Issue: May 2000

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Special Focus

Cementing above screens and slotted liners

Three methods to isolate liners/ screens use external casing packers as a barrier for placing cement in openhole and horizontal completions

Hydrogen peroxide applications for the oil industry

Article updates applications in stimulation/ heat flooding, introduces the concept of drilling with superheated steam, and presents three other uses

One-day gas well testing

Part one of two-part report shows how a modified isochronal test method can give key information in low-permeability wells without extended flow

The changing face of underbalanced drilling

Part II of three-part series tells how components for UBD are tied together through macro-control systems/ data acquisition, crew structure and training

Features

DeepStar enters fifth phase of deepwater mission

This cooperative industry effort has accomplished much in offshore R&D. An ambitious agenda has been set for the program's next two-year phase

Guyana basin: A new exploration focus

High success rates in turbidite exploration, plus results of new seismic acquisition and modern analytical techniques are drawing area interest

Malaysia's upstream shows new vigor

Malaysia shows signs of renewed E&P strength after batterings by low oil prices. Drilling is up and efforts to boost oil/ gas output are underway

What's new in geophysics/ geology

* Nine-component seismic data technology * Changing role of vertical seismic profiling * Fiber optic multi-component seismic * Advances through imaging spectroscopy

Special Report

About the Petroleum Technology Digest

Case studies for Independent Producers

Alternative artificial lift system improves well profitability

A balanced, oil recovery, artificial lift system improved well profitability by lowering operating costs and increasing oil production in problem wells in northeastern Oklahoma. Water production with its associated costs and, in some instances, well servi

How to cut electrical power costs by 30% with little or no investment

Operator experience confirms that low-tech, low-cost actions can reduce electrical power costs by as much as 30% or more, when applying simple, good business management practices and monitoring their operations.

Microbial permeability profile modification extends life of oil field

Microbial permeability profile modification technology is being used to improve reservoir sweep and recovery in the North Blowhorn Creek Unit Carter Sandstone waterflood in Alabama. Inorganic nutrients are being injected to stimulate growth of in situ mic

Petroleum Technology Digest

A special 12-page feature, prepared by World Oil and PTTC, presents six case history reports on recent exploration, drilling and production techniques that have been successfully field tested

Pumping large water volumes revives "watered-out" gas zone

Operators in the huge Indian Basin field have found that significant volumes of gas can be produced far behind the encroaching water front by pumping large volumes of water along with the gas. Yates Petroleum, one of the early users of this "secondary-gas

Sound technology and better regulation make field development economical

Improved reservoir definition from 3-D seismic, combined with progressive regulation allowing reservoir-based spacing units, enabled Spooner Petroleum Co. to develop Ollie field, a Norphlet play in southwest Alabama. Lower development costs with reservoir

Surface geochemical survey adds exploration confidence

Surface-hydrocarbon-soil-gas data provided extra confidence that adequate reservoir quality existed at a step-out drilling location of a structural/ stratigraphic-controlled Mississippian dolomite play. Data were gathered using patented K-series gas-sieve

Departments

New equipment

New literature

Columns

Editorial Comment

Politics and gasoline prices; UK goes metric; U.S. forest regulations

International

OPEC's decision should open up capital spending; Statoil sets a record

Oil and gas in Washington

Court victory on royalty valuation; Efforts to open Arctic Coastal Plain

What's happening in drilling

People shortage becomes real problem; Top U.S. driller adds more rigs

What's happening in exploration

Antarctic “exploration"; New Zealand discovery

What's happening in production

Using acoustic-stimulation to enhance oil recovery

What's happening offshore

U.S. Gulf lease sales; Grand Banks activity; Gas industry outlook survey

News & Resources

Companies in the news

May 2000 Vol. 221 No. 5 Company News Unit Corp. completed its merger with Questa Oil & Gas Co. Vanco Energy Co. opened an office in Delft, The Netherlands.

Industry at a glance

May 2000 Vol. 221 No. 5 Industry Stats International Geophysical Activity Table &nbs

Looking ahead

May 2000 Vol. 221 No. 5 Looking Ahead Oil industry sees additional mergers. Growth in the ranks of consolidated oil companies continues. Latest entrant is the merger of Anadarko Pet

Oil country hot line

May 2000 Vol. 221 No. 5 Hot Line OPEC increases crude output As expected, OPEC members increased their combined crude output about 1.7 million bpd to bolster global supplies an

People in industry

May 2000 Vol. 221 No. 5 People Dr. Bruce Applebaum was elected VP of Texaco Inc. and president of worldwide exploration and new ventures. Susan M. Cunningham was named VP explorat

Industry At A Glance