December 2017 ///
Special Focus
Mike Slaton, Contributing Editor
Rig fundamentals have not changed: rotate, hoist and circulate. But every year, we look at impressive new interpretations of how that is done. The vitality of these rig innovations is remarkable, as all strive to improve performance and costs.
Features
Alex Endress, World Oil
Operators are still testing the limits of unconventional technology in the Permian basin, but increased drilling activity likely means steady production gains for next year and beyond.
Kurt Abraham, World Oil
Current dynamics should portend prosperity, but over-regulation could alter the picture.
Kurt Abraham, World Oil
An interview with Newfoundland and Labrador Minister of Natural Resources Siobhan Coady
Morten Ileby, Aker BP; Edmund Henry Knutsen, Siemens
A case study shows how advanced condition-monitoring technologies—plus analytical expertise—can optimize maintenance of mission-critical equipment in offshore environments, while lowering costs and improving safety.
Jim Redden, Contributing Editor
Brighter gas fundamentals spark second wind
Christopher LeCompte, Wild Well Control
Coordinated plans and procedures for managing well control incidents are essential to ensure the protection of life, property and the environment. Having access to a workforce dedicated to deepwater
well control operations can save operators time and money.
Columns
Kurt Abraham, World Oil
A need for leadership
William J. Pike, World Oil
New Year’s resolutions
William (Bill) Head, Contributing Editor
Why offshore? The answer is in the denominator!
Jim Redden, Contributing Editor
Bigger nail and hammer
Don Francis, Contributing Editor
‘Tis the reason…
Ron Bitto, Contributing Editor
Two unique strategies for offshore development
Dr. Øystein Noreng, Contributing Editor
Norway’s diversification
Ed Cross, Kansas Independent Oil & Gas Association
Public perception challenges are critical for oil & gas industry
Emily Querubin, World Oil
John Terracina: Bringing the frac fluid flair
Craig Fleming, World Oil
Winds of change blowing through our industry
News & Resources
Emily Querubin, World Oil
During a ministerial meeting in Vienna on Nov. 30, OPEC and participating nations agreed to extend cuts in oil production through the end of next year.
Craig Fleming, World Oil
Prices for benchmark crudes continued to climb after Russia and OPEC agreed to extend production cuts for another nine months, although Moscow was concerned that supporting prices above $60/bbl would help U.S. shale producers.
Emily Querubin, World Oil
Alasdair Fergusson has been appointed as a managing director at ClearWELL Oilfield Solutions.
Emily Querubin, World Oil
Sparrows Group has secured a three-year crane management services contract from Chrysaor.
Alex Endress, World Oil
Sperry Drilling, a Halliburton business, has released its JetPulse high-speed telemetry service, which provides consistent, high-data rate transmission of drilling and formation evaluation measurements.
Industry Leaders Outlook 2018
William J. Pike, World Oil
It’s the end of the year again, and time to reflect on our progress as an industry and a global community.
Alexander G. Kemp, University of Aberdeen
The year 2017 has been one of mixed fortunes for the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS), and this promises to be the main feature in 2018.
Dr. Nathan Meehan, Baker Hughes, a GE Company
“The Graduate” was one of the iconic films of the late 1960s.
Robert Warren, Baclenna
My formula for success is rise early, work late, and strike oil – J. Paul Getty, founder, Getty Oil Co.
Douglas N. Valleau, Contributing Editor
The price of oil is in a terrible place, and the “lower-for-longer” malaise impacts the industry’s every decision.
Svein Tollefsen, Statoil ASA
Yet another year with strict capital discipline and cash flow focus will soon come to an end. And what a year it was!
Burk L. Ellison, DistributionNOW
For most of 2017, we have witnessed a steady increase in the Baker Hughes U.S. rig count, from a bottom in the second quarter of 2016 at 421 rigs, to the peak of 947 rigs in the third quarter of 2017.
David H. Welch, NOIA
In 2017, the oil and gas industry weathered unprecedented challenges.
Art J. Schroeder, Jr.,, Energy Valley, Inc.
Entrepreneurship—it’s not just for millennials and can include innovative technology, above and beyond “bits and bytes.” Could it be the new you–2.0?