Issue: October 2013
To avoid costly, unpredictable trips downhole, a new technique for running openhole whipstock and sidetracking operations was developed, and tested, for both onshore and offshore applications.
A team offshore Indonesia is developing, and applying in the field, MPD technologies to meet the specific challenges found downhole in deepwater and HPHT wells
A new, high-Alumina proppant, pelletized through a proprietary manufacturing process, provides ultra-high strength, spherical shape and smoothness, and twice the baseline conductivity of bauxite proppant, to meet the requirements of deepwater Lower Tertiary fracing.
As demonstrated in a field onshore Oman, utilization of 3D geomechanical modeling can identify problems in the potential wellbore path that can make the difference between financial success and failure at the wellsite
Hydraulic fractures can enhance well productivity, ultimate recovery and economics. Although reservoir simulation can quantify hydrofrac performance, simulation outcomes vary. A case study in Oman shows that considerable uncertainty can be removed by understanding the impact of flow dynamics, reservoir architecture, and gridding assumptions, thereby saving time and facilitating planning.
Crude oil producers are responding to the reservoir management challenges of multi-zone horizontal wells with intelligent tracers that quantify inflow distribution on a zone-by-zone basis. The inflow distribution analysis from a recent well, equipped with RESMAN RES-OIL intelligent tracers, shows that about half of the total inflow came from only two segments (7 and 8) of a 9-zone well, Fig. 1. RESMAN data also identified two low-producing zones (4 and 5), accounting for only 3% of total inflow. The operator was expecting a more even inflow distribution, and used this knowledge to reassess the reservoir drainage properties and adjust drilling and completion strategy for future wells in the field.
Efficient drilling of challenging intervals has been a limiting factor to the economic development of a large amount of hydrocarbon reserves. However, from a drilling standpoint, the objectives remain the same—optimizing ROP, improving drilling efficiency and reducing drilling costs.
The world’s first 95/8-in., 10,000-psi-rated, tubing-retrievable subsurface safety valves were qualified for use in two major high-pressure, non-associated gas discoveries offshore Saudi Arabia
Cautious optimism prevails, despite political problems, social unrest and mixed exploration results
A new valve design for reciprocating gas compressors has been shown to deliver compressor power savings in pipeline transmission applications, increase reliability by a factor of two and reduce inventories by at least 80%.
Iran has ambitious plans to boost its oil and gas output. However, given the current geopolitical climate, and continuing economic sanctions, those plans are far from assured.
On the 40th anniversary of the 1973 Arab oil crisis, the after-effects of the upheaval still linger in policies and attitudes across the global oil and gas industry.
Ragan Dickens counsels those ready to wrap a “Rest in Peace” wreath around the once-venerable Haynesville-Bossier shale, to look well beyond its current ill health. “It’s not going to return tomorrow, but we have stability for the long term,” says Dickens, North Louisiana director of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association (LOGA).
Are we over-fracturing horizontal shale wells?
The 29th Louisiana Gulf Coast Oil Exposition (LAGCOE) will take place in Lafayette, La., later this month. The three-day biennial event, which first became a feature in the industry’s calendar during 1955, will be held at Lafayette’s Cajundome & Convention Center between Oct. 22 and Oct. 24.
Change through evolutionary revolutions
Processing squared
The multi-billion-dollar question
Fracturing and methane: Study identifies the guts of the issue
Evolving the ROV
Burma’s E&P roadblocks taint good geological picture
A new model for understanding shale reservoirs
Producers tackle Colorado flooding problems
Glori Energy: EOR goes green
World of Oil and Gas
Industry at a glance
People in industry
Companies in the news
New products and services
Meetings and Events