E&P Magazine - March 2013
As I See It
Experiments in shales
The ‘larger hammer’ approach only goes so far when developing unconventional reserves.
Cover Story
Keeping tools on bottom, need for downhole data drive innovation
From new tools for multistage well completions to cleaning the hole to unsticking pipe, the emphasis is on efficiency in all aspects of downhole operations.
Exploration Technologies
Getting to the core of the problem
A new coring system captures reservoir fluids and delivers them to the surface in a safe and environmentally responsible manner.
Drilling Technologies
Australia: One continent, two frac crews create massive bottleneck
Imagine having to move a frac crew from Pennsylvania to California. That is equivalent to what operators in Western Australia have to do to frac shales.
Completions and Production
Val d’Agri field gets lifted
Advanced technology brings rigless replacement of ESP systems to Italy.
Offshore Advances
Ensuring the resources to ride the subsea surf
The subsea market is booming, and indications are that this segment will remain the offshore sector’s star.
Digital Solutions
Getting to market faster with high-performance cloud
Collaboration enables first-ever cloud-based processing of geological data for the oil and gas industry.
The USB port: the universal SCADA breach
A new USB port security solution enhances the security and usability for IC/SCADA system owners.
Features
A buoyant market for floaters
The floating production market is on a strong upward surge, but there are still plenty of pitfalls looming for companies with their eyes on the prize.
A story of transformation
Repsol has transformed itself into an international upstream player with interests in many of the world’s high-potential emerging oil and gas sectors. Marcos Mozetic, Repsol’s executive director of exploration, explains the company’s metamorphosis into a world-class explorer.
Addressing the global anti-fracing movement
What it wants, how it operates, and what is next will affect operators’ license to do business.
All that jazz?
What do jazz and fracing have in common? Without leadership, both evolved through the efforts of a small group of dedicated participants.
Artificial lift management simplified
The novel use of pump motor speed enables robust remote monitoring and management of artificially lifted wells.
Big data payoff: accelerating speed to answer
Deploying a high-performance data management environment gives oil and gas companies the information to optimize performance and reduce risk.
Electrical waveform analysis empowers intelligence
System helps prevent expensive shutdowns.
Evolution in the North Dakota Bakken leads to its elevation
In less than a decade, increased production, takeaway capacities, and operator effort in the Bakken have bumped North Dakota up in the rankings to become the second leading state in crude oil production.
Extending the life of rod-pumped wells
An intelligent rod rotator incorporates new sensing technologies to take the guesswork out of rotator failures.
Finding treasure in the sand
Canada’s heavy oil development is benefiting from new technology and keen attention to the environment.
Making shutdowns a thing of the past
An online vessel sand-removal system eliminates shutdowns and enhances worker safety.
Microseismic monitoring explains complex fracture networks
This Marcellus case study demonstrates the value of microseismic monitoring beyond traditional fracture length, height, and azimuth.
Real-time analysis shows particle size distribution in drilling mud
Additional visual information saves time and money when determining drilling fluid composition.
Right-time delivery of time-lapse seismic data
Continuously improving acquisition technology and carefully designed processing workflows enable consistent right-time delivery of time-lapse seismic measurements from marine towed-streamer systems.
Shear-wave splitting analysis aids in time-lapse study
The interpretation of reservoir complexities can improve completion success.
Technological advances in progressing cavity pumps
New innovations promise to deliver better results in production efficiencies and reliability.
What goes around comes around
A second-generation circular floater is offering tangible economic performance and safety advantages to operators worldwide.
Where the elite meet the heat
Thermal recovery schemes can place extreme stress on downhole components. Designing a solution to long-term extreme heat in electrical submersible pumps required imagination and considerable ingenuity.
Tech Watch
RCS coating performs without activators
A bondable coating exhibits lower onset temperatures, performing under low temperatures and closure stresses without the negative effects of the use of activators.
Tech Trends
Activity Highlights
On The Move
Industry Impact
Casing bit system enables longer, deeper intervals
Drilling technology decreases NPT and is effective in more challenging formations.
Management Report
Getting past 'go'
Employing alternative dispute resolution tools early, like CPS and SVP, can make for smoother project execution.