Preview of OTC 2004

Innovation without limits is this year's theme at the Offshore Technology Conference, May 3-6 in Houston . This year, World Oil explores what the 2004 show will feature and asks the OTC management: What are you doing to improve the conference?

 Special Report: Technology from Europe

As part of our OTC issue, this special section offers the latest offshore technology innovations from the main European players: United Kingdom, Scandinavia, Netherlands, France and Italy. A selection of intriguing technology developments and applications will be presented. There will also be interviews from government and industry officials that represent the offshore policy/technology views of these countries.

 Drilling Technology

A counter-intuitive approach works. BP succeeded in significantly increasing ROP in its Wamsutter ( Wyoming ) drilling program by using a counter-intuitive approach that in part, reduces RPM to increase ROP. This advance in drilling performance and economics owes much to innovation involving a new low-speed motor power section from Dyna-Drill, and fixed cutter bits that use a new thermostable cutter from ReedHycalog.

New designs in blowout preventers. The BOP is probably as important a development as rotary drilling. New designs make them safer while allowing quicker rig up and ram change out. Some new designs combine BOPs with other functions. This wrap-up describes new solutions from Hydril, Double-E, Varco (Schaffer), Cameron and others (know any that we might have missed?).

Steerable drilling gets more precise. This article tells a case study involving a major operator and its use of the latest in steerable drilling technology.

 Production – Artificial Lift

Part 1: From their base at Texas Tech University, our long-standing contributors, the duo of Herald Winkler and Jim Lea, will compile the first half of one of World Oil's most popular, annual features. Once again, they will assemble an exciting array of new developments and systems in Rod Pumping and Gas Lift. There will be ample photos and diagrams to accompany the featured items.

 Seismic/Geotechnology

Mitigating shallow water-flow risk. Authors from Noble Energy, Fugro GeoServices and Sierra Engineering present this case study of identifying and solving the shallow water-flow problems in offshore Mississippi Canyon Block 849 in the Gulf of Mexico. A multidisciplinary approach was used involving geohazard specialists, geologists, geophysicists and engineers.

 Petroleum Technology

Our popular, recurring feature that results from World Oil's association with the Petroleum Technology Transfer Council features a case study from Medicine Bow Operating Co., Harbison-Fischer, Bachman Chemicals and Norris Rods about an innovative, cost-effective artificial lift/chemical combination solution.