E&P Magazine - December 2003
As I See It
Too much experience may backfire
A survey of oil industry veterans reveals large differences of opinion on age discrimination.
Cover Story
Cheap oil 101 class begins
With C as my best grade in college economics, authoring an economics editorial might not be justified.
Drilling Technologies
Downhole vision
Logging tools using real-time transmission systems are now capable of imaging the wellbore as it is drilled.
Completions and Production
Subsea current analysis evolves
Studies update the industry's knowledge about deepwater's impact on production operations.
Features
Africa offers big opportunities
Billion-barrel fields may lie under the next promising structure.
Angola plays boost corporate assets
Big fields provide foundation blocks for corporate growth.
Tool aids evaluation of West Africa thin beds
Accurate analysis of deepwater pay zones determines commercial reserves.
Tech Watch
Mile high wish list
SPE's Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition in Denver was billed as the "Mile High Meeting of the Minds."
Activity Highlights
Fishy stories
A fellow could be blamed for thinking that behind every really good thing in life there's someone or something trying to screw it up.
Another Perspective
Coalbed economics get a boost
Once considered marginally feasible, coalbed natural gas projects are benefiting from game-changing technology applications.
Forum continues investment debate
A recent forum at Houston's Rice University discussed new technologies and the funding needed to develop them.
Geopressure knowledge boosts profits
Successful geopressure modeling requires integration of data from diverse sources.
Just around the corner
Several R&D organizations have cutting-edge technology that will be commercialized quite soon.
Over the rainbow
What can a high-tech tennis racket teach the oil and gas industry? Read on.
Sand blaster initiates precision frac jobs
Coiled tubing can play a major role in fracture-stimulating horizontal completions as described in several recent case histories.
Sustainable growth works
Brazil's largest integrated oil and gas company combines technology with integration into society.
Technology unleashes upstream industry
Computer breakthroughs promise to revolutionize the oil and gas industry.
Treating the tough ones
Previously inaccessible high pressure, high temperature zones can be isolated and successfully treated using coiled tubing-deployed inflatable packers.
World Map
Is spec seismic still a good idea?
Speculative surveys have been both the best and the worst thing to happen to the seismic industry.