Outlook 2002
Much has happened in the last year – volatile oil and gas prices; a U.S. recession; the events of Sept. 11; a war on terrorism; instability in the Middle East; and activity down in the U.S. and Canada, but steady in other regions. So, what's next for the global E&P industry? Backed by worldwide statistics and proprietary surveys, World Oil's one-of-a-kind forecasting issue reviews 2001's events and tells readers what to expect for 2002.

Activity Reviews, Predictions

Crude oil price analysis
The dean of Houston price analysts, Matthew Simmons of Simmons & Co. Int'l, tries to make sense of OPEC's recent decisions, recessionary pressures and the Russian wildcard

Washington in 2002
As reported by World Oil's capital city correspondent, the crafting of U.S. energy policy by federal officials is a dubious art form at best, and this year will be no exception

E&P spending forecast
Salomon Smith Barney's number-crunching gurus do their best to get inside the heads of upstream executives, to offer predictions of U.S., Canadian and worldwide capital expenditures

Canadian outlook
Calgary contributor Bob Curran probes for hopeful signs that this important market's outlook for exploration and development will not be as frosty as the winter of The Great White North

Interpretive Features, Statistics

U.S. drilling
The lights are burning long, and the computers are straining, as the editorial team of Russell Wright, Bob Snyder and Perry Fischer labors hard to produce an industry standard, their U.S. drilling forecast, complete with survey results, tables and charts
In addition, the U.S. section will include analysis of the country's rig count, oil production, and oil and gas reserves. There will also be several unique features that even DOE and API depend on World Oil for, including producing oil wells, producing gas wells, and all-time, state-by-state drilling/producing depths.

International drilling
Managing/International Editor Kurt Abraham scours government officials, oil company planners and interesting third-party characters to glean 2002's global drilling picture
In addition, the international section will offer early 2001 results and 2002 predictions for global offshore drilling, as well as data and analysis for international production rates

Technology At Work
World Oil's popular quarterly feature is a timely offering of recent technology advances and applications that are helping operators/contractors improve their operations. Selected articles include:

Non-destructive testing of premium pipe connections
(C-FER Technologies)

Ice plugs as extra safety valves during mature, gas well workovers
(BP)

Visualization system allows geologists/engineers to work more closely
(Fakespace Systems/SGI)

Low-risk multi-lateral solutions for deepwater applications
(Baker Oil Tools)

Applied technology case history
(Petroleum Technology Transfer Council, PTTC)