DRILLING TECHNOLOGY

Remote real-time geosteering improves heavy oil reservoir exposure and reduces drilling costs. In situ development of heavy oil requires certain technologies to optimize well or SAGD well-pair placement within the reservoir. Authors from Halliburton describe specialized technologies, developed to interpret real-time MWD logging data to steer the well as close to the bottom of the reservoir as possible, while optimizing vertical and lateral spacing, thus maximizing the recoverable reserves. The enabling downhole technologies and the interpretation and visualization software aided in improving reserves, reducing drilling time and lowering the cost per well.

Rotary steerable systems: Case studies in the Canadian foothills. The Canadian foothills are a challenging drilling environment with deep wells in hard, abrasive formations. Casing wear, especially in the upper sections, is a real concern. It is highly beneficial to keep the well straight to avoid “hot spots” in these highly dipping formations, avoiding even slight doglegs, which can occur in both directional and vertical sections,. Authors from Suncor Energy and Schlumberger describe the use of RSS in different drilling applications and the procedures that have been developed in Western Canada. Case studies illustrate the benefits now being realized.

 SUBSEA WELLS

A dynamic finite element analysis calculation engine has been developed and is being used to solve specialized well intervention problems. Authors from NOV/CTES, Cudd Pressure Control and BP describe how it has been used to solve the buckling behavior of pipe being snubbed through a packer, and wireline being run from a boat to a subsea well to perform an intervention.

 PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY

In situ heavy oil combustion: They do it in Canada’s tar sands, so why not in India? At Balol and Santhal heavy oil fields in the Cambay Basin, India, ONGC implemented in situ combustion as an EOR method after artificial lift caused high production of water rather than oil. The thermal EOR process seeks to reduce viscosity by heating the oil in the reservoir. The technique involves ignition in the well and injection of air to sustain a flame front that travels from the injection well to production wells.

Biogenic methane production. Recent studies have shown that viable methanogenic microorganisms are still present in a number of unconventional biogenic gas reservoirs. This suggests the potential for the production of new methane from existing coal/shale/oil deposits in real time, resulting in a renewable source of natural gas. This article will summarize the fundamental process of biogenic methane production, and elaborate on the types of non-organic nutrients that are potentially needed to stimulate in situ methane production. In this case, conventional reservoir treatments such as fracing, steam flooding, acid treatments and the use of surfactants could be beneficial.

 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Enhancing E&P performance management with ubiquitous, right-time business intelligence. Authors from Microsoft explore more powerful, visual and people-centric business-intelligence platforms that bring higher profits and safer operations in oil and gas. It covers the three primary “waves” of business intelligence in the oil and gas industry to help illustrate data analysis evolution. The article also explores business-intelligence system design considerations as E&P companies seek to deploy solutions today.

Engineering portal adds significant value to E&P’s project delivery capabilities. An E&P project is a complex engineering effort involving hundreds of engineers from different organizations working together to design, construct and commission an asset. Efficient project management requires engineering information be made available to all key stakeholders seamlessly in a way that enables them to work collectively as one integrated organization. Authors from Infosys and BP discuss issues with respect to sharing and viewing project engineering information in an E&P project life cycle, and suggest typical requirements from a portal solution and outline benefits.

 DEEPWATER TECHNOLOGY

When flow assurance fails: Remediating hydrate plugs in dry-tree wells. Hydrate plugs were formed above the mudline in three dry-tree oil wells in the GOM. After several unsuccessful attempts to melt the hydrate, hot oil injection into the tubing-casing annulus was considered. Transient simulations were performed to establish injection parameters and to evaluate well-integrity issues and possible asphaltene or paraffin precipitation. Three hydrate plugs were melted. Improvements are discussed for future startups.

Pioneering a 90-km tieback to shore. Egypt’s first deepwater development was in the Mediterranean Sea in West Delta Deep Marine concession, an area with no deepwater developments and with little associated infrastructure. The pioneering development included a 90-km tieback to shore, one of the longest of the time. Authors from Intec Engineering describe the project, where they used known technologies, a simple integrated design and limited the fit-for-purpose equipment.

 EXPLORATION

New utility in 4D processing. It took a long time to convince geophysicists that difference volumes from repeat seismic surveys were susceptible to slight differences in everything: position, wave height, tides, equipment, shooting parameters, and so on. Shell recently discovered even more subtle differences that, when accounted for in time-shift processing, can result in much clearer difference volumes for better interpretation.

 NEW BIT DESIGNS

New advancements in drillbit technology. This report on new bit technology describes what direction the bit manufacturers are heading. Is the idea of renting rather than owning bits acceptable? What is the future of steel-tooth bits? Keeping the bit on bottom, engaged, not slipping or allowing the drillstring to “wind up” are the challenges for today’s bit designers to allow them to run faster, drill deeper and last longer. Specific examples from major bit manufacturers illustrate the points.

 RMOTC

Rotary steerable technology makes strides. Authors from the Rocky Mountain Oilfield Testing Center, operated by the Department of Energy at Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 3, note that RMOTC is playing an important role in RSS technology development with its real-world testing environment. Over the past several years, RMOTC has seen an upsurge in RSS testing. Several companies have returned multiple times to continue developing their technologies. Meanwhile, several other RSS testing partnerships are pending.

 SIXTH ANNUAL WORLD OIL AWARDS

A special bound-in supplement that describes the winners of this year�s awards in 11 categories:

The Innovative Thinkers Award
Recognizes an individual or group of individuals who have demonstrated thought leadership in the upstream petroleum sector.

The Health, Safety, Environment/Sustainable Development Award
Recognizes a leading operating company for its significant strides in protecting and enhancing the environment and communities where it operates.

Best Outreach Program Award
Recognizes the program that does the best job of teaching the general community about the petroleum industry.

Best Exploration Technology Award
Given to the best acquisition technology (including seismic and �pathfinder� technology, geochemistry and remote-sensing technology), or algorithm/processing technology introduced during the year.

Best Drilling Technology Award
Whether onshore or offshore, this award will go to the drilling innovation that had a significant impact on the industry.

Best Completion Technology Award
Recognizes the leading solution that provided a significant impact on the industry�s completions.

Best Fluids Award
Whether for drilling or completions, this new award category will recognize a fluid with significant impact that was commercially introduced to the market during 2005/2006.

Best Production Technology Award
Recognizes a newly introduced program or solution utilized during the year that allowed an operator to effectively manage and maximize production.

Best Data Management Solution Award
Recognizes a data management solution that provided tangible results for an operator or service company.

Best Data Application/Visualization Solution Award
Data visualization, storage and manipulation could be the next breakthroughs in achieving development, production and reservoir operational efficiencies. This award will recognize the solution that shows the greatest promise.

The New Horizons Idea Award
The winner of this award will be a start-up company, new product or a compelling idea that redefines the industry�s thinking. Best Fluids Award This award category will recognize an innovative fluid (drilling or completion) or a fluid-related mechanism or process, which was commercially introduced within the last year that helped drill or complete an oil/gas well.