On the Cover

Baker Hughes is providing wellsite services for an Emir Oil drilling rig operating in Kazakhstan.

JPT Online is supported
in part through a
generous contribution
from Marathon Corporation

Cover and Table of Contents

(Links open PDF files in a new window. You may also right-click the links to download the files before viewing.)

SPECIAL FEATURES

Guest Editorial • Chinese Firms Emerge as Formidable Competitors in Global E&P

China’s ability to meet future demand depends on combining its proven ways of doing business with the latest technological advancements, writes Richard H. Ward, Regional Vice President China, Paradigm. And the Chinese have a significantly different perspective on risk than most Western oil companies.

Management • Progress and Challenges for Health, Environment, and Safety in E&P

Surveys taken of the Program Committee members of five SPE International, Health, Safety, and Environment Conferences reveal that there has been solid industry progress in the areas on safety and many environmental programs, but more effort is needed on health programs, carbon capture, and biodiversity.

ATCE coverage

A wrapup of some of the major events and sessions at the 2008 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition.

Salary Survey

Results of SPE’s annual global salary survey of members working in the industry.

Horizontal and Complex-Trajectory Wells

View articles in this section

Overview

Greg Conran, SPE, Drilling Advisor of Drilling and Measurements, Schlumberger

Pipe-Rotation Effect on Hole Cleaning for Water-Based Drilling Fluids in Horizontal and Deviated Wells

This article, written by Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper SPE 114965, “Effect of Pipe Rotation on Hole Cleaning for Water-Based Drilling Fluids in Horizontal and Deviated Wells,” by M.E. Ozbayoglu, Middle East Technical University; A. Saasen, StatoilHydro; M. Sorgun, Middle East Technical University; and K. Svanes, StatoilHydro, prepared for the 2008 IADC/SPE Asia Pacific Drilling Technology Conference and Exhibition, Jakarta, 25–27 August. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

Overcoming Weight-Transfer Challenges in Complex, Shallow, Extended-Reach Wells on Alaska’s North Slope

This article, written by Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper OTC 19550, “Overcoming Weight-Transfer Challenges in Complex, Shallow, Extended-Reach Wells on Alaska’s North Slope,” by Randy Thomas, SPE, Dennis Hartwig, and Steve McKeever, SPE, ConocoPhillips Alaska; Dave Egedahl, SPE, ASRC Energy Services E&P Technology; John Patton and Keith Holtzman, Halliburton–Sperry Drilling Services; and Lee Smith, Halliburton-Security DBS/Alaskan Energy Resources, prepared for the 2008 Offshore Technology Conference, Houston, 5–8 May. The paper has not been peer reviewed. Copyright 2008 Offshore Technology Conference. Reproduced by permission.

Case Study: Geomechanics Enables Successful Horizontal-Well Drilling in Libya

This article, written by Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper SPE 111384, “Geomechanics Enables the Success of Horizontal-Well Drilling in Libya: A Case Study,” by Kaibin Qiu, SPE, Schlumberger; Julio Gonzalez Felgueroso, Gabino Lalinde, Abdulmagid Naas, and Bernard Coste, Akakus Oil Operations; and John Fuller, SPE, Schlumberger, prepared for the 2008 IADC/SPE Drilling Conference, Orlando, Florida, 4–6 March. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

Kitina Case: Mature-Field Rejuvenation with Long-Reach Wells and Massive Hydraulic Fracturing

This article, written by Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper OTC 19455, “Mature Offshore Field Rejuvenation via Long-Reach Wells and Massive Hydraulic Fracturing: The Kitina Case History,” by F. Okassa, SPE, L. Tealdi, D. Baldini, A. Casero, H. Malonga, D. Isella, A. Baioni, L. Riccobon, G. Obondoko, F. Itoua Konga, F. Pounga, and M. Rampoldi, SPE, Eni Congo, prepared for the 2008 Offshore Technology Conference, Houston, 5–8 May. The paper has not been peer reviewed. Copyright 2008 Offshore Technology Conference. Reproduced by permission.

