December 2015 ///
Special Focus
What industry leaders expect for 2016
Not since 1986 has the global upstream industry seen such a 12-month period of oil price erosion, punctuated by rapid-fire reductions in operator, vendor and contractor activity.
Features
Safety, efficiency and capability gain ground in receding market
In good times and bad, three fundamentals have yielded significant returns for the drilling business: safety, efficiency and capability. These fundamentals have long served as hallmarks for the advancement of rig technology. World Oil’s annual Drilling Rig Advances report takes a broad look at these basics, in the context of key technologies entering today’s market.
Economics challenge drill bit manufacturers to reduce drilling costs
With the precipitous decline in oil and natural gas prices, advances in drill bit technologies are critical to reducing drilling days and lowering cost per foot.
Using simulation to assess the fatigue life of subsea jumpers
Simulation methods are expected to add value to the industry, as they can be applied to complex problems involving non-linear structures and complicated subsea equipment.
ShaleTech: Haynesville
Die-hards say upsized completions, refracs boost margins
Systematic candidate selection improves Haynesville refracturing economics
Every refracturing operation is unique, and economic success depends on integrating rigorous workflows for candidate selection, stimulation modeling, treatment execution and post-refracture treatment evaluation.
Rising to the challenge: Delivering UKCS’ largest riser system for BP’s Schiehallion field
As part of the Quad 204 project, Technip UK has been tasked to support BP with the recovery and replacement of Schiehallion field’s subsea system, and hook-up to the new, purpose-built FPSO, Glen Lyon. The development will require 21 risers, the most extensive subsea system on the UKCS.
Regional Report: China
As the largest oil importer and fifth-largest producer, China’s energy strategy impacts the global E&P industry.
Reversing declining production in ONGC’s Western Offshore fields
ONGC has been engaged during the last 15 years in enhancing production from mature fields by placing big investments in redevelopment and rolling-redevelopments. Through a sustained effort, ONGC’s Western Offshore fields increased their production volume 14.6% during FY 2015, as compared to FY 2014.
Real-time operations improve process, safety and quality assurance in offshore cementing
Transforming offshore cementing into a living, real-time risk and process assurance service enables proactive risk management and active risk mitigation. Also, integrated technical and operational data create opportunities for continuous improvement and compliance programs.
New approach provides safe, efficient marine crew transfer
Advances in marine crew logistics have been supported by operators taking a more strategic approach to their crew supply operations. Focusing on designing out risk, increasing risk awareness and disseminating best practices has enabled marine crew transfer to become a viable alternative to helicopters.
An industry driver for safety
Proactive culture prevents injuries by designing and manufacturing intrinsically safe technologies.
Columns
First oil
Can we all get along?
Energy issues
BSEE seeks input
What's new in exploration
Thinking small is a big mistake
Drilling advances
Duking it out with the North Sea
What's new in production
There’s an app for that
Offshore in depth
Reason for optimism in the Eastern Mediterranean
Oil and gas in the capitals
Disarray rules the day in Norway
Executive viewpoint
Digital labor can revolutionize the oil & gas industry
Innovative thinkers
Dr. Lev Ring: Always pushing forward
The last barrel
Western technical innovation forced to overcome OPEC’s attitude
News & Resources
World of oil and gas
World of oil and gas
Industry at a glance
Industry at a glance
People in the industry
People in the industry
New products and services
New products and services
Companies in the news
Companies in the news
Industry leaders outlook 2016
The “Human Factor” threat
In the latter part of 2015, my weekly meetings included a threat assessment for the Gulf of Mexico, a BSEE BAST assessment conference and a Drilling Engineering Committee meeting, focused on “extreme drilling,” which included much discussion of safety issues in extreme environments. In other words, all that week’s events were HSE-focused. That’s unusual, but it may not be going forward.
Another challenging year is in prospect for UK Continental Shelf
The year 2015 has been challenging for stakeholders on the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS). The continuation of low oil prices has ensured that the industry will end up with a substantial, negative cash flow. Cash flow-negative situations also occurred in 2014 and 2013, when oil prices were, on average, much higher.
It’s time to go to the gym
As a kid, I watched TV ads featuring the “Godfather of Fitness,” Jack LaLanne. In 1936, Mr. LaLanne opened one of our nation’s first fitness gyms in Oakland, Calif., with the goal of helping people build muscle and become healthy and fit.
Innovation beyond technology: The new imperative
Hydrocarbons have never been easy to find or produce. Now, in addition, we must contend with low prices. But, to the more-than 7 billion people on our planet, whose quality-of-life depends on safe, affordable energy, the price of oil and gas does not matter.
Innovation and collaboration will overcome the downturn
The oil and gas industry is in rough waters. Especially across the service/supply community, the downturn has been, and will continue to be, rocky and, in many cases, painful.
Barbarians at the Door
(Second in the Energy Trilogy during the reign of King Amabo, Ruler of the ASU)
Competitive markets mean a brighter future
In my December 2013 editorial, I issued a call to action, imploring my industry colleagues to proactively educate the public on our actions regarding responsible development.
Why offshore energy still matters
As 2015 winds down, the U.S. and the world are awash in oil and natural gas. What a difference a few years make.
There is nothing like a good crisis!
The oil and gas industry faces yet another crisis. Employees fear losing their jobs, the future is insecure, and we struggle to keep up morale.
2015 is almost in the rear-view mirror—what will 2016 bring?
We seem to be stuck in a scenario that is oddly similar to a scene in the movie, Groundhog Day.
It’s pretty simple: Radically innovate or die!
In our business, the levers are price, volume and expenses. Over the past 15 years, price has been very kind, rising to average $92/bbl in 2014.
Defining the “H” in HSE
I can remember attending my first SPE Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Conference many years ago.
Keeping the learning process alive
Process safety is distinct from personal safety. It is concerned with the management of hazards that can give rise to major accidents involving release of potentially dangerous materials; release of energy, such as fire or explosion; or both.
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