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Coming in July issue...
OFFSHORE
REPORT
DEEPWATER:
Loop currents in the Gulf of Mexico have caused operators operational
problems for years. The industry has learned to identify them
and work around them, but little was know about how they formed.
Authors from LSU’s Coastal Marine Institute recently completed
an observational study in the eastern GOM where these currents
form. They present their findings in this article..
DEEPWATER
PRODUCTION: A major oil company and a service company teamed
up to overcome production impairment from fines and scale in
a deepwater field, using coiled tubing on an intervention vessel.
Laboratory testing led to an optimal treatment, while limiting
damage to downhole equipment. The authors detail the process,
execution and results of the well intervention..
DEEPWATER
DRILLING: Exploring offshore Pakistan, Shell engineers faced
a common limitation on using foamed cement imposed by rig deck
load and space capacity. So, Shell selected DeepCRETE cement
slurry and DeepCEM D185, D186, D193 and D175 deepwater additives
from Schlumberger to cement a 13 3/8-in. surface string in a
17½-in borehole, taking into account the requirement for
150% excess volume as a safety factor against borehole washouts
or losses. Essential to deepwater cementing are formulations
that can set up quickly to block gas migration and support the
pipe in unstable formations under the cold conditions of the
deep sea environment..
OFFSHORE
SEISMIC: Deepwater seismic data collection and processing. This
case study describes a marine 3D reconnaissance survey, which
presented challenges for both data collection and data processing.
The challenges stemmed from the deep and complex water bottom,
which caused issues with streamer geometry and also major multiple
contamination within the seismic data. .
OFFSHORE
COMPLETION: Oriented perforating provides benefits.
Perforation guns have had the ability to be oriented for decades.
The question was, if the stress field of the rock can be determined
and perforated in a preferred orientation, would there be benefits
from reduced sand production and/or increased production? After
many offshore wells were completed with and without oriented
perforation, the comparative results strongly suggest the technique
results in more production. |
COMPLETION/STIMULATION
TECHNOLOGY
In
the Middle Bakken formation of North Dakota and Montana,
many horizontal laterals are being drilled and completed
with new insights gained with every hole. This case study
summarizes the lessons learned during well stimulation
and operation, explaining the effect of lateral length, wellbore
azimuth and stimulation design on well production and well
economics. Authors from Hohn Engineering, Nance Petroleum
and Pinnacle Technologies present the state-of-the-art in
horizontal Bakken completions.
Traditional
hydrajetting equipment life has been plagued with rapid failures requiring frequent trips for replacement. The authors describe
unique improvements, aside from the mere change of materials
or use of customary concepts, that address the cause of jet-nozzle
damage, jet-body damage and splashback damage. Detailed studies
were performed studying the effects of flow overshot and
coriolis effects inside of the tool.
Criteria
for fracturing, including fluid selection for specific reservoir
conditions, proppant selection, and whether to use water
fracs. An overview and concise guide for fracturing that
gives practical criteria for selecting the parameters of
fracture stimulation, authored by an expert in reservoir
engineering.
Fifty-seven
high-permeability wells in Mexico’s offshore Cantarell
field were acidized with a novel acid diverter based
on an Associative Polymer (AP). The low viscosity of the AP diverting system results
in ease of mixing, low-friction pressures and eliminated the
need for special manifolding or pump requirements. This AP inherently
reduces the formation permeability to water with little or no
effect on the permeability of hydrocarbons. The field data presented
by Pemex and Halliburton shows that the AP outperformed other
diverters, such as foams and in-situ crosslinked acid. |
OIL
COUNTRY TUBULAR GOODS
After
a rigorous development program, a spall-resistant hardbanding
process was developed that offers superb drillstem wear resistance
and casing-wear protection while reducing friction. These
new materials can withstand long and complex drilling programs
where extended drilling through casing is required. Through
the collaboration of Grant Prideco, the Nano Steel Company,
Noble Drilling Ltd. and Nabors Drilling, the process uses
nanotechnology and a systematic design approach to manipulate
material properties to the desired characteristics..
Casing
for mild sour applications. Authors from Valence Operating
Company and V&M Star describe the development and application
of a 110 KSI pipe grade specifically designed for mild sour
service in Valence’s large drilling program in Leon
County, Texas. The casing is suitable for wells with the
potential to develop a mildly sour environment, but without
incurring the significant cost of going to a C110 or T95
product. The new product grade was developed consistent with
NACE requirements and to meet all of the requirements of
API 5CT/ISO 11960 2004, grade P110. Valence began using the
new pipe grade in 2007, resulting significant cost savings.
What’s
new in expandable technology? Now in its sixth successful year,
World Oil provides a report from all the major, and even some
small, expandable service providers. This technology has not
seen the usual slow uptake that others have. Service providers
and operators have been very busy in developing and using this
technology. The report includes all types of expandable technology:
casing, patches, screens, etc.
The
latest advancements single-diameter wells and monobore liners. This technology has now been achieved
with increasing lengths and applications. It could mean a step-change
in drilling, by eliminating telescoping casing strings and a workaround
for getting through underpressured zones. Each year, technical
advances are made to achieving this in a one trip, cost-effective
approach. Not only will vertical wells benefit, but it may be the
only way to drill some ultra-long extended-reach wells. What the
problems are, and how they are being resolved, are discussed. Enventure,
Baker Hughes and Weatherford are the principle players in this
technology. |
NORTH
SEA REGIONAL REPORT
Deloitte
Oil and Gas Division, an international consultancy, discusses
the most recent North Sea drilling and development
activity,
as well as governmental policy changes that affect the upstream
oil and gas industry. |
REMOTE
SENSING
Air-based
instrument platform technology test. A field-wide airborne
EM survey was conducted with the National Energy Technology
Laboratory and Fugro at US Department of Energy facilities.
The project located steel-cased wells, tested the effectiveness
of cathodic production systems, and determined background atmospheric
concentrations of CH4 and CO2 (methane and carbon dioxide). |
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The July 2008 issue closes for advertising
on June 1, 2008. |
For
information contact: |
Ron Higgins, Publisher |
Mailing
Address:
World Oil
PO Box 2608
Houston, TX 77252 USA |
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Street
Address:
World Oil
2 Greenway Plaza, Suite 1020
Houston, Texas 77046 USA |
Phone: (713) 529-4301; Fax: (713) 520-4433 |
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