Harsh Environment Wells

Halliburton and BP discuss Problems to be solved in challenging HPHT wells in the Nile Delta of the Mediterranean Sea with "treacherous" pressure regimes. The presentation includes a post-well modeling study of a well-control situation at 300oF and 12,000 psi, in an underground blowout situation, using a new fracture gradient enhancement squeeze system.

This case study details how Schlumberger saved Norsk Hydro more than $200,000 by drilling an 862-m openhole sidetrack in a single run of 145 pumping hours using the company's Rotary steerable system for harsh, rugged environments in Norway's geologically complex Njord field.

 Drilling Outlook

World Oil's annual mid-year forecast takes an updated look at drilling activity in North America. Included in the forecast are special reports on activity in Canada and Mexico. Forecasts are based on World Oil's exclusive governmental and operator surveys. Early indications are that activity in the US and Canada will exceed our original 2004 projections made in February. Unusually high oil and gas prices have provided operators, particularly independents, with unexpected cash windfalls that they are plowing back into drilling and production enhancement.

A report from ODS Petrodata examines the North American offshore drilling market, with emphasis on trends in such markets as deepwater drilling in Mexico. State firm Pemex is expanding its portfolio of prospects, with a goal to boost crude output to a consistent level well in excess of 3.5 million bpd.

In conjunction with RigData, World Oil provides a report on land rig usage for the US and Canada. Although onshore activity has flagged along the US Gulf Coast during first-half 2004, operators have partially compensated by rapidly expanding drilling in the Rocky Mountains, as they search for additional supplies of natural gas. Activity has also expanded in such "boutique" gas plays as central California and the Northeast.

 Coalbed Methane Report

Hampton, Waechter and Associates team with Sproul to discuss various methods of obtaining sidewall cores in coal bed methane wells. The authors discuss how cores affect gas analysis, and how the results can be used for resource assessment, reserves estimating and exploration. In addition, we will report on CBM drilling, production and permitting statistics and trends gathered from our surveys.

 Unconventional Resources

A technical article from New Mexico Tech. discusses tight sand and shaley reservoirs, what has been learned about "sweet" spots, and what is the best way to exploit these reservoirs. New Mexico sits at the apex of unconventional gas plays, and as a result, New Mexico Tech. has become one of the premier research institutions on the topic.

 Sand Control

An author from Australia's Woodside Petroleum describes how the firm handled sand control development in a high-rate, big-bore gas well. This case study examines the first sand control application within Woodside, conducted at the subsea Echo-Yodel field. This project was designed and executed in 24 months, and several Woodside, Australian and World "firsts" were achieved along the way. The article also outlines Woodside's future sand control thinking to manage predicted sand influx.

Numerous oil-producing wells in Southern Oman are completed with wire wrap screens, internal gravel packs and predrilled liners. These are installed in wells to prevent production of formation sand, but they are prone to plugging, which in turn leads to reduced production. This problem is often solved by bullheading brine into the annulus. Although this treatment is cheap in restoring some of the productivity, it is ineffective with short-lived gains, very localized, and needs to be repeated often. In a valuable "lessons learned" article for operators, authors from Halliburton and Petroleum Development Oman describe sand-control improvement in, A comparative summary of case studies – evaluation of three cleaning tools: rotational-cavitation jetting , piezo-electric sonic, and pulse-jet. The article also outlines the importance of using proper cleaning and/or stimulation fluid concentration.

 Petroleum Technology Digest (Production Technology)

Our popular, recurring feature results from World Oil's association with the Petroleum Technology Transfer Council. This month feature discusses how an automated casing swab is increasing productivity in Appalachian stripper wells. Working with funding support from DOE's Stripper Well Consortium, Brandywine Energy and Development Company (BEDCO) has developed the swab and tested it in 10 wells.