Seismic activity growth
The pace of activity in the offshore oil and gas exploration sector matches that of the petroleum industry in general. Operators are putting money to work in exploration, and that translates into an increase in business for the seismic surveying companies and related equipment suppliers.
That’s the conclusion reached byTechnology Editor Gene Kliewer in this month’s global survey of seismic activity. In his analysis of the industry, Kliewer observes, “As seismic survey technology progresses, new demands are placed on the vessels and on the processing side as well. One continuing trend is for processing to begin immediately onboard rather than waiting for the data to be carried back to a central facility.”
There’s more to the seismic story. Our worldwide survey of seismic vessels identifies not only new boats, but also new companies entering the exploration sector. The number of vessels in this year’s survey is about 30 more than last year, and five new companies have entered the seismic industry.
Check out Kliewer’s report beginning onpage 68.
Asia-Pacific rig-building bonanza
In our Asia-Pacific report,International Editor Judy Maksoud takes a look at the feverish pace of construction of drilling and production vessels. In Asia, no one builds more than Keppel Offshore & Marine, based in Singapore. For her report Maksoud sat down with Michael Chia, executive director of Keppel FELS Ltd., and talked about the offshore construction market.
In 2006 alone, Keppel delivered six KFELS B class jackups, one semi drilling tender rig, two FPSO conversions, 11 offshore supply vessels, five tugs, and one semisubmersible conversion, Diamond Offshore’sOcean Endeavor, which was delivered in December.
Maksoud also visited the MMHE yard in Malaysia, where expansion work is under way. In an exclusive interview,Wan Yusoff Wan Hamat talked about Malaysia’s plans to become a regional deepwater hub.
Business is good, to say the least. But what about the next five years? Will the market stay as strong? Her report begins onpage 28.
Deepwater challenges
Operators in the Gulf of Mexico are extending deep-shelf exploration and pushing further and further into deepwater. Each extension of water and drilling depth creates new challenges for traditional drilling, completion, and production technology.
One significant challenge is maximizing reservoir access through sand control and fracture stimulation without exceeding the limitations of surface and downhole equipment.
In an exclusive study forOffshore, Bruce Comeaux and Dan Daulton of BJ Services Co. examine the problem of creating a hydraulic fracture and stabilizing large gross perforated intervals at the sand face without exceeding the limitations of hydraulic equipment at the surface.
Complicating factors include:
- Well depths greater than 7,620 m (25,000 ft)
- Pore pressures greater than 20,000 psi
- Increased travel distance to the sand face
- Bottomhole temperature (BHT) above 300° F (149° C)
- Wide temperature ranges from mudline to BHT.
Solving these problems, they say, requires a weighted brine, delayed-crosslink fracturing fluid system flexible enough to meet specific density, crosslink delay, friction, and formation and completion fluid compatibility specifications. The brine, which increases fracture geometry and formation stability without modifications to surface or downhole equipment and tools, has been tested in extreme conditions and real-world applications. Read their analysis beginning onpage 38.
And more
Finally, don’t miss the Sweden technology report, discussion of FPSO disconnectable turret technology, arctic support/construction vessel design, and 3D analysis for umbilical fatigue articles, all part of this month’s issue, along with much, much more.