On the Cover

An ABS classified vessel, BG Group’s Methane Shirley Elisabeth at the sea buoy, offshore Lake Charles, Louisiana, May 2007.

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Cover and Table of Contents

SPECIAL FEATURES

Guest Editorial - Top 10 Risks for the Oil and Gas Industry

Rob Jessen, Global Oil & Gas Sector Leader of Ernst & Young, discusses the top 10 strategic risks for oil and gas companies identified in a study of industry leaders and subject matter professionals from around the world.

Management • A Systematic Approach to Hostile Environments

Ashok Belani, Chief Technology Officer of Schlumberger, and Steve Orr, President Artificial Lift of Schlumberger, argue that adopting an industry standard for high-pressure/hightemperature classifications will help the industry to converge efforts and prioritize the technical challenges in finding, evaluating, and producing extreme reservoirs.

Offshore Technology Conference

With the oil and gas industry stretched to the limit to meet rising global demand, technical session topics during the 2008 Offshore Technology Conference focused on the opportunities, challenges, and the next wave of technological advancement in the oil industry.

SPE’s Forum Series

The 2009 Western Hemisphere Forums include discussions on extended-reach wells, artificial intelligence, maximizing oil recovery, stimulation in tight gas and shale, and operational innovation for field rejuvenation chaired by experts from BP, Halliburton, Schlumberger, Shell, WellDynamics, NSI Technologies, and AMEC Paragon.

Legion of Honor

SPE welcomes 190 members to the 2008 Legion of Honor, celebrating 50 years of consecutive membership. Each honoree becomes dues exempt and receives a certificate
honoring this milestone.

Reservoir Simulation and Visualization

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Overview

Martin Crick, SPE, Senior Reservoir Engineer, Schlumberger

History Matching Thermally Assisted Gas/Oil Gravity Drainage In Fractured Reservoirs

This article, written by Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper IPTC 11411, “Key Learnings From History Matching a Thermally Assisted Gas/Oil Gravity-Drainage Pilot in Fractured Reservoirs,” by A. Ikwumonu, K. Rawnsley, M. Habsi, and R. Penney, PDO, prepared for the 2007 International Petroleum Technology Conference, Dubai, 4–6 December. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

Unstructured Gridding for Full-Field Simulation of a Giant Carbonate Reservoir Developed With Long Horizontal Wells

This article, written by Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper IPTC 11512, “The Application of Unstructured Gridding Techniques for Full-Field Simulation of a Giant Carbonate Reservoir Developed With Long Horizontal Wells,” by H. Vestergaard, SPE, H. Olsen, SPE, and A.S. Sikandar, SPE, Maersk Oil Qatar,
and I.A. Al-Emadi and R. Noman, SPE, Qatar Petroleum, prepared for the 2007 International Petroleum Technology Conference, Dubai, 4–6 December. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

Clustering/Geostatistical/Evolutionary Approach for 3D Reservoir Characterization and Assisted History Matching in a Complex Carbonate Reservoir

This article, written by Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper SPE 113978, “Integrated Clustering/Geostatistical/Evolutionary Strategies Approach for 3D Reservoir Characterization and Assisted History Matching in a Complex Carbonate Reservoir, SACROC Unit, Permian Basin,” by R. Gonzalez, SPE, K. Schepers,SPE, and S.R. Reeves, SPE, Advanced Resources International; E. Eslinger, SPE, Eric Geoscience and College of Saint Rose; and T. Back, NuTech Solutions, prepared for the 2008 SPE Improved Oil Recovery Symposium, Tulsa, 19–23 April. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

Artificial Lift

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Overview

Stuart L. Scott, SPE, Artificial-Lift Consultant, Shell EP Americas Region

Innovations for Deepwater Jubarte Heavy Oil

This article, written by Assistant Technology Editor Karen Bybee, contains highlights of paper OTC 19083, “The New Deepwater Oil and Gas Province in Brazil: Flow Assurance and Artificial Lift: Innovations for Jubarte Heavy Oil,” by Giovani Colodette, Carlos A.G. Pereira, Cézar A.M. Siqueira, Geraldo A.S.M. Ribeiro, Roberto Rodrigues, João S. de Matos, and Marcos P. Ribeiro, Petrobras, originally prepared for the 2007 Offshore Technology Conference, Houston, 30 April–3 May. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

