Danielle Poskus (SPE Program Chair)

Abstract: First came Piper Alpha, then years later came Macondo and Montara in quick succession. The question is: Why? Why did these two more recent Incidents occur if we had learnt lessons from Piper Alpha and implemented the appropriate corrective actions? Dr Rhona Flin from the University of Aberdeen and her team were tasked by […]

Abstract: Operators of natural gas wells have long used Turner equations to calculate critical gas velocity to keep gas wells unloaded. The original Turner method was developed for vertical wells with analysis performed using wellhead conditions. However, this methodology is only applicable to high-pressure, vertical wells with a simple completion geometry. Modern well design employs […]

  Abstract: Geochemical techniques can be used to quantitatively determine the contribution of each of several zones to a commingled oil (or gas) stream. This technique costs less than 2-5% of the cost of production logging.  Oil and gas producers can use this technique to: Quantify Zone Contributions for Royalty Calculations or Regulatory Requirements. Monitor […]

Integrated Asset Modelling (IAM) for Improved Surveillance Capabilities and Sustained Overall Optimised Production Traditional approach to asset modelling couples 2 or 3 models at best; this methodology is not only prone to data transmission, data conversion errors but even use of incorrect data sets. As optimisation is achieved at each level, it almost always delivers […]

Abstract: On 20 April 2010, the Macondo blowout in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico killed 11 men, burned and sank the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig, and devastated the Gulf. Investigative authorities queried mechanical systems, operating decisions, corporate cultures, safety procedures, and testimony by survivors, academics, experts, and executives. Meanwhile, industry personnel need succinct, non-litigious, technical […]

Abstract: All exploration, drilling and production well objectives require drilling with or against Earth stresses. Plate vectors from GPS and SHmax vectors from earthquakes provide very limited predictive stress for the exploration and production industry. Wellbore measured stress data are sparse, post-drill and after the problem. SHmax magnitudes are modelled and their directions, being vectors, […]

Abstract: Digital rock analysis, an emerging technology driven by rapid advances in 3D pore scale imaging and computation, allows an unprecedented quantitative understanding of the pore scale at which all reservoir processes operate. Digital rock projects have historically focused on applications to core analysis – characterizing details at the pore scale and ensuring that the […]