E&P Magazine - July 2004
As I See It
Conundrum: When to adopt technology
Every executive must decide when new technology adds top value to a company.
Cover Story
Reserves deserve integrity
Oil and natural gas reserves are the most important asset of an exploration and production company, and long overdue discussions on this topic are finally occurring.
Drilling Technologies
Expandable completions
Commercial expandable screen completions continue to grow.
Completions and Production
Tiny bubbles scrub oily water
An innovative new water treatment module features a greatly simplified, computer-aided design particularly advantageous for use on offshore floating production units.
Features
China dip threatens oil prices
Indicators point to a Chinese economic fall that could send a shock wave that will cut oil prices.
Tech Watch
Technology trifecta
The Monday crowds at this year's OTC were unusually strong.
Activity Highlights
Not on my watch
I am an admirer of 62-year old Mike Melvill, a corporate test pilot.
Another Perspective
Answers while drilling
Modern drilling decision-makers are drowning in data; now, technology providers are pushing the logging-while-drilling (LWD) envelope to deliver, not more data, but answers.
Carrying its own weight
A novel method of technology development might fill in some of the research and development (R&D) gaps.
New answers for flowing questions
Operators are beginning to consider new methods of maintaining flow assurance within offshore facilities without heating or chemical dosing.
Plugging the leaks
Water shut off isn't the most glamorous of activities in the oil patch, but it is one that can quickly turn water flow into cash flow.
The future is now
Stop waiting for multicomponent technology to arrive - it already has.
Union improves resolution, efficiency
A combination of two methods holds promise for faster land seismic acquisition.
Universal steerable system debuts
Many rotary steerable systems are married to their measurement-while-drilling/logging-while-drilling (MWD/LWD) strings.
West Delta's deep marine challenge
Flow assurance is an important part of any development. However, for long distance subsea tiebacks, such as West Delta Deep Marine (WDDM), it is a core discipline which has the highest importance.
What's new in water management?
Many strategies exist for controlling or mitigating water production.
World Map
Dialing for data
With data management continuing to be a major source of stress for the industry, several companies are coming to the rescue with user-friendly solutions.