Issue: May 2014

Special Focus

First enclosed-trough solar steam generation pilot for EOR applications

Through one year of operations, the pilot project has demonstrated the technical feasibility of solar steam generation for EOR in the Middle Eastern desert environment.

Features

Collaboration delivers first Lower Tertiary smart completion system

Petrobras and Baker Hughes collaborated to accomplish the industry’s first intelligent well completion in the deepwater Lower Tertiary Wilcox formation under HPHT (>250°F and >19,000 psi) conditions at a water depth exceeding 8,200 ft and a 26,000-ft TVD.

What’s new in artificial lift?

Part 1: In this first of two monthly reports, the authors highlight innovations in beam/rod pumping, linear lift, hydraulic piston pumps and hydraulic jet pumps.

Broadband seismic improves reservoir understanding without detailed well control

The seismic industry constantly seeks to improve the contribution of seismic data to the upstream E&P workflow.    

Regional Report: Latin America

Future growth depends on more investment, improved technology from Mexico to Brazil and Chile.

Brazil becoming land of opportunity for skilled oil, gas workers

In Brazil, mind-boggling financial figures for oil and gas E&P, along with a severe shortage of skilled personnel, are opening up opportunities for expats.

ShaleTech: Canadian Shales

Tight oil dominates, but gas showing some signs of life

How R&D outsourcing frees up resources

Facing technical challenges and escalating costs, operators are tasking oilfield service (OFS) companies to reduce well construction and production costs.   

Social media texting merges with RACI to enhance project management

Every oilfield project has formal and informal communication structures that impact its success.

Hydraulic jet pumps prove worth for lifting early production

Although they were once relegated to frac flowback operations, jet pumps are now showing potential as an artificial lift method to maximize production potential.

Columns

First oil

Discovering discoveries

What's new in exploration

Let’s get theoretical

Drilling advances

KPI toolbox not yet full

What's new in production

Full disclosure: Company secrets vs. public confidence

Offshore in depth

Development initiatives address challenges of moving topsides to seafloor

Oil and gas in the capitals

Gas pricing issue in India has become complex

Executive viewpoint

Well integrity management extends from planning to abandonment

Innovative thinkers

Battelle: A history of innovation

The last barrel

West Virginia’s Manchin tries to push Keystone XL through Senate
News & Resources

World of oil and gas

World of oil and gas

People in the industry

People in the industry

Companies in the news

Companies in the news

New products and services

New products and services

Meeting and events

Meeting and events

Industry at a glance

Industry at a glance
Recruitment

Elevating women in oil and gas: Critical factors for attraction and retention

To achieve proportionate representation of women at each level within an organization, companies will need to implement active programs and systems, to identify missed opportunities and work to eliminate them.

Hiring challenges are constantly evolving in today’s candidate-driven market

As the industry continues to invest unprecedented capital and time into projects, both onshore and offshore, the competition for talent to support these global projects has also increased.      

Companies respond to the evolving hiring process

Hiring strategies and the recruitment process in today’s upstream industry are changing to keep pace with the shifting supply of qualified workers, increases in compensation expectations and expanding global competition. 

Lessons learned on workforce risk from Australia’s LNG boom

Australia’s recent LNG successes have been far from pain-free, with demand for skilled workers greatly outweighing supply.

China, Brazil among those racing to attract qualified E&P talent

Around the world, in traditional high-production areas, as well as frontier regions, the competition for qualified talent is driving up compensation demands, with companies seeking to attract as many top candidates as possible from a shrinking pool.

Mind the gap: Who’s next?

When it comes to succession planning and the skills gap in today’s workforce, companies around the world are approaching the subject in a variety of ways, before it is too late.

Making social media work now, so it works later

Professionals with a well-rounded and thoughtful social media presence will be better-prepared to network, whether they are in a satisfying job role, or are looking for the next career opportunity.

Training and development: A must-have for candidates, employers

Companies across the upstream sector are revisiting how they train and develop their employees for technical and leadership roles, investing more time and capital than ever in these efforts.

Scrapping the cap for professionals: A solution to the UK’s shortage of engineers?

With restrictive UK immigration policies in place, qualified workers in engineering and science disciplines are unable to remain in the country, or have difficulty returning post-education, to help close the growing gap between skilled candidates and unfilled job roles.

Industry at a glance

International Offshore Rigs

International Offshore Rigs

International Rotary Drilling Rigs

International Rotary Drilling Rigs Graph

International Rotary Rig Count

International Rotary Rig Count

Rotary Rigs Running in US

Rotary Rigs Running in US

Selected World Oil Prices

Selected World Oil Prices Graph

US Gas Prices ($/MCF) & Production (BCFD)

Monthly US Gas Prices and Trends ($/Mcf)

U.S. Oil Production

U.S. Oil Production

U.S. Onshore Well Count

U.S. Onshore Well Count

U.S. Rotary Drilling Rigs Graph

U.S. Rotary Drilling Rigs Graph

Workover Rig Count

Workover Rig Count

World Oil and NGL Production

World Oil and NGL Production Table
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