Issue: October 2024
SPECIAL FOCUS: ADVANCES IN DRILLING
Consistency and repeatability improve efficiency in drilling operations, delivering safety gains in conjunction with reductions in flat time.
Engineers leveraged data analytics, domain knowledge, and physics and machine-learning models to generate a depth-based optimum operating parameter roadmap automatically. This workflow enables ROP improvement and the reduction of drilling risks, becoming a key element for evolution of autonomous drilling operations and well cost reduction.
U-laterals are being employed increasingly by operators to gain access to greater amounts of reserves while simultaneously yielding significant savings.
(WO) -- We’ve all heard plenty of evidence that U.S. operators continue to strive to drill more footage per well to maximize oil production, and World Oil research indicates that both goals are being achieved. That being said, the performance varies among some key states.
Features
The oil and gas industry has used CO2 for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) in mature reservoirs for 50 years. Now, as CCUS becomes a critical part of the industry's decarbonization strategy, lessons learned from EOR can help solve CO2-related subsurface challenges.
North Sea decommissioning costs are escalating and could exceed £20 billion, but the deployment of separation technologies represents an opportunity to significantly reduce costs and emissions while recovering valuable resources. A smarter approach can transform waste into profit, contributing to more efficient, cost-effective decommissioning efforts.
(WO) – The Middle East has historically been an important contributor to the global oil and gas market, with numerous prolific reservoirs. Accordingly, analysts and investors expect to see some big changes over the next 12 months.
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) presents both opportunities and challenges for companies with experience in the hydrocarbon sector. With net zero targets looming large, how can efficiencies be improved and costs reduced for CCS projects?
Part 2: Since 1929, the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) has advocated for, protected and defended thousands of independent producers. As the association nears its 95th Annual Meeting in October, this second of two articles examines the last 30 years.
The U.S. Supreme Court's decision on June 28, 2024, to overturn the Chevron deference doctrine will bring significant uncertainty and potential legal challenges to oil and gas, affecting regulatory interpretations and increasing scrutiny on emissions, permitting processes and agency regulations. Companies will need to adapt to this evolving legal landscape.
Columns
Although not my favorite David Bowie song, “Under Pressure” really does reflect Produced Water Management today. Most people would agree the seismicity issue is probably on the top of the list when it comes to the complexity of managing produced water.
The economic consequences of a banking crisis, if not addressed preemptively or in time to limit the damage, are numerous and dire, and need not be detailed here. Just the same, condensate banking in a gas well can also become a productivity and economic crisis, if ignored or not properly addressed proactively.
Oil prices faced another dip in September, following a recovery in August levels. Prices are expected to rise for October, when the final data are compiled.
