December 2008
Volume 60 Number 12
Features
Guest Editorial • The Coming Shootout at the LT Corral
The traditional pipeline infrastructure in the US Gulf of Mexico faces new challenges as fields lie further and further from shore, in deeper and deeper water, writes Peter Lovie of Devon Energy. Competition between tankers and pipeliners promises to be intense, as export expenditures will be into the billions of dollars over the field life for many of these Lower Tertiary fields.
Management • IT Doesn’t Matter—Or Does It?
Despite notions to the contrary, E&P companies can gain a strategic advantage by taking a strategic approach to technical computing, argues Lewis Marks, Managing Partner of LM & Associates. So how should a technical computing strategy be developed and how can companies gain that strategic advantage?
New Thinking Boosts Maturing UK Continental Shelf
Despite what appeared to be an exodus of major operators from the UK North Sea a few years ago, recent record oil prices have led many operators to hold on to assets and extract as much value from fields as they can. Companies such as BP, Shell, Total, and Chevron are applying new technologies to increase recovery rates and prolong the life of their existing assets.
Legends of Drilling Special Section
This special section pays tribute to the five honorees of the first JPT Legends of Drilling Award. In addition to articles about the remarkable achievements of these men, we look at recent advances in drilling technology.
SPE/IADC Drilling Conference Preview
A first glance at the SPE/IADC Drilling Conference and Exhibition, to be held in March in Amsterdam.
Reserves/Asset Management
Dean Rietz, SPE, Managing Senior Vice President, Ryder Scott Company
Modeling the Economic Effect of Cognitive Biases on Oil and Gas Decisions
This article, written by Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper SPE 110765, “Modeling the Economic Impact of Cognitive Biases on Oil and Gas Decisions,” by M.B. Welsh, SPE, and S.H. Begg, SPE, University of Adelaide, and R.B. Bratvold, SPE, University of Stavanger, prepared for the 2007 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Anaheim, California, 11–14 November. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
Kuwait Case Study: Integrated-Reservoir-Management Approach Offsets Effects of Reservoir Heterogeneity, Injectivity Challenges, and Delayed Waterflood
This article, written by Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper SPE 111472, “Integrated-Reservoir-Management Approach Beats the Impact of Reservoir Heterogeneity, Injectivity Challenges, and Delayed Waterflood in Upper Burgan Reservoir in North Kuwait—A Case History,” by H.B. Chetri, SPE, Abd Aziz El-Sabry, Mishal Al-Mufarej, and Ealian Al-Anzi, SPE, Kuwait Oil Company, prepared for the 2008 SPE North Africa Technical Conference and Exhibition, Marrakech, Morocco, 12–14 March. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
Moving from Vision to Reality—Optimal-Value Testing
This article, written by Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper SPE 114870, “Moving From Vision to Reality—The State of Optimal-Value Testing,” by Hani Elshahawi, SPE, Robert H. Hite, SPE, and Melton P. Hows, SPE, Shell, prepared for the 2008 Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition, Perth, Australia, 20–22 October. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
Decision Environments: Lessons Learned From Implementation and Future Direction
This article, written by Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper SPE 112215, “Evolution of Decision Environments: Lessons Learned From Global Implementations and Future Direction of Decision Environments,” by Michael Hauser, SPE, Chevron, and Helen Gilman, SAIC, prepared for the 2008 SPE Intelligent Energy Conference and Exhibition, Amsterdam, 25–27 February. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
Bit Technology and Bottomhole Assemblies
Graham Mensa-Wilmot, SPE, Drilling Engineering Adviser, Chevron
Drilling-Vibrations Modeling and Field Validation
This article, written by Assistant Technology Editor Karen Bybee, contains highlights of paper SPE 112650, “Drilling-Vibrations Modeling and Field Validation,” by J.R. Bailey, SPE, E.A.O. Biediger, SPE, V. Gupta, SPE, D. Ertas, SPE, W.C. Elks, SPE, and F.E. Dupriest, SPE, ExxonMobil, originally prepared for the 2008 IADC/SPE Drilling Conference, Orlando, Florida, 4–6 March. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
High-Speed Wired-Drillstring Telemetry
This article, written by Assistant Technology Editor Karen Bybee, contains highlights of paper SPE 113157, “High-Speed Wired Drillstring Telemetry Network Delivers Increased Safety, Efficiency, Reliability, and Productivity to the Drilling Industry,” by M. Hernandez, SPE, D. MacNeill, SPE, and M. Reeves, SPE, IntelliServ, and A. Kirkwood, S. Lemke, J. Ruszka, SPE, and R. Zaeper, SPE, Baker Hughes, originally prepared for the 2008 SPE Indian Oil and Gas Technical Conference and Exhibition, Mumbai, India, 4–6 March. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
Multidiameter Tools Deliver Lower Cost Per Foot
This article, written by Assistant Technology Editor Karen Bybee, contains highlights of paper SPE 112785, “Multi-Diameter String Tools Deliver Lower Cost-Per-Foot in Demanding Rotary-Steerable Applications,” by Steve Barton, SPE, Wayne Jones, SPE, and Rick Young, ReedHycalog, and Helge Rorvik, SPE, Halliburton, originally prepared for the 2008 IADC/SPE Drilling Conference, Orlando, Florida, 4–6 March. The paperhas not been peer reviewed.
Production/Facilities
Brian Skeels, SPE, Technology Manager, FMC Technologies
Offshore-Connectivity Solutions for the Oil and Gas Industry
This article, written by Assistant Technology Editor Karen Bybee, contains highlights of paper SPE 117254, “Offshore Connectivity and Ultra-Long Tiebacks Solutions for Oil & Gas,” by A. Lecroart, R. Michel, and J.P. Odier, Alcatel-Lucent Submarine Networks, originally prepared for the 2008 SPE Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition, Perth, Australia, 20–22 October. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
Cryogenic Technology for Processing High-CO2 and -H2S Gas Reserves
This article, written by Assistant Technology Editor Karen Bybee, contains highlights of paper IPTC 12708, “Controlled Freeze ZoneTM Technology for Enabling Processing of High CO2 and H2S Gas Reserves,” by J.A. Valencia, P.S. Northrop, and C.J. Mart, ExxonMobil, originally prepared for the 2008 International Petroleum Technology Conference, Kuala Lumpur, 3–5 December. The paper has not been peer reviewed. Copyright 2008 International Petroleum Technology Conference. Reproduced by permission.
Efficient Conceptual Design of an Offshore Gas-Gathering Network
This article, written by Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper SPE 116593, “Efficient Conceptual Design of an Offshore Gas-Gathering Network,” by M.J. Watson, SPE, N.J. Hawkes, P.F. Pickering, SPE, Feesa, and L.D. Brown, ConocoPhillips, prepared for the 2008 SPE Asia Pacific Oil & Gas Conference and Exhibition, Perth, Australia, 20–22 October. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
