EXPLORATION

Wide azimuth issues and answers. In a question and answer format, a panel of experts address issues that continue to arise with this new acquisition frontier. Far beyond mere economics, there are processing difficulties, unavoidable increased anisotropy, and uncertainties in interpretation that have to be weighed against the benefits of increased illumination and seeing what was previously not seeable. What are the best uses, and what progress is being made to meet these challenges are discussed.

New utility in 4D processing. It took a long time to convince geophysicists that difference volumes from repeat seismic surveys were susceptible to slight differences in everything: position, wave height, tides, equipment, shooting parameters, and so on. Shell recently discovered even more subtle differences that, when accounted for in processing, can result in much clearer difference volumes for better interpretation.

Whitening the spectrum, removing the noise. PGS has recently introduced a new way of measuring two different seismic attributes: velocity and impedance. Like WesternGeco�s over/under technique, it increases bandwidth while decreasing noise. But in PGS� case, both sensors are collocated on the same seismic towed streamer. Theory and principles of operation, and some sample data, are discussed.

 INTERNATIONAL STATISTICAL REVIEW/FORECAST

World Oil’s world review statistical tables are meticulously gathered, compiled and qualified. These tables, from our own exclusive surveys, include: oil and gas reserves; wells drilled and wells forecast to be drilled, as well as footage drilled; number of producing wells by various categories, including artificial lift and flowing; all listed by country.

 DEEPWATER TECHNOLOGY

Two case studies that help operations in deep water will be presented. Details of these articles will be announced soon.

 AUTOMATION AND CONTROL

Producers of unconventional gas fields are often forced to rely on group metering, since the cost of conventional SCADA cannot be justified on the lower production volumes in these fields. A very low-cost monitoring solution has been developed specifically targeted at unconventional well monitoring, providing flow and pressure data from individual wellhead locations. The article presents examples of how field operators are using the systems to optimize water removal, timing of mechanical systems, gathering systems and several other uses. Advanced Flow Technologies Inc, and Pengrowth Energy Trust tell the story.

Supertanker in fast-track conversion becomes the world's largest, most intelligent FPSO. Integrated engineering, modular construction and advanced automation technologies made this huge project possible. Authors from Emerson Process Management and BW Offshore describe how it was done.

 PRODUCED WATER REPORT

Continuous monitoring of produced water allows process optimization. Statoil and Roxar detail how this new oil-in-water monitoring gives a better answer to what’s happening in the production process flow, allowing improved process optimization.

 HEAVY OIL PRODUCTION

Avoiding oil-displacement agents to steam flooding for heavy oil recovery. While the method had some success, reservoir heterogeneity in Xinjiang heavy oil reservoir resulted in steam channeling, which may allow the injected chemicals to move directly to the producing well, bypassing some oil. The new technique uses plugging agents to block steam channeling before injecting the oil-displacement chemicals. This helps to expand the sweep range of chemicals. The technology was applied to Xinjiang field, resulting in increased oil production (220,000 bbl so far) and reduced watercut in 164 out of 256 wells.

 RMOTC

Many oil and gas wells in the US produce hot water as well as hydrocarbon. These wells (which generally produce fluids at temperatures below 220°F) have been estimated as capable of generating up to 5,000 MW. The use of Ormat Nevada Inc.’s proven geothermal energy conversion technology for on-site power generation, with “off the shelf” designs, is the most mature method of realizing this potential. Ormat has entered into a research agreement with the US Department of Energy to perform a validation of an Ormat organic Rankine cycle power system to generate commercial electricity from water produced in a typical oilfield (Teapot Dome at RMOTC). The power system is an air-cooled factory-integrated, skid-mounted standard-design plant.

 DRILL BIT CLASSIFIER

Each year, World Oil publishes this valuable guide for drillbit selection. This comprehensive listing of major manufacturers’ drillbits helps engineers, drilling supervisors and related disciplines that require detailed drillbit information to do their jobs. The guide uses the IADC classification system and shows the substantial changes made from year to year.

Plus...
Bonus circulation at ISA Expo, IADC Annual Meeting and SEG Annual Meeting.