Issue: January 2018
Special Focus
Improving oil prices have brought increased drilling and production, but also well control failures, due to reduced quality assurance and shortages of competent personnel. Embedding lessons learned from these events, along with integrated use of technology and specialized expertise, can mitigate well control risks.
Well control response can be described in several different ways, but “routine” is almost never associated. The unique nature of the well control process, its ever-changing obstacles, and on-the-fly adjustments are required to reach a solution.
Features
Calculating the collapse strength of casing installed in HPHT wells is challenging due to the complexity of the casing’s geometrical and mechanical properties, as well as the loading conditions that can impact overall performance.
Using a new protocol, a WITSML pilot project has shown significantly faster data transmission from an offshore wellsite to an onshore operations center. The updated standard has the potential to considerably improve operational support and reduce personnel trips to the rig.
Digital transformation is helping Petrovietnam to grow as an NOC, while extracting economic value from unstructured data.
A HVFR polymer bridges the gap between slickwater and cross-linked fracs.
Eastern Mediterranean region are beginning to increase E&P activity and were able to bring several key projects on stream in 2017.
Mobile, modular systems capable of capturing natural gas are enabling operators to develop profitable outlets for NGL and conditioned field gas, while reducing emissions and helping companies comply with environmental regulations.
When formations in the northwestern Permian basin presented well integrity challenges and geological uncertainties, Tesco evaluated options for successfully reaching TD. Using casing while drilling, the company completed the job in less time and helped the operator learn how to save money on future wells in the region.
The winter drilling season in the diverse shale plays scattered throughout the western Canada sedimentary basin (WCSB), is shaping up to be the busiest in three years.
Columns
Daylight appears for 2018
Can industry accept digitalization?
2018: The best [or worst] year ever?
Spend $1, save a dime
May you live in interesting times
Seven items that will impact the industry in 2018
The battle for kilowatts: What will it take to win?
Familiar cyclic circumstances set to unfold in 2018 and beyond
News & Resources
Alongside its partners, Petoro (30%) and Spirit Energy (20%), Wintershall (50%) announced the start of production at Maria field.
Crude climbed to its highest level in two-and-a-half years after an EIA report showed that U.S. stockpiles fell for a seventh consecutive week.
A prominent retired executive and advocate of the upstream industry, Paul Lance Kelly passed away on Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston.
TAM International has opened a new manufacturing facility in Obninsk, Russia—approximately 70 mi southwest of Moscow.
National Oilwell Varco (NOV) recently launched the Rolligon dry additive mix unit, which uses a custom-designed mixer to pre-mix the gel powder with water on the fly, giving optimum gel quaity even at high rates.
