What Industry Expects in 2003

Our annual round up of industry leaders' views on political, economic and technical issues facing the industry in the coming year. Includes commentary from: Sheldon R. Erikson, Cooper Cameron and PESA; Paul L. Kelly, Rowan Companies; Carl F. Thorn, ENSCO Int'l. and NOIA; Henrik Carlsen, Statoil; Doug Nester, F-W Oil Exploration L.L.C.; Alexander G. Kemp, University of Aberdeen; D. Nathan Meehan, Consultant; Donnie Harris, Garb, Grubbs, Harris & Associates, Inc.; and George S. Littell, Groppe, Long & Littell. As this is being written, Shell Oil has indicated that one of their executives is likely to become an advisor.

 Protecting the Environment

Recent offshore regulatory restrictions are being met with new technologies and attitudes. Super-clean mud and drill cuttings, processed by M-I, are clean enough to be used in agriculture. M-I and Statoil tell their story of what the regulations are, and how they developed the technology to meet them

ChevronTexaco tells its story of how the company achieved sustainable development of Barrow Island, an isolated nature reserve offshore Australia. More than 800 wells have been drilled over 40 years, and 450 are still producing. Barrow has produced more than 250 million barrels, and it should produce for many years to come. How Chevron has managed to keep the island's rare populations of flora and fauna isolated from the mainland for decades is an interesting story and an environmental success.

 Natural Gas Technology Report

Advanced Resources International reports on important milestones in the three-year, U.S. government-industry effort launched in October 2000 as the Coal-Seq project. Two San Juan basin coal bed methane fields are receiving CO2 and N2 injection, and effects on enhanced recovery of methane, and other CBM reservoir effects, are being studied.

 Marine Rig Directory

World Oil's popular, useful Marine Rig Directory is divided into four parts: jackups; semisubmersibles; drillships and barges; and submersibles. Last year's user-friendly directory comprised 635 rigs with useful technical and contact information. This feature has a one-year shelf life.

 Petroleum Technology Digest

Another popular feature, this is published in association with the Petroleum Technology Transfer Council. A brief-yet-complete article describes how operators are saving money by describing Occidental Petroleum's well stimulation for enhanced recovery program in Elk Hills in terms of its attributes, and then using the principles of neural networks to optimize those parameters for maximum production