Drilling development wells in less time with lower cost

When drilling ERD wells, one should determine the criteria for choosing between a motor/variable gauge stabilizer combination and an RSS.

Gulf of Mexico operator eliminates unneeded casing string

Real-time hydraulic monitoring and pore pressure updating improve drilling.

High-performance water-based mud improves results

A five-component WBM system matches results of invert emulsion mud.

Analyzing dynamic positioning incidents

An IMCA report describes dynamic positioning incidents and categorizes them, and tries to help operators stay more on-station.

Deepwater sector's growth will remain steady through 2010

Thanks to a shortage of onshore prospects, high commodity prices and strong demand, operators will continue pouring money into deepwater projects.

Harvesting the US Gulf of Mexico

Very few Central and Western Gulf OCS areas have never been leased at least once. The few that have not lie off Texas in very deep waters.

OTC 2006 expands vistas to new depths, new horizons

How to apply technology gains to meet growing world energy demand and manpower deficits are among the topics presented in this year's show.

Petroleum Technology Digest: Low-cost, brine-activated polymer gel improves waterflood sweep

A polymer gel process doubled an independent's output.

Predicting production performance using a simplified model

Decline is explained by combined hyperbolic and exponential models.

Recent gas market changes parallel US need for more LNG

Growth in gas demand will force the US to utilize more LNG in the future.

Seismic interpretation of water saturation based on reflectivity transforms

Improved water-saturation estimation derived from a combined process.

What's new in artificial lift

Part 1 - Twenty new systems for pumping, plunger lift and gas lift.

World oil production: focus on non-OPEC supplies

A recent workshop concluded that non-OPEC output will peak by 2010.

France, Germany: A better way to image the seafloor, and now it's off-the-shelf

Synthetic Aperture Sonar (SAS) has been well established as an airborne service and on satellites.

France, Germany: Elastomerics for flexible joints offshore Africa

Oil offloading lines for the Girassol project (Total-Angola) required specialized flexible joints.

France, Germany: GEP chairman sees no obstacles,other than logistics

Interview, Dominique Michel, Chairman, GEP

France, Germany: Hardsurfacing nonmagnetic steel for oil drilling tools

Hardsurfacing—using the oxyacetylene welding process to apply a low-carbon steel tube filled with tungsten carbide—has proven efficient, but the process is limited.

France, Germany: Improved digital core scanner adds versatility

Deutsche Montan Technologie GmbH (DMT) recently introduced the second generation of its proprietary Corescan measurement system.

France, Germany: Monitoring field pipewall deposition with a new non-intrusive device

A new device for the detection of deposits that build up at the wall of pipelines and flowlines during production underwent recent industrial development.

France, Germany: Winch wizards show quick turnaround

In January 2006, the tanker Cape Bradley collided with a cargo vessel off the French coast.

Italy: Compression for the world's largest nitrogen compression train

Vol. 227 No. 4 Technology from Europe: Italy Compression for the worlds largest nitrogen compression train With the Qatargas I LNG project already in operation, the focus has shifted

Italy: Demanding field project - demanding compressors

Vol. 227 No. 4 Technology from Europe: Italy Demanding field project  demanding compressors Kashagan oil field lies in the shallow waters of the North Caspian Sea, off the coast of K

Italy: Heavy oil/resid upgrading process benefits upstream and downstream

Vol. 227 No. 4 Technology from Europe: Italy Heavy oil/ resid upgrading process benefits upstream and downstream With heavy oil, tar and bitumen resources in the trillions of barrels world

Italy: Italian firms thrive despite domestic limitations

Interview, Salvatore D'Andrea, Chairman, Hydrocarbons and Geothermal, Assomineraria

Netherlands: Bunga Raya E platform installed by semisubmersible heavylift ship

Netherlands: IRO chairman looks for continued prosperity in European offshore

Interview, Gert-Jan Kramer, Chairman, IRO

Netherlands: Jackup MOPU installed in Caspian

Netherlands: Jumbo transports 94-m long riser column to NW Australian location

Norway: Indian and Norwegian entities cooperate on natural gas hydrate transport

Vol. 227 No. 4 Technology from Europe: Norway Indian and Norwegian entities cooperate on natural gas hydrate transport A long-term working relationship is underway between GAIL Lt

Norway: New tender rig design under construction

Vol. 227 No. 4 Technology from Europe: Norway New tender rig design under construction Norwegian drilling contractor Smedvig recently contracted for the building of a newly designed tende

Norway: NPD head expects vigorous period to continue

Interview, Gunnar Berge, Director General, Norwegian Petroleum Directorate

Norway: Tackling reservoir uncertainty improves project risk factors

Vol. 227 No. 4 Technology from Europe: Norway Tackling reservoir uncertainty improves project risk factors David Hardy, Roxar AS, Stavanger Reservoir uncertainty is

Special Report: Technology from Europe

This report includes selected technology developments and industry interviews representing several key countries.

United Kingdom: Accuracy tested with Coriolis meter

In times of high crude oil prices, even small improvements in measured accuracy represent large amounts of money.

United Kingdom: Anti-tamper lock prevents unwanted operation

Anti-Tamper Lock secures assets by reducing the risk of human error or deliberate tampering.

United Kingdom: Composite valves pass high-acceleration shock test

For the first time, non-metallic valves have passed a rigorous test regime.

United Kingdom: Minister predicts healthy UKCS period, despite tax hike

Interview, Malcolm Wicks, Minister of State for Energy, DTI

United Kingdom: Multiple-conveyance capability garners support for expandable patch

Small to medium-sized enterprises with lots of intellectual property now typify the sorts of companies bringing new ideas to the North Sea and elsewhere.

United Kingdom: New modules for semi

Ferguson Modular recently provided Transocean with nine offshore accommodation modules for the Sedco 709, a deepwater semisubmersible.

United Kingdom: Pipeline contingency planning can save money

Time and cost can be saved by holding one or more leak-sealing repair clamps as a contingency against pipeline accidents.

United Kingdom: Visualize HPHT for hotter, deeper drilling

As drilling in HPHT conditions become routine worldwide, the need for precise pressure data is greater than ever.

United Kingdom: Wireline-CT and leak detection camera

A new camera system for real-time downhole inspection deployable on wireline or coiled tubing (CT) is about to debut.

Drilling advances

Despite public perceptions, seldom does drilling cause oil spills

Editorial Comment

CO2 is good for us—who knew?

International Politics

Norway's Arctic region beckons; UK Treasury predicts lower output

What's new in production

A new method seals leaking wells with a metal alloy

What's new in exploration

Mexico's big finds come with big problems

Companies in the news

Vol. 227 No. 4 Tenaris S.A. has acquired, through its Argentine welded-pipe subsidiary Siat S.A., the welded pipe assets and facilities of Acindar Industria Argentina

Industry at a glance

Vol. 227 No. 4 World oil demand was revised to 84.7 million bpd which is still a considerable rebound from 2005, 83.3 million bpd

New products

Vol. 227 No. 4 Vibration analyzer Datastick Systems, Inc., has produced the VSA-1212 Vibration Spectrum Analyzer, the first PDA-based vibration ana

People in industry

Vol. 227 No. 4 BJ Process and Pipeline Services (BJ PPS) has combined two previously divided geographic regions into a single Europe-Africa Region Business Unit (RBU). Reg