Issue: January
COLUMNS
World Oil Editor-in-Chief Kurt Abraham examines Venezuela’s uncertain post-Maduro oil outlook, weighing U.S. company caution, Chevron’s role, and global upstream contrasts.
U.S. natural gas demand is on track to surge by roughly 30 Bcfd by 2030, driven largely by LNG exports—but can drilling keep up? In this month’s Drilling Advances column, Ford Brett breaks down what isn’t holding the industry back anymore—and the bottlenecks that could determine whether drillers can deliver the next wave of gas supply.
SPECIAL FOCUS: HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
Closed-loop automation delivers real-time control, proven return on investment, and a new global standard for hydraulic stimulation.
Hydraulic fracturing creates extensive fracture networks, but production often stalls because shale matrix permeability remains extremely low. This article introduces molecular fracing that, in tandem with hydraulic fracturing, improves production.
The recent innovation of simulfracing—pumping into multiple wells simultaneously—is yielding significant benefits and could be a step-change in how the industry operates. Up to 30% of U.S. frac crews may be using this method.
FEATURES
Remote-controlled FPSOs are a first step toward autonomous offshore operations once advanced solutions address significant technical gaps.
MANAGEMENT ISSUES
