Issue: June 2013
A recent horizontal drilling campaign in western China has broken drilling performance records while using the industry’s first high build rate, rotary steerable system (RSS) with custom integrated bits to target very thin, ultra-deep oil reservoirs
A study of Bakken formations and proppant applications revealed that fluid exposure may affect both rock and proppant strength. In addition, conductivity decreases within the Lower and Middle Bakken appear to be a function of proppant and rock strength, as well as formation embedment and spalling.
Part 2: In this second of two monthly reports, the authors highlight innovations in ESPs, PCPs, surface jet pumps, and gas lift and plunger lift systems.
Part 1, Logging: General developments include ongoing efforts to improve the accuracy of wellbore surveys. New LWD developments include cement evaluation; azimuthal acoustic tool and LWD NMR, among others. New wireline developments include openhole acoustic single-well imaging, borehole radar, geomechanics, pulsed-neutron geochemical logging, wireline formation testing and reservoir connectivity evaluation, among others.
Despite significant offshore gas discoveries and promising onshore results, the East African region remains vastly underexplored and it will take years of further intensive exploration for the industry to learn of the region’s full potential.
Interview with Ola Borten Moe, Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Norway
If the Three Forks/Bakken shale sounds awkward now, allow it to sink in.
To be sure, no one expects the core Middle Bakken formation to take a backseat anytime soon, but indications are mounting that a role reversal of sorts may happen. Between a newly released doubling of recoverable reserve estimates, and a premier operator’s recent flowrates from a previously unexplored lower zone, it would not be entirely farfetched to envision the underlying Three Forks/Sanish emerging as a horizon of choice in the more-than-200,000-sq-mi, liquids-rich hybrid play.
In an industry as fast-paced as oil and gas, college graduates must be more prepared than ever to rise to the myriad challenges they will face as new hires. The University of Houston’s Petroleum Technology Initiative intends to give students the knowledge and skills that will set them apart.
In the upstream oil and gas industry, there has been an almost universal uptick in activity around the world in recent months. As companies expand existing operations, and continue to establish new projects, the increase in business has meant corresponding growth in hiring rates. Operators and service companies are adding team members to keep up with their growing portfolios.
As the Baby Boomer generation continues to move toward greater retirement, the task for oil and gas companies is to transfer their knowledge and experience to a new generation of workers.
As oil and gas operations spread to all corners of the world, companies must take their recruiting efforts beyond the regional level, in order to compete for, and secure, the most skilled professionals. Recruitment efforts are becoming more robust, and compensation packages are continuing to grow.
Managing the worldwide energy workforce
Offshore rig designs and systems continue to evolve
Alleged seismic threat to marine mammals revived yet again
Here’s to a “safe” big crew change
$50 million or bust: Making of the Marcellus
Jan Kristian Vasshus: Shaking up the shakers game
A carbon tax of any kind would clobber the poor
Industry’s helping hand can’t be ignored, despite national media snub
Industry tax treatments are not subsidies
Companies in the news
Meetings and Events
Products featured at OTC
People in industry
New products and services
World of Oil and Gas
Industry at a glance
