Cost‐effective 3‐D surveying by cooperation between three oil companies

Author(s):  
M. Brink ◽  
P. Andreassen ◽  
B. Ursin‐Holm ◽  
S. Key ◽  
M. N. Luheshi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Corrie Grosse

From 2011 to 2014 fossil fuel corporations trucked tar sands processing machinery along rural Idaho highways. The machinery was bound for the world's largest deposits of tar or oil sands, a heavy crude oil substance called bitumen, located in the western Canadian province of Alberta. These loads of machinery, what became known as megaloads, encountered much resistance. Throughout Idaho and the surrounding region, a network organized opposition. Neighbors, grassroots organizations, nonprofits, and the Nez Perce and other tribes all collaborated. They held information sessions, protested, waged legal battles, monitored the loads, and blockaded highways. What oil companies hoped would be a cost-effective solution for transporting their megaloads became a David versus Goliath, Coyote versus the Monster—to reference the Nez Perce creation story—struggle to protect rural and indigenous ways of life and sovereignty, and the planet.


Geophysics ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 54 (7) ◽  
pp. 815-823
Author(s):  
F. M. Peterson ◽  
W. C. Reynish

Three‐dimensional (3-D) seismic prospecting is generally perceived as a very expensive tool that is not suitable for use by other than major oil companies or for the solution of conventional exploration geophysics problems. We illustrate how 3-D techniques were used to provide a very cost‐effective solution to a specific exploration project. A basic geologic and historical seismic outline establishes the economic and environmental framework for the survey. Drilling results and comparisons with conventional data illustrate the effectiveness of the 3-D approach. This survey was carried out during February of 1982 in the Black Creek basin of northwestern Alberta. Prolific and abundant Devonian Keg River pinnacle reefs with reserves in the 0.2 to 100 million barrel recoverable categories provide the exploration target. A prospective area of approximately [Formula: see text] was covered with a 165 ft subsurface grid of 1200 percent CDP data. Field data were acquired with a conventional 96-trace dynamite crew using a rolling, crossed‐array technique. Data processing was carried out with a flexible, conventional seismic processing package, including wavelet deconvolution, surface‐consistent statics, 3-D migration, and geologic slice displays. Total cost of the survey was $50,000 Canadian per sq mi. This paper demonstrates the interpretive power of 3-D surveys.


2008 ◽  
Vol 2008 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Allen ◽  
Brian Walsh

ABSTRACT Many leading edge technologies that are conceptualized, developed, tested, refined and applied as military defense technologies evolve into useful applied technologies in other public and private sectors. Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) and the rapidly evolving Small Unmanned Air Vehicle (SUAS) are finding operational applications in scientific research, wildlife, law enforcement, security, natural disaster, and environmental surveillance, detection and monitoring. This paper will review the use of UAS in operational oil spill surveillance, monitoring and assessment. UAS show particular potential for shoreline, coastal and inland surveillance and monitoring of remote areas with limited accessibility. Numerous international oil companies have sponsored UAV demonstrations focused on facility and pipeline inspection, surveillance and monitoring. Governmental agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency, have incorporated UAS into oil spill response exercises and test applications. Currently, many areas of high risk to pollution and high environmental sensitivity are monitored daily by costly manned aircraft surveillance; UAS can replace or augment these manned air vehicles, providing a cost effective alternative that also reduces human risks. UAS technology is continually evolving to achieve broader application:On-water launch and in-water recovery;Payload Integration - video, still daylight and nighttime IR imaging, image processing, and hazardous material air plume sensing and mapping;Command, Control and Communications (C-3) - real-time data link to the Incident Command Post;Platform Improvements - greater reliability, minimized size and weight, portability, longer operational flight time and extended range, and improved power sources;GPS positioning - pre-programmed flight patterns and break-away vectoring; andSimulation & Training - train effectively, maintain proficiency, and evolve tactics, techniques and procedures.


