Preview of OTC 2005

A sea of resources, an ocean of knowledge, is this year's theme for the 2005 Offshore Technology Conference, held May 2-5 in Houston. This year, World Oil explores what the 2005 show will feature and asks the OTC management the perennial question: What are you doing to improve the conference?

 Special Report: Technology From Europe

As part of our OTC issue, this special section will feature interviews from government and industry officials that represent the offshore policy/ technology views as well as any governmental changes that affect our industry in these countries.

These interviewees are:

• UKOAA Chief Executive Malcolm Webb
• Mr. Thierry Desmarest, Chairman/CEO, Total
• Vittorio Mincato or Stefano Cao, ENI
• Thorhild Widvey, Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Norway

Also featured are the latest offshore technology innovations from the main European players: United Kingdom, Scandinavia, Netherlands, France, Italy and a few other technology offerings from other countries.

A selection of novel technology developments and applications include companies from:

UK: Centurion (downhole valve); EVO (downhole camera); Furmanite (Smart Shims); Qserv (CT deployed ESPs); Wellcut (well abandonment); Antech (vibration detector); Hawke International (cable connectors).

Spain: Vicinay Cadenas S.A. (chain).

Italy: ENI Technology & Stogit (gas treatment plant); ENI & Microsep (solid/liquid separator); and GE (high H₂S content gas re-injection).

The Netherlands: GustoMSC (Jackup MOPU storage).

France: Cybernétix (SAPPS pipeline intervention tool); CGG (high-productivity vibroseis seismic acquisition); Merpro (separator sand removal); ERM.S (Q.C. of seismic stacking velocities); Alstom (high-speed moto-compressors); GEOVARIANCES (using time picking uncertainties); iXSea (seafloor surveying).

Germany: SCHOTTEL (thrusters for the offshore maneuvering); Bocad (3D CAD/CAM Software)

Belguim: Belsim (software for optimizing production data and troubleshooting)

Norway: Schlumberger (Petrel – Reservoir Workflow software); Maritime Hydraulics (Tongs all-in-one iron roughneck); Aker Kvaerner (partnership on offshore LNG development between Statoil, A.K. and Linde); FMC Kongsberg (CUBE terrain modeling).

 Drilling Technology

What's new in rotary steerable technology A presentation from Baker Hughes describes what's new in that company's rotary steerable technology. Combining a downhole motor with a rotary steerable system results in Extreme (Baker's name) technology in a BHA, but it may be the only way to keep up sufficient RPM in certain situations. Case histories illustrate the point.

Combining a PDC bit with a three-point, 3D stabilizer, as part of a rotary steerable system, helped drill horizontal laterals for Dubai Petroleum Company. The new stabilizer, from Andergauge, is purely mechanical.

Very slimhole rotary steerable. Halliburton's Sperry Drilling Services, completed two field trials (in Alaska and Canada) of its third generation Geo-Pilot 5200 Series system. The company can now offer a slimhole, point-the-bit rotary steerable solution capable of operating in six-inch holes.

 Gulf 0f Mexico Report

Drilling/ activity overview and forecast. PM Consulting gives a thorough overview of the present state of rig use, deepwater activity and discoveries, CAPEX, well drilling numbers, including depth, and many other items relative to future Gulf activity are discussed.

 Seafloor Surveillance and Positioning Systems

Seafloor positioning systems. The seafloor has become a very active and crowded place. Several positioning systems that are ultimately GIS referenced at the surface are being increasingly used. The various positioning systems (LBL, SBL, USBL, seafloor beacons, etc.) in use today are described, as well as those just emerging, and the appropriate uses for the technology and problems that can occur. Advantages and disadvantages, as well as combination systems are also discussed.

Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs). Sidescan sonar and subbottom acoustic profiling are some of the topics discussed by C&C Technologies in this report on this rapidly advancing 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 this highly popular, annual World Oil 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.

 Petroleum Technology Digest

Our popular, recurring feature that results from World Oil's association with the Petroleum Technology Transfer Council. This month, XACT Technologies of Midland, Texas, describes its experience with horizontal drilling in the Permian basin. Case studies are discussed for both high- and low-permeability reservoirs.