Technology

A growing number of oil industry leaders are saying that data sharing across the industry is needed, but change is coming slowly. Could 2019 be a bumper year for offshore energy development? The very first fracturing job used sand scooped from a nearby river. After decades of buying sand based on tight size standards, unconventional operators are increasingly going back to a broad range of sizes, similar to that river sand. There is every reason to believe that enhanced oil recovery through huff-and-puff injections in US tight-oil plays could be a technical success across large numbers of wells.

In 1957, the organization was officially founded as SPE, a constituent society of AIME. SPE became a separately incorporated organization in 1985. Our history begins within the American Institute of Mining Engineers (AIME). AIME was founded in 1871 in Pennsylvania, USA, to advance the production of metals, minerals, and energy resources through the application of engineering. In 1913, a standing committee on oil and gas was created within AIME and proved to be the genesis of SPE.

As a Flow Measurement Consultant at NEL, Craig’s responsibilities include working on a large variety of R&D, training and consultancy projects focused on single and multi-phase metering technology. He performs a variety of roles including project formulation, project management, technical lead, planning/delivering test work, data analysis and report writing. Craig has spent 10 years at NEL completing work in the technical areas of engineering design and review for custody transfer and fiscal metering measurement systems, measurement allocation philosophy documents, measurement system audits and financial exposure calculations. Currently, Craig is undertaking a doctorate degree at Coventry University in heavy oil and bitumen flow measurement and as part of the work has developed a Reynolds number correction method calculating flow and fluid physical properties in real-time. Risk management in thermal wellbore integrity can be promoted by the proper collection, processing and interpretation of data from various types of wellbore instrumentation.

SPE Technical Reports address areas where SPE membership and the public would benefit from understanding the current technology and challenges. Each report is the result of broad-based input from subject-matter experts. Draft Technical Reports are prepared by a committee and posted for SPE member review and comment for at least 30 days. Comments received are considered in finalizing the report for submission to the SPE Board of Directors for approval for publication. Any SPE member can propose development of a Technical Report to the SPE Board of Directors.

Considering most of the rigs deal with human-machine interface systems, the role of human factors is at the heart of any successful operation. Eye-tracking technology can be useful in real-time operation centers where ocular movement data can improve the professionals’ performance. Environmentalists have sued a US agency to try to stop it from allowing oil and gas drilling on a vast stretch of federal land in Nevada, where the government is reversing protections put in place 9 months ago under the Obama administration. Two months after a Colorado home exploded near an Anadarko well, the reverberations are still rattling the oil industry, driving down driller shares and raising fears of a regulatory backlash. More than 100 members of Congress are urging the Trump administration not to open up the Atlantic or Pacific oceans for oil and gas drilling as part of the Interior Department’s review of federal offshore policies.

Safety risks of drilling operations are widespread, with potentially significant consequences. Managing these safety risks is key, and intelligent safety risk software can help. This paper introduces dynamic risk modeling and reports on a 2016 proof-of-concept demonstration of the emergent capability.

Considering most of the rigs deal with human-machine interface systems, the role of human factors is at the heart of any successful operation. Eye-tracking technology can be useful in real-time operation centers where ocular movement data can improve the professionals’ performance. The Step Change in Safety Human Factors Workgroup strives to improve basic knowledge and understanding of human factors to ensure related risks are managed and controlled properly. The objective of this paper is to highlight the ability to do this proactively through engagement with the workforce. There are downsides to a "hearts and minds" behavioral safety approach.

Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) are lightweight, low-cost aircraft platforms operated from the ground that can be outfitted with imaging or nonimaging payloads. UASs offer health, safety, and environment professionals a promising opportunity to reduce risks by keeping people out of harm’s way. Behind the use of most drones and unmanned aerial vehicles is the issue of safely and legally operating beyond the visual line of sight (BVLOS).

Considering most of the rigs deal with human-machine interface systems, the role of human factors is at the heart of any successful operation. Eye-tracking technology can be useful in real-time operation centers where ocular movement data can improve the professionals’ performance. What is the reality of risk in the hydrocarbon sector? In this roundtable discussion, senior industry executives discuss what happens when process safety intent meets the reality of operations. InterMoor, an Acteon company responsible for mooring, foundations, and subsea services, has completed its 10th straight year of operation without any lost-time incidents.

The SPE International Conference and Exhibition on Health, Safety, Environment, and Sustainability will be held 17-19 March 2020, in Bogotá, Colombia. The call for papers submission deadline is 18 June 2019. Authors are encouraged to consider developing papers featuring multidisciplinary approaches that highlight Health, Safety, Environment, and Sustainability benefits such as innovation, collaboration, and value creation. Additionally, authors may consider proposing papers that feature these benefits within specific elements of the oil and gas sector value chain. Obtain necessary clearance from your management and start preparing now.