December 2011
Volume 63 Number 12
Features
Guest Editorial • Imagination, Purpose, and Vision
The oil and gas industry should not to be afraid of today’s daunting challenges, but embrace them. With participation, and with the shared purpose of dedicating time and talent to the cause of advancing technology for the common good of our industry, how can we possibly do less than succeed?
R&D Grand Challenges—Can Geoscientists Resolve the Carbon Capture and Storage Paradox?
International energy and climate organizations have found carbon capture and storage to be a promising technology to resolve the squeeze between fast-growing global energy needs and global warming. The next step is to build more CO2 storage injection pilots.
Brazil Using Offshore Oil Boom to Build International R&D Center
In Rio de Janeiro, they are building an island of energy technology. The island is on the leading edge of Brazil’s drive to become an international center for the development of oil industry technology. Fueling the transformation are the billions of barrels of oil found beneath a thick layer of salt in the deep waters off the Brazilian coast.
OTC Brasil 2011 Offers Fresh Perspectives Offshore
During a three-day conference in early October, speakers at the first OTC Brasil pointed out the many factors that make the region one of the most difficult offshore environments in the world in which to operate.
West of Shetland Development Gathers Momentum
BP is ramping up its West of Shetland operations with government approval to push ahead with the second phase of its giant Clair field development, Clair Ridge.
Mitigating Disaster—A Look at the Ohmsett Oil Spill Test and Research Facility
The Ohmsett facility may be little known, but its role is critical to the development of oil spill prevention and mitigation technology.
Distinguished Author Series • The Petrophysics of Problematic Reservoirs
Departing from classical methods is required to meet pet rophysical challenges of problematic reservoirs. Rigid adherence to traditional practices must be avoided.
Technology Focus
Delores Hinkle, SPE, Director, Corporate
Reserves, Marathon Oil Company
Reserves/Asset Management
Practical Aspects of Reserves Determinations for Shale-Gas Reservoirs
This article, written by Senior Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper SPE 144357, “Practical Aspects of Reserves Determinations for Shale Gas,” by R. Strickland, SPE, D. Purvis, SPE, The Strickland Group, and T. Blasingame, SPE, Texas A&M University, prepared for the 2011 SPE North American Unconventional Gas Conference and Exhibition, The Woodlands, Texas, 12–16 June. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
Production Acceleration or Additional Recovery? A Look Back at Three Published Field Trials—Long-Term Benefits of Improved Fracture Treatments
This article, written by Senior Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper SPE 144349, “Production Acceleration or Additional Recovery? A Look Back at Three Published Field Trials To Determine the Long-Term Benefits of Improved Fracture Treatments,” by K. Blackwood, SPE, Highmount Energy; P. Handren, SPE, Denbury Resources; and M. Chapman, SPE, T. Palisch, SPE, and J. Godwin, SPE, Carbo Ceramics, prepared for the 2011 SPE North American Unconventional Gas Conference & Exhibition, The Woodlands, Texas, 14–16 June. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
High-Value Engineering Center: Implementing a Major Capital Project—Gorgon
This article, written by Senior Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper SPE 145708, “Use of a High-Value Engineering Center in Execution of a Major Capital Project, Gorgon,” by Siva Malladi, SPE, Parag Shah, and David Cruikshank, Chevron, prepared for the 2011 SPE Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition, Jakarta, 20–22 September. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
Ranking Production Potential From Key Geological Drivers—Bakken Case Study
This article, written by Senior Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper IPTC 14733, “Ranking Production Potential Based on Key Geological Drivers—Bakken Case Study,” by Robin S. Pilcher, Jessica McDonough Ciosek, Kelsey McArthur, John Hohman, and Peter J. Schmitz, SPE, Hess Corporation, prepared for the 2011 International Petroleum Technology Conference, Bangkok, Thailand, 15–17 November 2011. The paper has not been peer reviewed. [Note: Conference rescheduled to 7–9 February 2012.]
Hisham Saadawi, SPE, Vice President
(Engineering), Abu Dhabi Company,
Onshore Oil Operations (ADCO)
Production Facilities
Twelve Steps To Engineering Safe Oil and Gas Facilities
This article, written by Senior Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper SPE 141974, “Twelve Steps To Engineering Safe Oil and Gas Facilities,” by J.E. Johnstone, SPE, and J.V. Curfew, SPE, Contek Solutions, prepared for the 2011 SPE Americas E&P Health, Safety, Security, and Environmental Conference, Houston, 21–23 March 2011. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
Independent Verification of Safety-Critical Elements
This article, written by Senior Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper SPE 136392, “Independent Verification of Safety-Critical Elements,” by Julien Marty, Sophie Theys, SPE, Christian Bucherie, Andy Bolsover, and Philippe Cambos, Bureau Veritas, prepared for the 2010 SPE Russian Oil & Gas Technical Conference and Exhibition, Moscow, 26–28 October. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
Performance Standards for Safety-Critical Elements—Are We Doing Enough?
This article, written by Senior Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper SPE 140727, “Performance Standards for Safety-Critical Elements—Are We Doing Enough?,” by Rahul Dhar, SPE, Abbott Risk Consulting, prepared for the 2011 SPE European Conference on Health, Safety, and Environmental in Oil and Gas Exploration and Production, Vienna, Austria, 22–24 February. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
Martyn Fear, SPE, General Manager, Drilling & Completions, Husky Energy’s Atlantic Region, Canada
Bit Technology and Bottomhole Assemblies
Mitigating Torsional Stick/Slip Vibrations in Oilwell Drilling Through PDC-Bit Design: Putting Theories to the Test
This article, written by Senior Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper SPE 146561, “Mitigation of Torsional Stick/Slip Vibrations in Oilwell Drilling Through PDC-Bit Design: Putting Theories to the Test,” by Jayesh R. Jain, SPE, L.W. Ledgerwood III, SPE, Olivier J. Hoffmann, SPE, Thorsten Schwefe, SPE, and Danielle M. Fuselier, SPE, Baker Hughes, prepared for the 2011 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Denver, 30 October–2 Novem ber. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
Operator Recommendation for a Uniform Dull-Grading System for Fixed-Cutter Hole-Enlargement Tools
This article, written by Senior Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper SPE 139870, “Operator Recommendation for a Uniform Dull-Grading System for Fixed-Cutter Hole-Enlargement Tools,” by L. Ulvedal, SPE, Statoil, and J.D. Enterline, SPE, D. Scott, SPE, S. Radford, SPE, J. Clinkscales, L. Shale, and M. Croxton, Baker Hughes, prepared for the 2011 SPE/IADC Drilling Conference and Exhibition, Amsterdam, 1–3 March. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
Drilling Automation: An Automatic Trajectory-Control System
This article, written by Senior Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper SPE 143899, “Drilling Automation: An Automatic Trajectory-Control System,” by Dimitrios Pirovolou, SPE, Clinton D. Chapman SPE, Minh Chau, Hector Arismendi, Mbaga Ahorukomeye, and Juan Penaranda, Schlumberger, prepared for the 2011 SPE Digital Energy Conference and Exhibition, The Woodlands, Texas, 19–21 April. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
