Special Features
Guest Editorial • The Future of Shelf Plays • Earl Broussard, Argus Subsea
For several years, medium and large operators have focused on pushing the technological boundaries in deepwater development, particularly in the Gulf of Mexico. However, the recent Macondo incident in the Gulf and the subsequent drilling moratorium has caused some introspection for these operators. Today, independent and medium-sized operators are concerned about the commercial risks of deepwater drilling, but they are equally concerned about the commercial risk of operations outside the United States. The solution for many is refocus back to the shelf.
Technology Update • Upgrading Formation-Evaluation Electronics for High-Temperature Drilling Environment
The progress made so far paves the way for the future development of other HT M/LWD technologies that are currently only available in environments with operating temperatures not exceeding 175°C, such as resistivity, density, neutron porosity, and sonic measurements.
Management • Driving Project Efficiency and Cost Control in the Upstream Oil and Gas Industry • David Bleackley, Business Development Director, Exploration and Production, AspenTech and Michael S. Strathman, Director, E&P, AspenTech
Today’s upstream oil and gas companies are focused on keeping pace with growing demand and driving incremental revenues by exploiting hydrocarbon reserves. This trend is particularly marked in fast-emerging, dynamic new markets such as Brazil, Russia, India and China where operators are aggressively pursuing new market opportunities both domestically and further afield.
Shell Focuses on Innovation, Technology
A company profile of Shell with a focus on its biggest upstream developments. Includes a Q&A interview with Shell Projects & Technology Director Matthias Bichsel.
Drilling Conference to Focus on Performance Excellence
Business performance in a rapidly changing technical, regulatory, and economic environment will be the theme of the 2011 SPE/IADC Drilling Conference and Exhibition, scheduled for 1–3 March 2011 in Amsterdam.
Technology Focus
Baojun Bai
SPE, Assistant Professor of petroleum engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology
EOR Performance and Modeling
Development of Improved-Hydrocarbon-Recovery-Screening Methods
This article, written by Senior Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper SPE 129768, “Development of Improved-Hydrocarbon-Recovery-Screening Methodologies,” by Jasper L. Dickson, SPE, and Alana Leahy-Dios, SPE, ExxonMobil Upstream Research, and Philip L. Wylie, SPE, Mobil Producing Nigeria, prepared for the 2010 SPE Improved Oil Recovery Symposium, Tulsa, 24–28 April. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
Study of Remaining-Oil Distribution After Polymer Injection
This article, written by Senior Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper SPE 133808, “Study on Remaining-Oil Distribution After Polymer Injection,” by Jiecheng Cheng, SPE, Daqing Oil Field Company; Jianguang Wei, Daqing Oil Field Company and China University of Petroleum; Kaoping Song, SPE, Northeast Petroleum University; and Peihui Han, SPE, Daqing Oil Field Company, prepared for the 2010 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Florence, Italy, 19–22 September. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
30 Years of Successful High-Pressure Air Injection: Performance Evaluation of Buffalo Field, South Dakota
This article, written by Senior Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper SPE 133494, “30 Years of Successful High-Pressure Air Injection: Performance Evaluation of Buffalo Field, South Dakota,” by V.K. Kumar, SPE, Hilcorp Energy Company; D. Gutiérrez, SPE, Computer Modelling Group; and B.P. Thies and C. Cantrell, SPE, Continental Resources, prepared for the 2010 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Florence, Italy, 19–22 September. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
Nanosized Particles for Enhanced Oil Recovery
This article, written by Senior Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper SPE 129933, “Nanosized Particles for EOR,” by Tormod Skauge, SPE, Sverre Hetland, Kristine Spildo, SPE, and Arne Skauge, SPE, Uni CIPR, prepared for the 2010 SPE Improved Oil Recovery Symposium, Tulsa, 24–28 April. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
Syed A. Ali, SPE, Research Advisor, Schlumberger
Mature Fields and Well Revitalization
Understanding First, Simulation Later
This article, written by Assistant Technology Editor Karen Bybee, contains highlights of paper SPE 132781, “Understanding First, Simulation Later: Using Basic and Modern Reservoir-Engineering Techniques To Understand Reservoir Dynamics: A Proven Case,” by Hector Gomez Alonso, SPE, Sarawak Shell Berhad, originally prepared for the 2010 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Florence, Italy, 19–22 September. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
Samarang Field—Redevelopment Evaluation Brings New Life to an Old Oil Field
This article, written by Assistant Technology Editor Karen Bybee, contains highlights of paper IPTC 13162, “Samarang Field—Seismic-to-Simulation Redevelopment Evaluation Brings New Life to an Old Oil Field, Offshore Sabah, Malaysia,” by J.K. Forrest, SPE, Schlumberger; A. Hussain, SPE, and M. Orozco, SPE, Petronas Carigali Shd. Bhd.; and J.P. Bourge, SPE, T. Bui, SPE, R. Henson, SPE, and J. Jalaludin, SPE, Schlumberger, originally prepared for the 2009 International Petroleum Technology Conference, Doha, Qatar, 7–9 December. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
Redevelopment of the Cardium Formation by Use of Fractured Horizontal Wells
This article, written by Assistant Technology Editor Karen Bybee, contains highlights of paper SPE 137737, “Redevelopment of the Cardium Formation Using Fractured Horizontal Wells: Reservoir-Engineering Perspectives and Early Case Histories,” by E.N. Omatsone, M.A. Bagheri, SPE, and C.M.F. Galas, SPE, Sproule Associates; B. Curtis, Bonterra Energy; and K. Frankiw, Midway Energy, originally prepared for the 2010 CSUG/SPE Canadian Unconventional Resources & International Petroleum Conference, Calgary, 19–21 October. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
Jerome Schubert, SPE, Assistant Professor, Texas A&M University
Well Control
Behavior and Shape of Gas Kicks in Wellbores
This article, written by Assistant Technology Editor Karen Bybee, contains highlights of paper SPE 128276, “Behavior and Shape of Gas Kicks in Well Bores,” by H.F. Spoerker, SPE, OMV E&P, and T. Tuschl, SPE, Leoben University, originally prepared for the 2010 IADC/SPE Drilling Conference and Exhibition, New Orleans, 2–4 February. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
Alternative Initial Responses to Kicks Taken During Managed-Pressure Drilling
This article, written by Senior Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper SPE 128424, “Evaluation of Alternative Initial Responses to Kicks Taken During Managed-Pressure Drilling,” by Majid Davoudi, SPE; John Rogers Smith, SPE; Bhavin M. Patel, SPE, and Jose E. Chirinos, SPE, Louisiana State University, prepared for the 2010 IADC/SPE Drilling Conference and Exhibition, New Orleans, 2–4 February. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
The Effect of Rotating Control Devices on the Incidence of Blowouts: Onshore Texas
This article, written by Assistant Technology Editor Karen Bybee, contains highlights of paper SPE 133019, "The Impact of Rotating Control Devices on the Incidence of Blowouts: A Case Study for Onshore Texas, USA," by C.J. Jablonowski, SPE, and A.L. Podio, SPE, University of Texas at Austin, originally prepared for the 2010 SPE Trinidad and Tobago Energy Resources Conference, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, 27–30 June. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
