Drilling and Completion Technology

This month's drilling section features two case studies of applied drilling technology, including a horizontal drilling story, both told from the operator's viewpoint. The application of the industry's newest technologies offers exciting ways to lower cost, increase ROP and shorten rig time.

Completion technology continues to advance. This month's offering demonstrates the effectiveness of new downhole hardware combinations to preserve and enhance reservoir porosity and permeability to improve production.

 Exploration-Seismic Acquisition

Increasing seismic bandwith through a novel streamer arrangement. Broadband frequencies are highly desirable for better imaging. An arrangement of streamers at two discreet depths results in broader frequencies, especially at the low end. This can, in turn, result in improved reservoir description. Authors from Schlumberger describe the method, and how and why it works.

New types of seismic sources. Several new type of seismic sources, both for land and offshore, have recently entered the market. This article describes how each one works, operational logistics, and what sort of output can be expected.

 Production Technology

A new approach to optimize continuous gas lift systems. A simulation that includes composition modeling, combined with a new optimization algorithm, improves the accuracy of predicting certain types of gas lift systems, when compared with a black-oil model. Characterization of the injection gas explains the differences in this method and black-oil models, as discussed by authors from the National Iranian South Oil Company and the University of Alberta, Canada

 Petroleum Technology Digest

World Oil's regular monthly feature is published in association with the Petroleum Technology Transfer Council. This month features a case study about enhancing production, told from the operator's view.

 Drilling, Completion and Workover Fluids

World Oil's exclusive annual reference comprises about 21 pages that show trade names, generic descriptions, recommended usage and suppliers of nearly 2,400 fluid systems/additives for drilling, completion and workover.