The December issue of Oilfield Technology draws the year to a close with a Regional Report on that most iconic of oil & gas producing regions: The Middle East. The issue will also be running a lead feature on Minimising Time and Costs. As well as these, December will focus on a variety of topics including: Seismic Technology, LWD/MWD, Riser Design, Well Control, Shale gas Recovery, Health and Safety and Enhanced Oil Recovery.
EDITORIAL COMMENT
WORLD NEWS
TECHNOLOGY TO THE RESCUE
Oilfield Technology correspondent Gordon Cope, looks at recent and upcoming developments across a broad spectrum of technologies that are driving the industry forward.
MIDDLE EASTERN EOR
Georges Chehade, Booz & Company, Lebanon, David Branson and Anil Pandey, Booz & Company, UAE, argue that it is time for an integrated approach when it comes to implementing EOR projects in the Middle East.
ENTERING A NEW DIMENSION
Jaime A. Stein, Geotrace Technologies Inc., USA, shows us how multi-dimensional algorithms are changing land processing.
BRINGING ABOUT THE END OF EMISSIONS
Andy Smith, ABUTEC Industries, USA, compares and contrasts the regulations and uses of flaring devices inside the Williston Basin and its neighbour, the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin, as they both look to reduce emissions.
PASSIVE PROTECTION
Taylor Milne and Andrew Weir-Jones, Weir-Jones Group, Canada, examine the increasing importance of passive microseismic monitoring (PMM) as the practice of hydraulic fracturing begins to spread across the globe.
STRAIGHT TALK ON RISER BUCKLING
Thomas L. Power and Brian S. Royer, Stress Engineering Services Inc., USA, provide an overview of the basic mechanics of direct vertical access (DVA) well risers.
RISING TO THE TOP
Rod Edwards, BMT Scientific Marine Services Inc., USA, explores the technical evolution of ultra deepwater riser integrity monitoring.
KING PIN
Ross McCracken, Platts Energy Economist, UK, shows how Saudi Arabia has played a key role in stabilising oil prices in the aftermath of the Arab Spring, one that it alone has the capacity to play. But the Kingdom faces a multitude of challenges if it is to retain its preeminent position within both the world oil market and OPEC.
MONITORING PRODUCTION
Erlend Blanchard, Mirmorax, Norway, examines some recent developments in oil-in-water monitoring.
PREDICTING THE FUTURE
Mark Norris, Scientific Drilling International, USA, shows how a environmental-based tool maintenance programme can more effectively and proactively meet the challenge of true predictive maintenance.
FINE TUNING FOR HARSH CONDITIONS
Danny Broughton, Enteq Drilling, UK, explains how the oil and gas industry’s growing need to operate in ever-harsher conditions has pushed engineers to design increasingly durable MWD/LWD systems.
PUTTING THE ‘HEALTH’ BACK INTO HSE
Kyle G. Johnson, Onsite OHS, USA, explains the need for HSE professionals to provide a comprehensive employee health programme.
TARGETING TRAINING
Dave Cormack, Auriga Training, UK, tracks the gradual development of well control training over the history of the oil and gas industry, and plots the route towards well control training for the individual.
CONTROLLING COILED TUBING
David Egbert, Well Control School, USA, asks whether well control training applies to the coiled tubing service line.