E&P Magazine - January 2001

Cover Story

Pray for Us

The world seems to be divided between romanticists, who eagerly embraced the dawning of the new millennium last January, and scientists, who grumpily maintain the actual millennevent occurred only this week.

Drilling Technologies

Reversing advances performance

Details of a novel approach to drilling and completing open-hole horizontal wells with a fully compatible synthetic- and oil-based fluid system using shunt tube technology have been revealed.

Features

Greenland going for greenfield prospects

Greenland's Bureau of Minerals and Petroleum (BMP) is hoping to build up the interest of oil companies in its sector's prospectivity by opening a new offshore licensing round in its western deep waters.

Tech Watch

Biotechnology repairs frac damage

Since its introduction in 1948, hydraulic fracturing has become a popular method for the stimulation of oil and gas well production.

Activity Highlights

Like clockwork

In a wonderful new book, The Engines of Our Ingenuity, John Lienhard, University of Houston M.D. Anderson Professor of Mechanical Engineering and History, argues persuasively that we often fail to recognize the breadth of our technology and the suitability of its application to a specific time and purpose.

Another Perspective

5 technologies drive digital revolution

In creating their companies' information technology (IT) strategies, managers should consider how to implement five key technologies to reduce costs and improve their competitive position.

Building a bridge over deep water

Coflexip Stena Offshore (CSO) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Pierre M. Valentin and Chief Operating Officer Thomas Ehret share their views on the future of deepwater development.

Dreaming of hidden treasure

New exploration technology is poised to help asset teams unlock even more secrets of the deep.

Emissions infiltrate business issues

Until recently it was a universally acknowledged truth that you could talk about the weather, but there was nothing you could do about it. Now companies, especially energy companies, are expected to do something about it.

From side dish to entrée?

The concepts of multicomponent acquisition have been bandied about the seismic dinner table for decades. Now contractors are trying to serve up solid helpings of the technology.

Intelligent solutions pave the way

During the past 5 years the well construction sector has witnessed many radical changes, including the emergence of new breakthroughs that reduce cost and risk and the evolution of state-of-the-art technologies that increase oil recovery.

Intelligent tools increase recovery

Recruiting and training issues are dimming technology's bright promise.

Virtual Changes

Yesterday's gee-whiz technology is reality today and will become commonplace tomorrow, causing geoscientists to wonder how they ever got anything done before.

World Map

Avoid deepwater disasters

Safely testing deepwater wells requires purpose-built technology and a good deal of experience.