2015 ◽  
Vol 37 ◽  
pp. 173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayub Abbasi Garavand ◽  
Gholamreza Esmaeilian

Drilling operation of a well is one the most expensive and time consuming procedures of oil and gas exploitation. Oil companies are always seeking for safe and cost-effective techniques for drilling. The main goal and motivation of drilling optimization is achieving the highest efficiency of work. Optimization and minimization of operational costs is one of the most important prerequisites of any engineering project. Rate of penetration is a crucial factor n drilling controlling cost and time of drilling. In the current research, capabilities of single independent intelligent models are employed for developing a hybrid committee machine that can predict bit penetration bit with high accuracy. To get this goal, three single intelligent models, including neural network, fuzzy logic and neuro-fuzzy, are trained. In the second step, the outputs of these models are integrated by imperialist competitive algorithm (ICA). Finally, a linear equation is achieved which gets outputs of single models as inputs and integrate them somehow the final results is closer to the actual value. The developed ICA-based committee machine is tested by 145 real data points gathered from the drilled wells in an oil field. Correlation of actual and predicted value of ROP obtained from committee machine shows that the model predicts ROP with accuracy of 88 percent. Such model can be used for optimization of drilling parameters in future drilling operations.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Onyeka Onwuemene

Abstract This paper examines an optimized strategy and approach for executing a marginal field re-entry in the face of harsh global economic realities in the oil and gas sector. With dwindling and depressing oil prices driven by demand & supply volatility with root causes traceable to some factors such as the prevalent health pandemic, clamor for green energy, climate change discussions, geopolitics etc, the operating model for oil companies will need to drastically change to reflect current realities. Due to rapid global urbanization and increasing population amongst other factors, there is a corresponding huge appetite for oil to meet energy demands. This has led to exploration in unconventional terrains, utilization of the full extent of primary and secondary recovery mechanisms to attain high RFs in already producing fields and in some extreme cases, the development of marginal fields. In the Niger Delta area of Nigeria, marginal fields usually given up by Oil majors or abandoned following production exigencies and government laws are acquired and operated by indeginous companies. These indigenous players look for the most cost-effective means to produce these assets as it becomes the only way to make profit. A case study for field re-entry in the Niger Delta, which emphasized relatively/comparatively reduced capital outlay dependent on the technical approach is examined. Lessons learnt are drawn to aid enlightened go-forward actions and that will ensure a go-to template for similar future marginal field re-entry projects.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adel Khalaf ◽  
Maher Ayed ◽  
Gianni Acquisti ◽  
Emanuele Rizzo

Abstract Effective project management plays a crucial role to the success of organizations via resilient execution of activities, in terms of performance and efficiency. Due to the recent market dynamics and its associated uncertainties, affecting several segments in the oil and gas (O&G) industry, utilization of innovative contracting schemes such as Front End Engineering Design (FEED) competition, and value engineered products are becoming of great importance to achieve the project's goals optimally. This paper discusses the competitiveness and strategic benefits of employing the vendor's pre-engineered and standardized turbomachinery equipment/solutions, to meet the required functionality while maintaining the highest levels of quality and safety. Several project management concepts and tools were employed, such as SWOT analysis, to discuss the benefits of supplying vendor's pre-engineered high value and long-lead turbomachinery equipment within projects, as a cost-effective solution, in place of customized products. A Requirements-to-Implementation Mapping (RIM) exercise was also carried out to benchmark the pre-engineered solutions with the industry practices while considering the packaging requirements from well-known international and national oil companies. This paper also presents success stories of implementing pre-engineered solutions that strongly contributed in improving the management of projects from engineering to operational phase. This study works in line with the recent O&G operators’ initiatives in promoting agile approach to mitigate the forces that are impacting the industry and in turn the economy, such as COVID-19 pandemic. The study analysis, employing semi-quantitative approach, revealed that the pre-engineered solution brings to customers an improved value proposition in terms of cost, delivery, quality, safety, and aftermarket support, which contributes greatly in minimizing gold plating to achieve leaner projects. Standardized equipment is also found to be effective in minimizing the risks associated with changes and therefore improving the control on project constraints as well as simplifying the purchasing management of strategic equipment. In this respect, the use of standardization and pre-engineered activities could lead to a reduction of lead time up to 30%. The reliability of the standardized equipment will also be increased due to the proven frozen designs which have been repeatedly manufactured, tested, and supplied and therefore ensures successful and seamless project close-out. The proposed approach of mixing pre-engineered commodities to customized and configurable features based on site conditions provides the proper flexibility required by O&G industry while, simultaneously, maximizing the benefits of standardization. The strategic benefits of pre-engineered turbomachinery packages in the context of project management and supply chain process is not well recognized. This study explains these benefits to increase the customer's confidence level in utilizing this approach and benefit from its values, especially during the changing dynamics of the O&G industry.


