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April 2013

The Lead Feature of the April issue of Oilfield Technology covers the Offshore Challenges faced by the industry as E and P companies continue to expand their operations in the world’s seas and oceans. The issue also features articles on Deepwater Exploration, Downhole Tools, Drilling and Completions, Subsea Systems, Reducing Downtime, Addressing Environmental Issues, and Offshore Pipeline Services. April’s Regional Report focuses on the resurgent Gulf of Mexico.

The gift that keeps on giving
Oilfield Technology Correspondent Mark Robinson reports on the continuing viability and strategic importance of the Gulf of Mexico.

Big money in deep water
Rachel Stonehouse, Douglas-Westwood, UK, looks at the forecasted global deepwater Capex of US$ 223 billion for 2013 - 2017 and reveals what it will be spent on, and who will be spending it.

Many hands make light work
Michael O’Driscoll, Joao Ruiz and Milton Pereira, on behalf of Acteon, use the example of a deepwater conductor installation project to show how group collaboration can allow major obstacles to be overcome.

Walking to work
Lyndsay Young, Offshore Solutions BV, The Netherlands, reveals how a new generation of personnel-transfer solutions is helping operators cut costs without cutting back on safety.

Offshore occupation
Daniel Younger, CY Partners, UK, examines some of the recruitment challenges facing the global oil and gas industry and the pros and cons of living and working in the offshore sector.

Keep it simple
John Spain, Quickflange, UK, sets out the case for simplicity in offshore piping operations.

Reducing risks on elderly assets
Graeme Ellis, ABB Consulting, UK, explains how implementing robust safety risk assessment and ageing asset programmes can help lower the risk of safety or environmental hazards in the oilfield.

Sustainable productivity
Philippe Levy, SBM Offshore, Brazil, shows how an effective sustainable development plan can allow oil and gas companies to meet their environmental obligations without cutting back on productivity.

Finishing off flaring
Shravan Joshi, CompactGTL, UK, outlines the development of an FPSO compatible gas-to-liquids plant that can help eliminate the unnecessary flaring of associated gas.

Working towards green e&p
Andra Wilcox, Houston Advanced Research Center, USA, explores the development of a programme aimed at integrating environmentally friendly technologies into oil and gas production.

Pushing perforations to the sidelines
With operators in the Eagle Ford Shale looking for alternatives to fracture stimulate the toe stage of long laterals, Andrew L. Arguijo and Lee Morford, Cabot Oil & Gas, USA, and Jason Baihly and Isaac Aviles, Schlumberger, USA, explain how a new valve design can help cut costs and mitigate risk when fracturing the first stage of shale wells without perforating guns.

Take your eye off the ball
Mike Churchill, Churchill Drilling Tools, UK, highlights a development in mechanical extrusion technology that offers operational benefits over ball activation for downhole tools.

Drilling completion and beyond
Tom Ashton, Eagleridge Energy LLC, Chi Vinh Ly, Graham Spence and Guy Oliver, Robertson (a CGG Company), USA, present a RoqSCAN case study from the Barnett/Chester play.

Single-trip technology
Chad Hightower, Superior Energy Services, USA, shows how multizone and horizontal single-trip sand control systems are a key strategy for producers hoping to optimise well completions.

Robot roughneck
Murray Gerwing, David Harris and Ron Rolling, McCoy Corp., USA and Canada, take a look at a mechanical roughneck that can increase the speed and safety of tripping tools in and out of wells.

Plenty more fish in the sea
Mark McGurk, National Oilwell Varco, USA, examines the properties of a new tool that is helping oil and gas operators deal with complex fishing operations.

Meter by meter
Finn Erik Berge, Emerson Process Management, Norway, shows how deploying more accurate multiphase meters can improve results in well testing, production monitoring and flow assurance.

Go with the flow
Rebecca Roth, INTECSEA, USA, explains how direct electrical heating (DEH) can provide new possibilities for field development.

Fibre optic acoustics
Sudhendu Kashikar, Silixa, USA, reveals how fibre optic technology can assist in reservoir exploitation and allow companies to boost their production.

Monitoring your mooring
Mark Nolet and Michael Spencer, InterMoor Inc., USA, outline the importance of a reliable mooring monitoring system for successful mooring system integrity management.

Integrity management
Rennie van Wyk, Geoff Eagan, Steve Hall, Jim Palmer and Gareth John, Intertek, USA and UK, discuss comprehensive pipeline integrity programmes.

April 2013

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