January 2005
Volume 57 Number 1
Features
Guest Editorial • Challenge and Opportunity in the Maturing North Sea
The North Sea is at a challenging stage in its development, as supermajors look elsewhere for major E&P projects and independents try to fill the void left behind. That change calls for new business models, writes Graeme Sword, 3i Oil and Gas Director, especially concerning venture capital and other financing strategies.
Management • Reservoir Management Tenets: Why They Matter to Sustainable Supplies
Nansen G. Saleri, Manager, Reservoir Management, Saudi Aramco, believes that the industry must look beyond reservoir attributes when considering the demand for future oil supplies. Underachievement of production levels or ultimate recoveries may often reflect unintended, but predictable, consequences of management practices unconstrained by due-diligence provisions.
Conference Highlights Topical Drilling Issues
Plenary sessions on who is responsible for the development of new drilling technology, how to increase the uptake of new technology, and what the industry needs to do to develop mature fields will highlight the 2005 SPE/IADC Drilling Conference and Exhibition.
SPE Website Campaign Exceeds Goal
A campaign organized by SPE Foundation Trustees to raise money for upgrading the Society’s website has exceeded its fund-raising goal thanks to contributions from corporations and the Society’s members.
Sections Celebrate Tradition of Cooperation and Fellowship in 2004
Seventeen SPE sections marked milestone anniversaries in 2004, including six golden anniversaries and one silver.
Mature Field Revitalization
David Lagerlef, ConocoPhillips Inc.
Gecko Wells: Bringing Sand to Surface, A Change in Well-Design Philosophy
This article, written by Assistant Technology Editor Karen Bybee, contains highlights of paper SPE 87956, “Gecko Wells: Bringing Sand to Surface, A Change in Well-Design Philosophy,” by Fadillah Hj Ahmad, Mike Ward, SPE, and Antony Fisher, SPE, Brunei Shell Petroleum, prepared for the 2004 IADC/SPE Asia Pacific Drilling Technology Conference and Exhibition, Kuala Lumpur, 13–15 September.
Rebirth of a Mature Carbonate Gas Pool
This article, written by Assistant Technology Editor Karen Bybee, contains highlights of paper SPE 88773, “Rebirth of a Mature Carbonate Gas Pool,” by K.C. Carr, SPE, and M. Fiori, BP Canada Energy Co., prepared for the 2004 Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 10–13 October.
A Low-Permeability Case Study of 5 Years of Continuous Well-Performance Improvement
This article, written by Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper SPE 90792, “Integrated Process Improves Production of the Almond Formation in the Wamsutter Field, Wyoming: A Low-Permeability Case Study of 5 Years of Continuous Improvement in Well Performance,” by Mike Mullen, SPE, Rich Dickerman, SPE, and Jack Stabenau, Halliburton, and Martin Dobson, SPE, and Charles Ohlson, SPE, Marathon Oil Co., prepared for the 2004 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Houston, 26–29 September.
Optimizing Brownfield Redevelopment With Decision/Risk Assessment: Case Study
This article, written by Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper SPE 87047, “Optimizing Brownfield-Redevelopment Options Using Decision/Risk Assessment: Case Study—Bokor Field, Malaysia,” by B. Wongnapapisan, SPE, S. Flew, SPE, and F. Boyd, SPE, Schlumberger, and Z. Hassan, Petronas Carigali Sdn. Bhd., prepared for the 2004 SPE Asia Pacific Conference on Integrated Modeling for Asset Management, Kuala Lumpur, 29–30 March.
EOR/IOR
Malcolm J. Pitts, Director of Petroleum Technology, Surtek Inc.
Gas-Injection Pilot in the Hochleiten Field
This article, written by Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper SPE 89356, “Gas-Injection Pilot in the Hochleiten Field,” by K. Potsch, SPE, R. Ramberger, SPE, J. Glantschnig, SPE, S. Baumgarthuber, SPE, and F. Gößnitzer, SPE, OMV A.G., prepared for the 2004 SPE/DOE Symposium on Improved Oil Recovery, Tulsa, 17–21 April.
Enhanced Oil Recovery by Steamflooding, Cruse ‘E’ Field, Trinidad
This article, written by Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper SPE 89411, “Enhanced Oil Recovery by Steamflooding in a Recent Steamflood Project, Cruse ‘E’ Field, Trinidad,” by V. Ramlal, SPE, Petrotrin, prepared for the 2004 SPE/DOE Symposium on Improved Oil Recovery, Tulsa, 17–21 April.
Chemical Stimulation Improves Oil Recovery From Carbonate Reservoirs
This article, written by Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper SPE 89424, “Improved Oil Recovery From Carbonate Reservoirs by Chemical Stimulation,” by X. Xie, SPE, and W.W. Weiss, SPE, Correlations Co., and Z. Tong, SPE, and N.R. Morrow, SPE, U. of Wyoming, prepared for the 2004 SPE/DOE Symposium on Improved Oil Recovery, Tulsa, 17–21 April.
Well Intervention and Control
David Barnett, Vice President of Engineering, Wild Well Control Inc.
Overcoming Shallow-Gas Drilling Difficulties
This article, written by Assistant Technology Editor Karen Bybee, contains highlights of paper SPE 87179, “Overcoming Shallow-Gas Drilling Difficulties in the Gulf of Thailand,” by Pornpoch Tiraputra, SPE, PattanapongThiravutpinyo, SPE, and Sunchai Pongorapin, PTT E&P; Bernard Fraboulet, SPE, Total E&P; and Mohammed Dooply, SPE, Walter Friedl, SPE, and Youssef Elmarsafawi, Schlumberger, prepared for the 2004 IADC/SPE Drilling Conference, Dallas, 2–4 March.
Microannulus Leaks Repaired With Pressure-Activated Sealant
This article, written by Assistant Technology Editor Karen Bybee, contains highlights of paper SPE 91399, “Microannulus Leaks Repaired With Pressure-Activated Sealant,” by David W. Rusch, SPE, Seal-Tite Intl.; Fred Sabins, SPE, Cementing Solutions Inc.; and John Aslakson, SPE, W&T Offshore Inc., prepared for the 2004 SPE Eastern Regional Meeting, Charleston, West Virginia, 15–17 September.
Opening New Exploration Frontiers With the Microflux-Control Method for Well Design
This article, written by Assistant Technology Editor Karen Bybee, contains highlights of paper OTC 16622, “Opening New Exploration Frontiers With the Micro-Flux-Control Method for Well Design,” by H. Santos, SPE, C. Leuchtenberg, and P. Reid, SPE, Impact Solutions Group, and A. Lage, SPE, Petrobras, originally presented at the 2004 Offshore Technology Conference, Houston, 3–6 May.
