November 2010
Volume 62 Number 11
Features
Guest Editorial • Oil and Fat • Dr. Alex Barbey, International Health Coordinator, Schlumberger
Within the oil and gas industry, the “S” is surely the biggest part of the HSE equation in terms of liability and expense. But a lowercase “h” would better represent the lack of attention paid to health—yet “h” issues kill more people every year than the “S.”
Gorgon To Drive Australian LNG Asia-Export Surge
One of the world’s largest natural-gas projects, involving one of the largest, most advanced carbon-dioxide-sequestration initiatives, is moving ahead in coastal Western Australia. The Chevron-operated Gorgon project will develop offshore reservoirs for liquefied-natural-gas export and domestic gas-market supply.
SPE Annual Conference Makes History
SPE’s first Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition held outside the US drew 4,700 oil and gas professionals from more than 70 countries to the historic city of Florence, Italy.
Industry Compensation Stable in 2010
Results of the 2010 SPE Salary Survey, which reviews pay and compensation for SPE members worldwide in a variety of industry sectors.
Management • The Future Ain’t What It Used to Be; or Is It? • John McIntosh, Managing Director, Eikos Project Systems
A calibrated estimate of well project duration and cost should be a standard part of the investment decision-making process. A calibrated estimate will substantiate a wide range of possible outcomes and improve the quality of information available prior to allocating capital. Communicating information related to risk is also an area where the E&P industry can learn from others.
Talent & Technology • Improving Human Resources Through Benchmarking • Darren Lincoln, Manager, SAIC Performance Improvement and Benchmarking Practice
Oil and gas companies are facing human resource challenges that require a different approach if they want to be competitive for attracting and retaining talent.
Technology Focus
Drilling and Completion Fluids
Brent Estes, SPE, Drilling Fluids Specialist, Chevron Energy Technology Company
Managing Circulation Losses in a Harsh Drilling Environment
This article, written by Assistant Technology Editor Karen Bybee, contains highlights of paper SPE 128225, “Managing Circulation Losses in a Harsh Drilling Environment: Conventional Solution vs. CHCD Through a Risk Assessment,” by S. Masi, C. Molaschi, SPE, and F. Zausa, Eni E&P, and J. Michelez, SPE, Altran, originally prepared for the 2010 IADC/SPE Drilling Conference and Exhibition, New Orleans, 2–4 February. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
Particle-Size Distribution Improves Casing-While-Drilling Wellbore-Strengthening Results
This article, written by Assistant Technology Editor Karen Bybee, contains highlights of paper SPE 128913, “Particle Size Distribution Improves Casing-While-Drilling Wellbore Strengthening Results,” by R.D. Watts, SPE, M.R. Greener, SPE, S. McKeever, SPE, P.D. Scott, SPE and D. Beardmore, SPE, ConocoPhillips, originally prepared for the 2010 IADC/SPE Drilling Conference and Exhibition, New Orleans, 2–4 February. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
An Engineered-Particle Drilling Fluid To Overcome Coal Drilling Challenges
This article, written by Assistant Technology Editor Karen Bybee, contains highlights of paper SPE 128712, “Utilizing an Engineered Particle Drilling Fluid To Overcome Coal Drilling Challenges,” by Sabine Zeilinger, SPE, and Fred Dupriest, SPE, ExxonMobil Development Company; Ryan Turton, SPE, Esso Australia Pty. Ltd.; and Hayden Butler, SPE, and Hong Wang, SPE, Halliburton, originally prepared for the 2010 SPE Drilling Conference and Exhibition, New Orleans, 2–4 February. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
Changing the Safe Drilling Window With Invert Emulsion Drilling Fluids
This article, written by Assistant Technology Editor Karen Bybee, contains highlights of paper SPE 132207, “Changing the Safe Drilling Window With Invert Emulsion Drilling Fluids: Advanced Wellbore Stability Modeling Using Experimental Results,” by Terry Hemphill, SPE, Halliburton; William Duran, SPE, Saudi Aramco; and Younane Abousleiman, SPE, Vinh Nguyen, SPE, Minh Tran, SPE, and Son Hoang, U. of Oklahoma, originally prepared for the 2010 CPS/SPE International Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition in China, Beijing, 8–10 June. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
Horizontal and Complex-Trajectory Wells
Jon Ruszka, SPE, Drilling Marketing Manager, Baker Hughes Africa Region
Extreme-Lean-Profile Concept for Long Extended-Reach Multilateral Wells: Cerro Falcone 4 OR Well Case History
This article, written by Senior Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper SPE 133127, “The ‘Extreme Lean Profile’ Concept as a Crucial Technology for Multilateral, Long, Extended-Reach Wells: The Case History of Cerro Falcone 4 OR,” by A. Burini, SPE, R. Poloni, P. Valente, G. Cavallaro, and L. Mattioli, Eni E&P, prepared for the 2010 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Florence, Italy, 19–22 September. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
Intelligent Wells: Horizontal-Well Simulation for Thin Oil Rims in the Niger Delta—A Case Study
This article, written by Senior Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper SPE 133389, “Intelligent Wells: Horizontal Well Simulation for Thin Oil Rims Abundant in the Niger Delta—A Case Study,” by Obuekwe Mogbo, SPE, Total E&P Nigeria, prepared for the 2010 Trinidad and Tobago Energy Resources Conference, Port of Spain, Trinidad, 27–30 June. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
Application of Horizontal Wells To Reduce Condensate Blockage in Gas/Condensate Reservoirs
This article, written by Senior Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper SPE 130996, “Application of Horizontal Wells To Reduce Condensate Blockage in Gas/Condensate Reservoirs,” by Nathan Miller, SPE, Hadi Nasrabadi, SPE, Texas A&M University-Qatar, and Ding Zhu, SPE, Texas A&M University, prepared for the 2010 SPE International Oil & Gas Conference and Exhibition in China, Beijing, 8–10 June. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
Gas Production Technology
Scott J. Wilson, SPE, Senior Vice President, Ryder Scott Company
Better Production Forecasting for Unconventional-Gas Wells
This article, written by Senior Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper SPE 134231, “A Better Way To Forecast Production From Unconventional-Gas Wells,” by Peter P. Valkó, SPE, and W. John Lee, SPE, Texas A&M University, prepared for the 2010 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Florence, Italy, 19–22 September. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
A Compression Strategy for Tight Gas Wells in South Texas
This article, written by Assistant Technology Editor Karen Bybee, contains highlights of paper SPE 124869, “Low Pressure System for Gas Wells: Do We Need It? How Low Should We Go? A Compression Strategy for Tight Gas Wells in South Texas,” by Quynhthy Bui, SPE, Larry Harms, SPE, Efren Munoz, SPE, and Joe Becnel, SPE, ConocoPhillips, originally prepared for the 2009 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, New Orleans, 4–7 October. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
Thirty Years of Gas-Shale Fracturing: What Have We Learned?
This article, written by Senior Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper SPE 133456, “Thirty Years of Gas-Shale Fracturing: What Have We Learned?” by George E. King, SPE, Apache Corporation, prepared for the 2010 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Florence, Italy, 19–22 September. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