1997 ◽  
Vol 1997 (1) ◽  
pp. 595-598 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald S. Jensen

ABSTRACT The bulk liquid petroleum transportation industry is, to an increasing degree, implementing quality management programs. Shipping companies are mandated to become ISM-certified by 1998. Several oil companies are becoming ISO 9000-certified. The trend is for government to relax its detailed inspections for compliance as companies demonstrate compliance through implementation of quality systems. The oil spill response industry has evolved over the past 25 years with relatively little government regulation. Several unilateral and joint government/industry programs have been undertaken since the mid-1970s to develop various product and performance standards for the oil spill response industry. Following the passage of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90), the USCG implemented the Oil Spill Removal Organization (OSRO) Classification Program in an attempt to quantify the capabilities of OSROs for potential customers. Though certainly a beginning in addressing the issue of quality, the OSRO Classification Program focuses on equipment issues. With much of the bulk liquid petroleum transportation industry actively engaged in the quality movement, the time is right for the oil spill response industry to join the ranks. A logical extension of the OSRO Classification Program is the voluntary implementation by OSROs of, and future certification to, ISO 9000/14000 quality and environmental standards. OSROs so certified could expect less government oversight in the future and would enjoy a more competitive marketing advantage. Responsible parties employing ISO-certified OSROs could expect higher quality and more cost-effective responses and perhaps more favorable insurance rates.


2004 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 569
Author(s):  
B.F. Ronalds

B.F. RonaldsFuture oil discoveries offshore Australia are unlikely to be large fields that can support the development of a one-off self-sufficient facility. Fixed platforms are generally only feasible in shallow water when the water depth (in metres) to well count ratio d/w The construction and ongoing re-use of a generic FPSO suited to Australasian field conditions might be of considerable assistance in monetising small oil fields in deeper water. Similarly, aptly located, designed and operated gas hubs could open up large areas for satellite gas development long into the future, aided by new technology to enable ultra-long tiebacks. Both approaches suggest the benefit of overlaying a regional perspective on the oil companies’ field-specific development philosophy.


1996 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 385
Author(s):  
O.A. Larsen ◽  
J. Winterhalder ◽  
J.S. Boardman ◽  
J.N.G. Smith

The development of high capacity seismic 3D vessels has been so rapid that the oil industry has yet to optimise its investment in seismic data. However, the oil companies are becoming increasingly aware of the financial benefits of multi-client surveys which maximise vessel efficiency and provide a comprehensive evaluation of large areas.Many oil companies continue to design exploration seismic programs based on 2D seismic and acquire 3D seismic surveys after drilling the exploration/discovery well and generally after at least one appraisal well. Such single client surveys are limited by expected field outlines, which results in high unit costs for the seismic and missed opportunities beyond these outlines.The immediate benefits identified from obtaining early 3D data include: a higher success rate, optimisation of well locations, more rapid and cost effective appraisal, earlier screening studies, and an advanced development program. The combination of these factors can accelerate production by up to 18 months.For the scenarios evaluated in this paper, the use of 3D seismic early in the exploration period translates into an increase in Net Present Value of A$18-33 million and Expected Monetary Value of A$50-58 million for a 50 MMBBL oil field.


Author(s):  
Lawrence M. Roth

The female reproductive tract may be the site of a wide variety of benign and malignant tumors, as well as non-neoplastic tumor-like conditions, most of which can be diagnosed by light microscopic examination including special stains and more recently immunoperoxidase techniques. Nevertheless there are situations where ultrastructural examination can contribute substantially to an accurate and specific diagnosis. It is my opinion that electron microscopy can be of greatest benefit and is most cost effective when applied in conjunction with other methodologies. Thus, I have developed an approach which has proved useful for me and may have benefit for others. In cases where it is deemed of potential value, glutaraldehyde-fixed material is obtained at the time of frozen section or otherwise at operation. Coordination with the gynecologic oncologist is required in the latter situation. This material is processed and blocked and is available if a future need arises.


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