For the first time a topside deck has been installed onto a pre-installed jacket by using a semisubmersible heavy transport vessel. Recently the Mighty Servant 3 successfully installed the AMP1 fully... more

European operator Perenco and its partners have successfully completed installation of a new platform concept for the D1B development off West Africa. The platform, located offshore Cameroon in 164 ft (50... more

One of the North Sea's current projects - due to produce first oil soon - uses a combination of strategies with key contractors and suppliers in a novel way to... more

Systematic data gathering with statistical symptom recognition allows operators to anticipate and prevent problems before they occur. Recent advancements in the capture of real-time production data have provided new possibilities for... more

Getting the reservoir to give up its treasure involves careful design, technical innovation and no small amount of luck. In his foreword to Reservoir Stimulation, the epic text published by John... more

Frac imaging shows the need for improved frac diagnostics and control, and the means for achieving it. Real-time microseismic imaging was used to map hydraulic fracture growth in the naturally fractured... more

Optimizing production with hydraulic propped fracturing technology is the goal of North Sea workhorse. With over 900 frac stimulation operations in its log book, the dynamically positioned offshore stimulation vessel MV... more

Alloys and new applications of existing hard goods make better work possible. The traditional image of oil and gas as a heavy iron industry is giving way to a new image... more

It was only about 2 years ago that the first composite riser saw service in an offshore application. Time will tell if the technology is ready for further applications. A decision... more

Working in hydrogen sulfide environments requires specifically designed metal compounds. The manufacturing technology for critical service drill pipe has evolved significantly in the last several years. Major advances relating to drill... more

Short but tough, a new series of powerful workover motors delivers several advantages. A new workover motor has demonstrated that it can produce more torque at higher temperatures than previous positive... more

Air injection in sea water is being perfected as a technique to provide wave-suppression for weather-sensitive marine operations. Although this new wave-suppression technology won't allow man to walk on water,... more

The Continuous Circulation Coupler (CCC) is a rig floor device that facilitates continuous circulation drilling on any top-drive equipped rig. It enables single joints or stands of drill pipe to... more

The PowerDrive Xtra 475 is a 43/4-in. outside diameter slimhole rotary steerable system designed for drillers. Downhole steering and control systems are contained in a 14-ft (4.27-m) collar that combines... more

A wide range of operators are increasingly turning to long-term benchmarking of their drilling and completions operations to measure and optimize performance against competitors. Ten UK North Sea operators initiated... more

NORTH AMERICA The board of directors of ConocoPhillips has approved changes in senior management. Sig Cornelius will become vice president, US Lower 48, Latin America and Midstream and be based... more

While most Iraqis are celebrating the downfall of Saddam Hussein's regime, the frustration over the coalition's inability to provide security, services and jobs continues to increase. Winning the peace in Iraq... more

1. Tri-Valley Oil & Gas Co., Bakersfield, Calif., completed a re-drill wildcat to McClure at 9,270 ft (2,827 m) (5,900 true vertical depth) at its 2HR Sunrise-Mayel in Section 4-25s-25e... more

1. Tullow Oil says it is aiming for "early development" of two Southern North Sea gas discoveries after a US $4.61 million deal with BP including a $834,000 contingent payment... more

1. Energy Partners Ltd. chalked up two discoveries. The State of Texas Brazos Tract 495-S #102741 #1 well is in 44 ft (13 m) of water off the Texas coast.... more

1. Vanco Energy hopes to start drilling the first deepwater well off Morocco before the end of the year. The US independent hopes to sign up a farm-in partner for the... more

1. Kappa Energy Colombia has picked up 100% of the ownership of Compania Espanola de Petroleos SA (Cepsa) in the Abanico Association Contract in the Upper Magdalena Valley of Colombia.... more

1. Amity Oil measured a stabilized flow rate of 3.1 MMcf/d through chokes from 1/8-in. to 3/8-in. choke with a surface flowing tubing pressure of 761 psi at its Cayirdere-1... more

1. Tanganyika Oil Co. and Dublin Petroleum International, both of Canada, and Devon Energy Corp. of the United States have signed production sharing agreements (PSAs) with the Syrian Petroleum Co.... more

1. Indonesia said it is planning to offer nine new oil and gas blocks in October of this year, three more than the six suggested last week, according to the... more

Geophysical contractors are starting to take tentative steps in a variety of new business directions. Somewhere in the course of my career I have become mistaken for a person who can... more

Ultra high rpm drilling offers faster penetration rates and reduced environmental footprint. If oilfield drilling technology cannot be used in dentistry, perhaps the technology behind dental drills can be applied to... more

A practical field example proves a point - good ideas are rarely conceived in a vacuum. Necessity truly is the mother of invention. This fact was brought home recently when I... more

There have been a few times I was glad someone invented the blowout preventer (BOP). One was on a Gulf of Mexico gas platform in the late 1970s during the... more

Expect free agency of Gen Xers to replace the traditional employment model. The pace and application of technological advancement is changing the job descriptions of upstream petroleum workers. Traditionally, to work... more

A three level consultation is underway between Shell and Irish authorities over the future of Ireland's offshore Corrib gas project after a related onshore gas terminal was refused planning permission... more

This year is proving to be another crucial year for the North Sea with an acknowledgement that production targets in the United Kingdom will be harder to achieve. Norway has... more

North Sea developments in recent years have featured a couple of minimal facility designs, Sea Harvester and Trident. Trident was first used for Shell's Skiff project in early 2000 and collected... more

"Discrimination, per se, is not illegal, and is a mainstay of successful management. What forms of discrimination both allow strengthening of a company and treating employees fairly and ethically?" When a... more