Oil & Gas Engineering September 2021 issue

Oil & Gas Engineering targets engineers responsible for business-critical functions, technology and processes from the wellhead to the refinery. These professionals design, specify, implement, upgrade and maintain equipment in the areas of automation, process management, cybersecurity, asset management and worker safety.

Machine learning applied in U.S. oil and gas shale fields

A machine-learning solution allowed Denver-based Bonanza Creek Energy to monitor data drawn from its SCADA system to detect increasing risk of volatile organic compounds (VOC) or carbon-dioxide emissions.

Canada’s pipeline regulator revises quality programs

The report from Canada's National Energy Board (NEB) is in response to the detection of inappropriate materials used in fittings.

A view from the oil patch

An operator discusses the challenges in optimizing or reviving production in declining oil wells.

The new age of data management and analysis in the oil and gas industry

Optimizing oil and gas operations will involve connectivity and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).

Moving at the speed of data

Tony Edwards of StepChange Global discusses how oil and gas operators are managing the use of data in operations, and how field workers and the control room are learning to trust each other more in this new digital age.

Turning real-time data into information

Tony Edwards of StepChange Global discusses how the digital oilfield can have a direct impact on production success, and we look at how to equip operators with the tools they need.

More production, less exploration in a low-price oil market

EIA reports decline in exploration and development leads to lower reserves.

‘Pressing challenges’ on OTC’s agenda

Oil & Gas Engineering discussed some of the key issues with OTC 2016 Chairman Joe Fowler about the offshore oil industry, which is going through a pivotal time.

U.S. a ‘swing producer’ in balancing O&G market

The oil and gas industry is looking to the U.S. to reduce production to help stabilize oil prices as the industry looks to find its footing after a volatile 2015.

The impact of hydraulic fracking

Oil production from hydraulically fractured wells accounted for more than half of U.S. total oil output during 2015, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Access to data in subsea environments on the increase

Subsea and offshore systems are receiving more accurate data from improvements in technology, but maintenance and monitoring needs to continue to bridge the gap.

Country intelligence report: Norway

Norway is Western Europe's largest producer of hydrocarbons and has the world's largest sovereign wealth fund with income from its oil and gas revenue. It is the third-largest exporter of natural gas and is an important alternative to Russia's gas supply for the EU.

Country intelligence report: Argentina

Argentina is attempting to usurp the U.S. as the world’s largest producer of shale gas. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that the country could have more shale-oil deposits than the U.S., with 27 billion barrels of oil and 24 tcm of natural gas in situ that is technically recoverable. The Argentine government wants to embrace a major shale boom to save the country from its inflation and economic problems. However, the low price of oil may delay unconventional production and furthermore, outside the U.S. and Canada, shale hydrocarbon extraction is in its infancy.

Country intelligence report: Iran

Often overlooked due to the sanctions in place on the country, Iran has vast hydrocarbon reserves and is the world’s second-largest holder of natural gas reserves with 33.8 tcm in situ at the end of 2013. With nuclear negotiations on the table that are poised to be accepted, the Iranian potential to contribute to the world oil and gas supply, with access to all markets, is a very real possibility.

Country intelligence report: Mexico

Mexico is undergoing a major change within its petroleum industry after a ban on foreign oil companies working in the country was lifted when new legislation entered into force in 2014. The country is going though some turmoil as it adjusts to the new laws, allowing foreign companies to explore for and produce oil. In addition, state-owned PEMEX is being transformed into a private company; a major shock, as it has always been an integral part of the Mexican government.

Staying in touch with the well site

Oil & Gas Engineering spoke with Harry Ebbeson, manager of technical services and customer support at PCS Ferguson, to get a better idea about what some of the specifics are for engineers working in the oil and gas industry. Harry paints a multifaceted, in-depth picture of working within 300 ft of the well site.