Issue: September 1999

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Special Focus

Combining geophysical-survey technologies in the deepwater GOM

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Operator used inhibitive brine with new viscosifier to cut costs, protect low-permeability formation in field's first horizontal completion attempt

Special Report

CT-deployed dewatering system installs quickly in gas wells

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Departments

New equipment

New literature

Columns

Editorial Comment

International

Oil and gas in Washington

What's happening in drilling

What's happening in exploration

What's happening in production

What's happening offshore

News & Resources

Companies in the news

Industry at a glance

Looking ahead