E&P Magazine - April 2009

Save us from politicians

There simply is no realistic plan afoot in the political community to address the faltering global economy.

Subocean Group announces plans to double staff numbers

Giving back when it’s needed

Helping the needy is not a fair-weather activity. One small independent is attempting to aid the communities in which it operates despite current hard times.

New perf gun stands up to the pressure

Successful production begins with the perfect perforation. A new 7-in. gun — the first perf gun rated to 30,000 psi — promises to lower the risks associated with perforating the world’s deepest wells in the burgeoning ultra-deepwater arena.

Good chemistry gets good results

As operators limit drilling due to budget constraints they are seeking ways to increase production from existing wells. One good question, then, might be what new methods for increasing production have come online since the last petroleum industry downturn?

Technology pushes offshore limits

Investment in technology during the downturn is laying the foundation that will be necessary for the industry to move into challenging frontiers when the investment climate improves.

Deepwater GoM challenges span full well process

In the deepwater Gulf of Mexico (GoM), the most recent success is frequently followed by the next great challenge. Experience gained is quickly leveraged against ever-increasing extremes in this complex environment.

A remote terminal unit — of whatever color — is more than a black box

The RTU has been a workhorse of the petroleum industry for more than 20 years — a thoroughly domesticated animal often seen as just one more element, more or less, of the post-industrial landscape. The last several years, however, while hardly qualifying as a disruptive technology, RTUs have evolved to become a base node for the intelligent oil and gas field.

Crushable foam wrap mitigates subsea casing failures

A dual pressure/temperature trigger APB solution tackles extreme conditions in wells drilled in water depths greater than 1,600 ft.

Faster slide drilling, improved bottomhole control

New directional drilling control software alleviates problems commonly associated with slide drilling.

Improved production using subsea separation boosting

Subsea gas-liquid separation coupled with liquid boosting can be an effective means of oil reservoir exploitation. Examples from several recent projects — including Pazflor, BC-10, and Perdido — demonstrate that recovery can be improved considerably more than with just boosting alone, while adding only limited incremental costs.

Landing string technology moves safety

Deepwater E&P is the focal point for many operators in the global oil and gas industry today, and increased development of deepwater prospects is presenting fresh technology challenges.

Massive pumps feed the world’s most powerful subsea injection system

The world’s most powerful subsea raw water injection system requires subsea pumps capable of daily injecting nearly 90,000 bbl of untreated seawater back into the Tyrihans reservoir.

Multilateral junction has selective, high-pressure fracturing capability

System allows building of multilateral junctions while permitting back-to-back stimulation of the well.

New system acquires EM, seismic

A seabed system is working to take both measurements at the same time.

Node technology scores home run — again

OBS technology provides crucial subsalt information at the Deimos field.

North Sea finds multiple uses for hydraulically expandable tubular systems

Hydraulically expandable tubular systems are delivering real improvements in well design and integrity, providing more flexibility for North Sea operators. The range of possibilities for new expandable solutions applies to deep, slimhole wells and extended reach horizontal wells in workover or repair stages.

Offshore Guinea gets new look

Encouraging seismic data may open the door to an underexplored area.

Starting from both ends: expandable casing design

From the top down and the bottom up: there are always two ways to find a solution when designing challenging wells.

Streamers on autopilot

From steerable streamers to streamers that steer themselves, a new system targets the issues of trousering and feathering.

Turbulence hits deepwater

With the global economy in the grip of a potentially lengthy downturn, it is a good time to consider some of the challenges facing deepwater players in the months and years ahead.

UOE technology takes pipelines to new depths

Deepwater E&P activity has long been a focal point for the global oil and gas industry. With fewer onshore and shallow-water reserves available, companies have to consider opportunities in ever increasing water depths.

VetcoGray gains from its acquisition by GE

Being bought brings with it access to innovation, expertise in market-centric product management, and capabilities for supply chain discipline.

Measure vanadium, asphaltene concentration from the field

Changes in asphaltene concentration over time can lead to increased fouling of machinery and pipelines and decreased production. A new sensor technology called Micro-ESR can rapidly and unambiguously detect the presence and concentration of asphaltenes in crude oil, online and onsite, where it counts.

Tech Trends

Tech trends for April.

On the move

Who's going where in the upstream sector.

An eye on the upside

A close look at past economic and commodity pricing cycles reveals light at the end of the tunnel. We may be more than halfway through the current downturn.

Somaliland open for business

The Somali autonomous area of Somaliland launched its first licensing round in February 2009, offering nearly 36,000 sq miles (90,000 sq km) of onshore and offshore blocks.

The engineering company conundrum

This article is the second in a two-part series that examines the status of engineering companies in the oil and gas industry, where they have been, and where they are going in a time of tremendous change. The first article was published as “Another Perspective” in the March issue of E&P.

Protecting yourself from the FCPA in major international projects

While encouraged to develop alternate sources of petroleum outside of the Middle East, US companies and even individuals are judged by the first-world standards of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 and may become subject to its civil and criminal penalties.

I married a doodlebugger

Think transfers are tough now? Here’s one woman’s account of following her husband around the oilpatch in the mid-20th century.