Drilling and Completion Fluids

View articles in this section

Overview

Paul Scott, SPE, Drilling Fluids Specialist, ConocoPhillips

Manganese Tetraoxide Weighted Invert Emulsions as Completion Fluids

This article, written by Assistant Technology Editor Karen Bybee, contains highlights of paper SPE 112313, “Manganese-Tetraoxide-Weighted Invert Emulsions as Completion Fluids,” by L.P. Moroni, SPE, J.R. Fraser, and R. Somerset, Baker Hughes; A. Jones, Oilexco North Sea; and A. Guarneri, Eni AGIP SpA, originally prepared for the 2008 SPE International Symposium and Exhibition on Formation Damage Control, Lafayette, Louisiana, 13–15 February. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

Optimized Solids Control Provides Opportunities for Drilling Depleted Reservoirs

This article, written by Assistant Technology Editor Karen Bybee, contains highlights of paper SPE 110544, “Optimisation of Solids Control Opens Up Opportunities for Drilling of Depleted Reservoirs,” by T.H. Omland, SPE, and B. Dahl, Statoil ASA; A. Saasen, SPE, Statoil ASA and U. of Stavanger; K. Taugbøl, SPE, Statoil ASA; and P.A. Amundsen, SPE, U. of Stavanger, originally prepared for the 2007 SPE Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition, Jakarta, 30 October–1 November. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

Optimization of Deep-Drilling Performance

This article, written by Assistant Technology Editor Karen Bybee, contains highlights of paper SPE 112731, “Optimization of Deep-Drilling Performance With Improvements in Drill-Bit and Drilling-Fluid De sign,” by Alan D. Black, SPE, TerraTek; Ronald G. Bland, SPE, Baker Hughes; David A. Curry, SPE, and L.W. Ledgerwood III, SPE, Hughes Christensen; Homer A. Robertson, SPE, and Arnis Judzis, SPE, TerraTek; Umesh Prasad, SPE, Hughes Christensen; and Timothy Grant, US Department of Energy, originally prepared for the 2008 IADC/SPE Drilling Conference, Orlando, Florida, 4–6 March. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

Gas Production Technology

View articles in this section

Overview

Scott J. Wilson, SPE, Vice President, Ryder Scott Company LP

Big and Clean—A Novel Design for LNG Plants

This article, written by Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper IPTC 11637, “Big and Clean—A Novel Design for LNG Plants,” by Barend Johan Jan Pek, Kaart Sander, and Elion Wiveka, Shell, prepared for the 2007 International Petroleum Technology Conference, Dubai, 4–6 December. The paper has not been peer reviewed. Copyright 2007 International Petroleum Technology Conference. Reproduced by permission.

Minimizing Risk of Gas Escape in Gas Storage

This article, written by Assistant Technology Editor Karen Bybee, contains highlights of paper SPE 113509, “Minimizing Risk of Gas Escape in Gas Storage by In-Situ Measurement of Gas Threshold Pressure and Optimized-Completion Solutions,” by L. Ostrowski, SPE, Baker Hughes, and B. Ülker, RWE Dea A.G., originally prepared for the 2008 SPE Europec/EAGE Conference and Exhibition, Rome, 9–12 June. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

Observations From a Tight-Gas-Reservoir Stimulation

This article, written by Assistant Technology Editor Karen Bybee, contains highlights of paper SPE 117570, “Observations From Tight-Gas-Reservoir Stimulations in the Rocky Mountain Region,” by Erik Borchardt, SPE, Schlumberger; Jessica Cavens and Craig Wieland, SPE, EnCana Oil and Gas; and Brian Pluemer, SPE, Don Graham, Abdunnaser Erwemi, Alexei Kazantsev, SPE, and Joel Le Calvez, SPE, Schlumberger, originally prepared for the 2008 SPE Tight Gas Completions Conference, San Antonio, Texas, 9–11 June. The paper has not been peer reviewed.