November 2016

E&P Magazine - November 2016

System provides operators with savings and efficiency for shale production.

As I See It

Time Is Money

Cost efficiency has been the upstream industry’s Holy Grail over the past year or so, but now it is increasingly focused on reducing project cycle time.

Cover Story

Automated Pigging Prevents Corrosion

System provides operators with savings and efficiency for shale production.

Back To Where It All Began

And what a long, strange trip it’s been! Fifteen years of shale development have completely changed the face of the oil and gas industry.

Composite vs. Dissolvable Fracture Plugs

Uptake on dissolvable plugs might be slow until some important questions are answered.

Frack Plug Stacks Up Against Competition

As a commodity item, many variations of the frack plug exist in the market, but what separates one from another are critical components such as drillability, wellbore debris production, effect on drill-up time and overall completion costs.

MPD Emerging As Preferred Drilling Method In Utica Shale

Technology improves efficiency and reduces NPT.

Shales: A Look Back

E&P first began writing about shales 15 years ago. A lot has changed since then.

US Shale Operators Focus On Completion Optimization, Best Practices

The North American shale landscape has transformed over the last several years as the industry has ridden the waves of price volatility and has finally hit its first major downcycle for shale producers.

Market Intelligence

Turning The Corner On DUCs

Recovery might be closer, but batch completions still not keeping up with batch drilling.

Exploration Technologies

Finding Hidden Treasure

New methodology finds shear information in P-wave data.

Drilling Technologies

Drilling Contractors See ‘Cautious Optimism’ As Rig Count Moves Up

Drilling contractors are reactivating rigs and rehiring former employees— both signs of shifting momentum in the market.

Completions and Production

Making The Impossible Possible

R&D consortium releases its ‘bold new strategic plan to tackle industry’s biggest challenges.’

Digital Solutions

Bridging The Gap: The Digital Oil Field And Its Data

Challenges remain in implementing the digital oilfield concept to all operations.

Offshore Solutions

Lean Approach For Next Generation Of Subsea Boosting Systems

Seabed gas compression has only just arrived as a proven production solution but is already being put on a diet.

Operator Solutions

Drillbit Optimization

Continually improving design, accelerating cycles of learning help drive efficiency gains.

Marcellus Operators Save Money With Online Water Management

Free online marketplace offers operators options to meet their water sourcing, recycling, hauling and disposal needs.

Features

A Nodal Approach

Ocean-bottom node surveys aid in subsalt illumination, reservoir management.

AUV Research Advances Capabilities

Benefits of AUV use continue to expand. AUVs are being used to survey and inspect pipelines and flowlines and to verify the integrity of subsea structures.

Horsepower Optimization For Efficient Operations

Applying advances in digital technology to the drilling process can maximize the EUR.

Intelligent Intervention Improves Economics, Efficiencies

Combining real-time downhole intelligence, coiled tubing strength and flexibility, and continuous electrical power benefits fishing, milling, cleanouts, perforating and other operations.

New Technique Corrects Distortions

WEI leads to improved amplitude fidelity and image resolution in the Jequitinhonha Basin offshore Brazil.

Quality-driven Contracts Can Prevent Twist-offs And Damaged Pipe

A lack of contractor and operator specifications has led to inadequate iron roughnecks.

Rigless Intervention Tools Elevate Artificial Lift To New Production Gains

Variety of tools and methods are available to optimize production without needing a workover rig.

Taking The Guesswork Out Of Leak Description

Acoustic technology shows new benefits.

Unconventional Report

Texas Activity In Permian And Eagle Ford

Texas holds some valuable acreage that continues to provide refuge in sub-$60 oil.

Regional Report

Indonesian Roller Coaster No Amusement Ride

Indonesia’s upstream sector, after a decade of production decline and several years of investor uncertainty, is finally upping its game.

Tech Watch

Improving Velocity Control And Reliability Of Control Valves

New control valve trim delivers quiet, noncavitating and nonerosive service.

Tech Trends

Tech Trends

Check out some of the latest technology releases.

Activity Highlights

International Highlights

Check out the latest activity highlights worldwide.

On The Move

On The Move

Check out the latest appointments, new hires, promotions and office openings.

Last Word

Changing The Cost Of North Sea Oil

North Sea operators can’t change the oil price, but by achieving operational excellence they could change the real cost of the oil.