March 2009
Volume 61 Number 3
Features
Guest Editorial • Who Cares About Peer Review? • Dennis Beliveau, Consultant
SPE will publish more than 300 peer-approved papers in its technical journals this year, requiring thousands of hours of member volunteer time to review, select, and refine the papers that make the peer-approved cut. Dennis Beliveau explains why that effort is worthwhile.
Management • The Evolution of Expandable Technology • Greg Bailey, Vice President of Engineering and Technology, Enventure
Emerging industry standards and continued technology advances are supporting broad industry acceptance of expandable tubulars as a common element in enhancing the economics and performance of both new and old wells.
Talent & Technology • Options are Running Out—Today’s Youth Needs Convincing • Chris Hopkins, President, Schlumberger Data & Consulting Services
The oil and gas industry still needs more petroleum engineers. How can academia, operators, and service companies all play a role in attracting and developing new talent efficiently and effectively?
Offshore Technology Conference
A first look at the 2009 Offshore Technology Conference, to be held in May in Houston.
SEC Revises Reserves Rules on the Basis of SPE System
The US Securities and Exchange Commission has revised its rules governing oil and natural gas reserves reporting, with those revisions making major use of the definitions in the SPE Petroleum Resources Management System.
New Technical Sections Progress Goals
Recognizing a need to address technology advances and gaps in the areas of drilling systems automation and production and operations, the SPE Board approved two new technical sections in 2008. Both sections have made significant progress in advancing their agendas, and all indications point to greater activity in the year ahead.
Hydraulic Fracturing
Simon Chipperfield, SPE, Team Leader—Central Gas Exploitation, Santos
Applying Science and Best Practices To Increase Production and Optimize Economics in a West Texas Gas Field
This article, written by Assistant Technology Editor Karen Bybee, contains high lights of paper SPE 117538, “Applying Science and Best Practices To increase Production and Optimize Economics in a West Texas Gas Field—A Canyon-Sand Case Study,” by Kelly Blackwood, SPE, (now with Encana Oil and Gas), and Kaylene Williamson, SPE, Highmount Energy; Terry Palisch, SPE, and Mark Chapman, SPE, Carbo Ceramics; and Mike Vincent, SPE, Insight Consulting, originally prepared for the 2008 SPE Eastern Regional/AAPG Eastern Section Joint Meeting, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 11–15 October. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
Critical Evaluation of Additives Used in Shale Slickwater Fractures
This article, written by Assistant Technology Editor Karen Bybee, contains high lights of paper SPE 119900, “Critical Evaluations of Additives Used in Shale Slickwater Fracs,” by P. Kaufman, SPE, and G.S. Penny, SPE, CESI Chemical, and J. Paktinat, SPE, Universal Well Services, originally prepared for the 2008 SPE Shale Gas Production Conference, Fort Worth, Texas, 16–18 November. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
Resolving Created, Propped, and Effective Hydraulic-Fracture Length
This article, written by Assistant Technology Editor Karen Bybee, contains highlights of paper IPTC 12147, “Re solving Created, Propped, and Effective Hydraulic-Fracture Length,” by C.L. Cipolla, SPE, E.P. Lolon, SPE, and M.J. Mayerhofer, SPE, Pinnacle Technologies, originally prepared for the 2008 International Petroleum Technology Conference, Kuala Lumpur, 3–5 December. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
Development and Use of High-Density Fracturing Fluid for Deepwater Frac Packs
This article, written by Assistant Technology Editor Karen Bybee, contains highlights of paper SPE 116007, “Development and Use of High-Density Fracturing Fluid in Deep Water Gulf of Mexico Frac and Packs,” by L. Rivas, SPE, G. Navaira, SPE, and B. Bourgeois, SPE, Chevron, and B. Waltman, SPE, P. Lord, SPE, and T. Goosen, SPE, Halliburton, originally prepared for the 2008 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Denver, 21–24 December. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
Production Operations
Francisco J.S. Alhanati, SPE, Director, Exploration & Production, C-FER Technologies
Protect Electrical Submersible Pumps by Squeezing Scale Inhibitors
This article, written by Senior Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper SPE 115195, “Squeezing Scale Inhibitors to Protect Electric Submersible Pumps in Highly Fractured, Calcium Carbonate Scaling Reservoirs,” by Neil Poynton, SPE, Alan Miller, Dmitry Konyukhov, and Andre Leontieff, Baker Hughes, and Ilgiz Ganiev and Alexander Voloshin, SPE, Ufanipineft, prepared for the 2008 SPE Russian Oil & Gas Technical Conference and Exhibition, Moscow, 28–30 October. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
Case Study: Restoring Sand-Prone Subsea Wells to Production
This article, written by Senior Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper SPE 115058, “Case Study: Restoring Sand-Prone Subsea Wells to Production,” by M. Vazir, SPE, and L.G. Acosta, SPE, BP, prepared for the 2008 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Denver, 21–24 September. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
Integrated Approach to Formation-Water Management: From Reservoir Management to Protection of the Environment
This article, written by Senior Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper SPE 116218, “The Integrated Approach to Formation-Water Man agement: From Reservoir Management to Protection of the Environment,” by Jose G. Flores, SPE, and Jon Elphick, SPE, Schlumberger, and Francisco Lopez and Pablo Espinel, Agip Oil Ecuador, prepared for the 2008 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Denver, 21–24 September. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
Heavy Oil
Tony Kovscek, SPE, Associate Professor, Stanford University
Electrical Downhole Heaters for Faja Heavy-Oil Reservoirs
This article, written by Assistant Technology Editor Karen Bybee, contains highlights of paper SPE 117682, “Feasibility of Using Electrical Downhole Heaters in Faja Heavy-Oil Reservoirs,” by Raúl Rodriguez, SPE, José Luis Bashbush, SPE, and Adafel Rincón, SPE, Schlumberger, originally prepared for the 2008 SPE International Thermal Operations and Heavy Oil Symposium, Calgary, 20–23 October. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
Integrated CO2 Pilot in France: Potential Answer to CO2 Mitigation in Bitumen Production
This article, written by Senior Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper SPE 117600, “The Integrated CO2 Pilot in the SW of France (Oxy com bustion and Geological Storage): A Potential Answer to CO2 Mitigation in Bitumen Production,” by Nicolas Aimard and Claude Prébendé, Total, and Denis Cieutat, Ivan Sanchez-Molinero, and Rémi Tsiava, Air Liquide, prepared for the 2008 SPE International Thermal Operations and Heavy Oil Symposium, Calgary, 20–23 October. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
How In-Situ Combustion Works in a Fractured System
This article, written by Senior Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper SPE 117645, “How In-Situ Combustion Process Works in a Fractured System: Two-Dimensional, Core- and Block-Scale Simulation,” by H. Fadaei, Institut Français du Pétrole; M. Quintard and G. Debenest, l’Institut de Mécanique des Fluides de Toulouse; G. Renard, SPE, Institut Français du Pétrole; and A.M. Kamp, SPE, Open and Experimental Center for Heavy Oil, prepared for the 2008 SPE International Thermal Operations and Heavy Oil Symposium, Calgary, 20–23 October. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
