The October issue of Oilfield Technology casts its eye on North America as the issue’s regional report focuses on the state of the oil and gas industry in this dynamic region. October’s lead feature explores the technologies required for, and challenges posed by, Tapping Unconventional Reserves.
EDITORIAL COMMENT
WORLD NEWS
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
Oilfield Technology correspondent Gordon Cope shows us how North America’s oil and gas sector faces tumult as it responds to huge opportunities and huge challenges.
GETTING IT RIGHT FROM THE START
Allan Cameron, Sabre Safety, UK, takes a look at the nature of H2S and how H2S safety services have developed over the years in operations across the globe.
SEARCHING BENEATH THE SURFACE
Jo Firth, CGG, UK, explains how new advances in broadband seismic are providing the offshore oil and gas industry with sharper and more accurate images of the subsurface.
DEEPWATER DECISIONS
Jan Loaiza, Halliburton, USA, provide us with an overview of systems that can help companies make better real time decisions while testing in deepwater exploratory wells.
HIGH PERFORMANCE HYBRIDS
Adam Baig, Sheri Bowman and Katherine Mountjoy, ESG Solutions, Canada, explain how hybrid microseismic solutions are changing the way the industry thinks about fracture stimulations.
AN ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION
Dennis Donald, Warrego Energy, UK, explains how the exploitation of unconventional gas will be one of the key factors preventing a global energy shortfall.
WORKING WITH WASTEWATER
Marc Bellanger, Bosque Systems, USA, explains how new oil and gas production methods require new water management and treatment technologies.
SETTING RISK TO LOW
Alexander Hill, Critical Software Technologies, UK, examines the importance of verification and validation (V&V) in reducing the risks associated with drilling automation.
WORKING IN A BUOYANT MARKET
Martin Walder, Rockwell Automation, UK, talks about the market forces and technologies for offshore drilling rigs now and into the future.
THE REGULATION OF OILFIELD CHEMICALS IN EUROPE
Graham Payne, EOSCA, UK, explores the processes involved in the regulation of oilfield chemicals for oil and gas operations in Europe.
HIGH PERFORMANCE CHEMISTRY
Shahnoz Hamidi, BWA Water Additives, USA, explores new scale inhibition chemistry that gives operators better options for difficult-to-treat, HPHT environments.
FISCAL ASSURANCE
Rossella Mimmi, Emerson Process Management, USA, explains how the latest flow measurement technologies can help to provide more accurate and reliable custody transfer solutions.
DESIGNED TO PRODUCE
Terry T. Palisch, Mark A. Chapman and Jonathan Godwin, CARBO Ceramics Inc, USA, outline some of the fundamentals of fracture design optimisation in unconventional reservoirs.
TOUGHENING UP FOR DIRECTIONAL DRILLING
Directional drilling has opened up affordable access to even the most remote sources of oil. However, the techniques involved pose new challenges in material wear. Dr Gary Heath, Castolin Eutectic, Switzerland, Bengt Larsson, OilTec, Norway and Bill McDougall, OilTec, UAE, show how optimum hardbanding solutions can improve drilling performance.
SUCCESS IN THE SUBSEA
Alasdair Cowie, Cortez Subsea Limited, UK, provides an overview of the development of the UK subsea industry.
OFFSHORE NETWORKING
Duval Yeager, Redline Communications, Canada, examines the advantages behind the use of wireless network technology for networking offshore production assets.