SAGD ESP Installations in Canada

This article, written by Assistant Technology Editor Karen Bybee, contains highlights of paper SPE 110103, “Pushing the Boundaries of Artificial-Lift Applications: SAGD ESP Installations in Canada,” by F. Gaviria, SPE, Suncor, and R. Santos, SPE, O. Rivas, SPE, and Y. Luy, Schlumberger, originally prepared for the 2007 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Anaheim, California, 11–14 November. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

First Metal-PCP SAGD Field Test Shows Promise for Heavy-Oil Hot Production

This article, written by Assistant Technology Editor Karen Bybee, contains highlights of paper SPE 110479, “World’s First Metal-PCP SAGD Field Test Shows Promising Artificial-Lift Technology for Heavy-Oil Hot Production: Joslyn Field Case” by Jean-Louis Beauquin, SPE, and Felix Ndinemenu, SPE, Total E&P; Gilles Chalier, Total E&P Canada; Lionel Lemay and Laurent Seince, PCM; and Alex Damnjanovic, KUDU Industries, originally prepared for the 2007 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Anaheim, California, 11–14 November. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

Unconventional Recovery

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Overview

Stephen Norris, SPE, Senior Staff Reservoir Engineer, J-W Operating Company

Coalbed-Methane Pilots: Timing, Design, and Analysis

This article, written by Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper SPE 114169, “Coalbed-Methane Pilots: Timing, Design, and Analysis,” by R.D. Roadifer, SPE, ConocoPhillips Alaska, and T.R. Moore, CDX Gas, prepared for the 2008 SPE Unconventional Reservoirs Conference, Keystone, Colorado, 10–12 February. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

Getting the Last Gasp: Deliquification of Challenging Gas Wells

This article, written by Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper IPTC 11651, “Getting the Last Gasp: Deliquification of Challenging Gas Wells,” by A.V. Bondurant, SPE, B.D. Dotson, SPE, and P.O. Oyewole, SPE, BP plc, prepared for the 2007 International Petroleum Technology Conference, Dubai, 4–6 December. The paper has not been peer reviewed. Copyright 2008 International Petroleum Technology Conference.

Toward Production From Gas Hydrates: Status, Technology, and Potential

This article, written by Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper SPE 114163, “Toward Production From Gas Hydrates: Current Status, Assessment of Resources, and Model-Based Evaluation of Technology and Potential,” by George J. Moridis, SPE, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; Timothy S. Collett, SPE, US Geological Survey; Ray Boswell, US Department of Energy; M. Kurihara, SPE, Japan Oil Engineering Company; Matthew T. Reagan, SPE, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; and Carolyn Koh and E. Dendy Sloan, SPE, Colorado School of Mines, prepared for the 2008 SPE Unconventional Reservoirs Conference, Keystone, Colorado, 10–12 February. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

CO₂ Applications

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Overview

Sam Gomersall, SPE, Director, CO2DeepStore

EU Policy Options for Regulating Carbon Capture and Storage

This article, written by Assistant Technology Editor Karen Bybee, contains highlights of paper SPE 111824, “Policy Options in the EU for Regulating Carbon Capture and Storage,” by David J. Williamson and Paul Zakkour, Environmental Resources Management Ltd., originally prepared for the 2008 SPE International Conference on Health, Safety, and Environment in Oil and Gas Exploration and Production, Nice, France, 15–17 April. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

The CO₂ Pilot at Lacq: An Integrated Oxycombustion CO₂-Capture and -Storage Project

This article, written by Assistant Technology Editor Karen Bybee, contains highlights of paper IPTC 11737, “The CO2 Pilot at Lacq: An Integrated Oxycombustion CO2 Capture and Geological-Storage Project in the South West of France,” by Nicolas Aimard, Marc Lescanne, Gérard Mouronval, and Claude Prébende, Total, originally
prepared for the 2007 International Petroleum Technology Conference, Dubai, UAE, 4–6 December. The paper has not been peer reviewed. Copyright 2007 International Petroleum Technology Conference.

A Monitoring and Verification Plan for The Otway CO₂ Pilot Project

This article, written by Assistant Technology Editor Karen Bybee, contains highlights of paper OTC 19202, “Developing a Monitoring and Verification Plan With Reference to the Australian Otway CO2 Pilot Project,” by Kevin Dodds, SPE, CSIRO, and Sandeep Sharma, SPE, Schlumberger, originally prepared for the 2008 Offshore Technology Conference, Houston, 5–8 May. The paper has not been peer reviewed. Copyright 2008 Offshore Technology Conference.