and gas exploration in the Gulf of Mexico and international waters have become key activities, new concerns have arisen about the interaction between subsea hydraulic control line... more

A new "animal" has been added to the lexicon of oil and gas exploration. There's doghouses, mouse holes and rat holes, and even cat lines on rigs, pigs for pipelines... more

Real-time nuclear magnetic resonance logging while drilling (LWD) provides formation fluid type, permeability and bound fluid volume. This producibility information drives steering decisions allowing the well bore to be drilled... more

In order to maximize the effectiveness of the new dual-activity derrick designs found on many new deepwater drillships, CFI-Westech has developed a modular production riser tensioner (PRT). Not only can... more

Contracts continue to roll out from the huge Sakhalin Island energy production program in Russia's Far East. Partners in Sakhalin II led by Shell have been securing gas sales contracts... more

NORTH AMERICA Grant Prideco announced that Matt Fitzgerald has been appointed as chief financial officer. Quantum Energy Partners announced that Quantum, Michael "Mike" E. Black and Ricky L. Smith have... more

1. Apparently trying to get on the good side of California's new governor, Cimarex Energy Co., Tulsa, Okla., has named a series of new field wildcats in Madera and Merced... more

1. The Energy Resource Technology subsidiary of Cal Dive International brought its second company-operated subsea well on line. The High Island South Addition A544 #2 well is in 235 ft... more

1. ChevronTexaco launched further development of the block 16/26 Alba field with a US $84 million Phase 2 development of the Alba Extreme South area with three new wells and... more

1. Algeria awarded five blocks with total signature bonuses of around US $100 million from its latest licensing round. National oil company Sonatrach awarded the acreage from its fourth round,... more

1. Indonesia awarded seven exploration blocks to a selection of small companies, with no international operators featured, leaving Indonesian big hitter Pertamina standing at the post as it awarded a... more

1. ExxonMobil is drilling ahead in its deepwater Zafar-Mashal prospect 61 miles (96 km) offshore Baku, Azerbaijan, in the Caspian Sea. It expects the exploratory well to take 240 days... more

1. The US Army Corps of Engineers awarded two contracts, together worth US $2 billion, to Halliburton and a partnership of Parsons and Worley Group to repair Iraq's oil infrastructure... more

1. In spite of PdVSA's post-strike concentration on younger eastern oil fields, the company plans to develop Tomoporo field near Lake Maracaibo as the operator with no outside partners. The... more

With E&P companies growing ever-more risk averse, data acquisition companies are starting to shift their focus. Analysts and service companies eagerly await the end of the year, which is when some... more

When it comes to reaching reserves, it's obvious that directional companies have huge responsibilities to "get there." What's less obvious is the value that independent directional companies generate for operators.... more

In July, we put out an all points bulletin for Captain Nemo, Jules Verne's intrepid submariner, as we revealed Maris International's concept for a modular seabed drilling system. Hamburg engineer... more

Customers in the offshore industry don't mind being second when it comes to new technology. Why did it take 10 years for Aker to get the SPAR concept accepted in the... more

You don't have many conversations these days that don't eventually turn to the poor-to-pathetic job this industry does of presenting its story and its accomplishments to the general public. You... more

A company trying to work simpler, better, faster and cheaper may find its solution in ASPs. In the last 20 years, the oil & gas industry has been the beneficiary of... more

Technology suppliers carp about slow acceptance of new ideas. Here are a few positive steps to deal with that resistance. (First in a quarterly series of articles on technology adoption.) The... more

Oil moves the economy and people move the oil. Venezuela pushes both resources. Venezuela's ill-fated strike to get rid to President Hugo Chavez left the nation in a black hole for... more

South American countries need positive steps to compete for international funds. The world oil and gas market is highly competitive, and in recent years, South America has fallen behind in the... more

Government designs terms to attract international investment. The nation of Suriname on the shoulder of South America would like offshore oil production to supplement its income from onshore properties, and it... more

Ole-Jacob Kvinnsland, or O.J. to many who knew him, succumbed to a heart attack at his home near Stavanger on January 14. Considered the father of petroleum journalism in Norway,... more