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. |
|