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SEPTEMBER 1999 Issue

SEPTEMBER 1999

Special Focus

Combining geophysical-survey technologies in the deepwater GOM

A. Kliener, B. Anderson and L. Gee
How new technology integrates multibeam bathymetry, acoustic reflectivity, gravity, magnetic and sub-bottom data in the deep Gulf of Mexico
Dynamic application of seismic migration in field development

D. B. Walker, R. R. Pressler, S. N. Checkles and F. Qin
A seismic anisotropy problem was discovered and its effects remedied to allow accurate reservoir and salt body migration for development
Linux makes inroads into E&P market

L. S. Durham
Use of Linux operating system vs. Unix, Windows and WindowsNT, including pros and cons, costs and an example of positive oil industry experience
The extraordinary promise and challenge of gas hydrates

A. Lowrie and M. D. Max
The rationale behind growing interest in methane hydrates as an energy resource - what they are, how they form and current international interest

Features

Chamber-lift design reduces formation gas effect

H. W. Winkler
Formation gas production cuts efficiency of insert chamber gas lift, but proper designs to vent free gas significantly improves operations.
Hydraulic rig supports casing drilling

P. Angman, D. Oveson and M. Laurent
Overview and principal features of four new-generation rigs designed to drill with casing, including basic equipment and control system
Polymer-free fracturing fluid revives shut-in well

E. Pitoni, G. Burrafato, E. Devia and N. Heitmann
Eni-Agip stimulated dirty, tight sand intervals with surfactant-base fluid, producing large fracture widths and three-fold flowrate increase
Process selection for H2S removal and disposal at Åsgard B

K. J. van Son, G. R. Chludzinski, P. R. Charles and H. Lidal
Overview of selection/ preliminary design of the regenerable amine gas treating system on Statoil's Åsgard B semisubmersible production vessel
Viscosified CaCl drill-in fluid drills trouble-free horizontal wells

D. Winchester, D. Hudspeth, C. Boatman and G. West
Operator used inhibitive brine with new viscosifier to cut costs, protect low-permeability formation in field's first horizontal completion attempt

Columns

Editorial Comment

Thomas R. Wright, Jr., Editorial Director

September 1999 Vol. 220 No. 9  Editorial  Thomas R. Wright, Jr.,  Editorial Director   Bad science and other goofs Maybe it comes with the summ
International

Kurt S. Abraham, International Editor

September 1999 Vol. 220 No. 9  International  Kurt S. Abraham,  International Editor   U.S. Commerce officials take politically expedient way out
Oil and gas in Washington

Charles D. Matthews, Contributing Editor

September 1999 Vol. 220 No. 9  Washington  Charles D. Matthews,  Contributing Editor   Tax relief for oil patch hanging on As Congress started
What's happening in drilling

Robert E. Snyder, Editor

September 1999 Vol. 220 No. 9  Drilling  Robert E. Snyder,  Editor   Drilling successes, causes of the oil price drop Three drilling projects o
What's happening in exploration

Perry A. Fischer, Engineering Editor

September 1999 Vol. 220 No. 9  Exploration  Perry A. Fischer,  Engineering Editor   Gravity: a force of attraction? Or maybe it sucks It was
What's happening in production

Perry A. Fischer, Engineering Editor

September 1999 Vol. 220 No. 9  Production  Perry A. Fischer,  Engineering Editor   Smartwell technology gets an IQ boost Somehow, this editor m
What's happening offshore

Robert E. Snyder, Editor

September 1999 Vol. 220 No. 9  Offshore  Robert E. Snyder,  Editor   Discoveries pace international offshore scene As reported in The Offshore

News & Resources

Companies in the news

September 1999 Vol. 220 No. 9  Company News  Exxon affiliate Esso Brasileira de Petroleo Limitada, Mobil Shell Brasil and Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. (Petrobras) will jointly explore Bra
Industry at a glance

September 1999 Vol. 220 No. 9  Industry Stats  International Geophysical Activity
Looking ahead

September 1999 Vol. 220 No. 9  Looking Ahead  Gas Research Institute study looks at future natural gas supply, prices. GRIs 1999 Baseline Projection  released in August 1998 &#1
Oil country hot line

September 1999 Vol. 220 No. 9  Hot Line  Largest offshore construction company Global Industries signed a purchase agreement to acquire international offshore construction company ETPM, SA, cu
People in industry

September 1999 Vol. 220 No. 9  People  Dr. Wolfgang Schollnberger, technology VP for BP Amoco, was named chairman of the management committee of The Oil Industry International Exploration

Departments

Special Report

Contents

September 1999 Supplement  Contents  Welcome to the inaugural issue of Petroleum
CT-deployed dewatering system installs quickly in gas wells

Gerald V. Chalifoux and Tony A. Young
A new coiled-tubing-deployed electric submersible pump system addresses liquid loading in shallow gas wells and is up to 50% faster to install than conventional pumping systems.
How to reduce electrical power costs without sacrificing production rate

David Coston and Bryan J. Dicus
By installing timers and pumping during off-peak hours, Equinox Oil reduced electrical power consumption in Illinois' South Albion field by 25%.
Microbial process cuts cost of injection water treatment in half

Richard B. Cassins and James H. Portwood
Overall water treating costs in a portion of Wilmington Oil field in California were reduced by 50%, without sacrificing protection.
New additive provides inexpensive solution to well and facility cleanup

Lyle D. Burns, James W. Reynolds, Larry Selby and Don Richard
Field performance tests have confirmed that a process to render most hydrocarbons non-hazardous can provide a fast, safe and economical way to remediate "typical" spills and leaks.
Polymer gels improve waterflood sweep efficiency and oil recovery

George V. Ricks and J. T. Portwood
Polymer gel treatments in injection wells correct water channeling problems, recovering 15,000 to 25,000 bbl of incremental oil to date.
Using alkaline-surfactant-polymer floods as an alternative to waterfloods

Jay Vargo, Jim Turner, Bob Vergnani, Malcolm J. Pitts, Kon Wyatt, Harry Surkalo and David Petterson
An alkaline-surfactant-polymer (ASP) flood in Cambridge Minnelusa field at the end of primary production increased ultimate oil recovery to 60.9% of original oil-in-place from the swept area.
Vertical and horizontal redrills tap bypassed reserves

Steven F. Coombs, Edwin Edward, and William Fleckenstein
Production was increased by 850 bopd in a section of the offshore California Carpinteria field held by Pacific Offshore Operators Inc. Zones that had not been adequately drained by existing wellbores were accessed through a vertical-horizontal redrill pro
Waterflood in Kansas field should boost recovery by five million bbl

Rodney Reynolds
Engineered waterflooding — based on integrated reservoir characterization and modeling work — has proven to be profitable in Stewart (Morrow) field in western Kansas.
Waterflood strategy evolves from improved 3-D flow unit characterization

David Boneau and Patrick Lowry
A high-resolution, 3-D data set, combined with 3-D visualization tools, led Yates Petroleum to a new waterflooding strategy — design an individual waterflood for each identified major flow unit.
World Oil's 1999 Drill Bit Classifier

Annual comprehensive listing of 21 major manufacturers' commercial bits. Divided into six formation types from soft/ sticky to extremely hard, tables show name, IADC code, size and performance of each firm's offerings

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