Issue: May 1999

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Special Focus

Directional drilling performance improvement

How fit-for-purpose technology applications can positively impact drilling operations by maximizing overall effciency from planning to completion

Exploitation of new underbalanced drilling technologies

Apache Canada drilled/ completed two horizontal, underbalanced gas wells with coiled tubing in two reservoirs, with significant productivity increase

New system handles UBD surface fluids offshore

Surface separation system, designed for underbalanced drilling offshore, satisfies weight/ space limitations while remaining fully automated

Oryx runs "horizontal" production log with downhole tractor

How a North Sea operator cut cost and rig time by using a new downhole tool to pull a logging string into a highly deviated wellbore

World's first TAML Level 6 multilateral completion

Formed-metal technology allowed a complex Level 6 completion to be accomplished using a simple process with conventional casing/ cementing

Features

3-D seismic porosity modeling using a new form of cokriging

Combining well data with seismic impedance permits porosity modeling that is computationally simpler, more accurate than conventional cokriging

Petroleum potential of Nicaragua, Honduras greater than in Jamaica

Investigation shows that chances of finding commercial oil/gas in the Nicaragua Rise are much greater in the west than in the east (Jamaica)

What's new in geophysics/ geology

Defining source rock from produced water * Geophysical data from government sources * What's new in marine seismic * Immersive environments enhance team collaboration

Special Report

Fieldbus automates oil production field

ARCO estimates savings of $621,000 per drill site

Fieldbus improves petrochemical plant operation

Reduced design, installation and startup costs provided significant benefits

Fieldbus introduces new concepts in process control

Devicebuses and sensorbuses complete the architecture

A 32-page supplement presents eight technical articles describing "process fieldbus" technology, digital field networks for bi-directional communication between devices of basic process control loops in various oil, gas process applications

Foundation fieldbus helps meet regulatory and profitability challenges

The technology simplifies field-level communications and provides new functionality

Getting started with fieldbus - a primer

Use these guidelines to set up an experimental Foundation fieldbus system

Intrinsically-safe fieldbus provides chemical plant savings

Similar conventional and fieldbus installations are compared

Lube oil blending plant revamps with fieldbus

The technology provided 3% capital savings, as well as ongoing engineering and maintenance benefits

PROFIBUS International - a strong community

This fieldbus organization provides many services and benefits

Departments

New equipment

New literature

Columns

Editorial Comment

Oil prices: With several forecasts available, just pick one you like

International

Inconsistencies in reported oil industry statistics feed a growing debate

Oil and gas in Washington

Energy Secretary is trying to help; U.S. independents make their case

What's happening in drilling

Redesigned CT system; mud for shallow water flow; closed loop drilling

What's happening in exploration

What have you "caught" on your seismic streamers? Other new developments

What's happening in production

Venezuela "says" it's going to cut production; Optimized gas lift method

What's happening offshore

Some comments on the annual National Ocean Industries Assoc. meeting

News & Resources

Companies in the news

May 1999 Vol. 220 No. 5 Company News Santa Fe Energy Resources signed two production sharing agreements (PSAs) with China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC) for Blocks 16/02 and 16/05

Industry at a glance

May 1999 Vol. 220 No. 5 Industry Stats International Geophysical Activity Table

Looking ahead

May 1999 Vol. 220 No. 5 Looking Ahead IOGCC releases report on domestic industrys state of affairs. Oklahoma Secretary of Energy and Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission Vice Cha

Oil country hot line

May 1999 Vol. 220 No. 5 Hot Line BP Amoco, ARCO merge in major stock deal BP Amoco and the Atlantic Richfield Co. have agreed to merge in a $26.8-billion stock deal. The combination will give

People in industry

May 1999 Vol. 220 No. 5 People Shell Exploration & Production named Walter van de Vijver as president and CEO. Rich Pattarozzi was appointed VP, Shell Offshore Inc. responsible

Industry At A Glance