bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Optimal Applications Engineering and Borehole Stability Analysis Avoids Differential Sticking and Leads to Successful Openhole Completion of North Sea Horizontal Well
Authors: Gibson M. T. , Tayler P. J. , Fun Giin-Fa 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
Drilling in the ‘V’ Fields of the UK sector of the southern North Sea (particularly the long-reach horizontal type of well) has historically meant differential sticking problems as the reservoirs become depleted through continual gas production. Quite often, reservoir pressures are in the region 5.5-6.5 ppg EMW, with some reservoir compartments falling to as low as 4.2 ppg EMW, which poses considerable problems to the drilling process particularly with respect to differential sticking and the possible risk of hole collapse.
This paper describes the engineering which resulted in the success of the most recently drilled ‘V’ Fields horizontal well through the depleted Rotliegcndes sandstone reservoir with respect to borehole stability analysis, drilling and the operator’s first openhole completion in the UK sector of the North Sea.
Proactive Safety Approaches in the Seismic Industry
Authors: Dujmovich T. J. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
In the last two years significant improvements have been made addressing seismic safety-concerns. The IAGC (International Association of Geophysical Contractors), in conjunction with the E&P Forum (U.K.) have undertaken initiatives to improve contractor safety performance. Efforts include the issuance of contract guidelines by the E&P Forum, with endorsement from the IAGC, compilation of international land and marine manuals by the IAGC with substantial input from the E&P Forum, a quarterly incident information exchange and standardization of training guidelines. These training guidelines include detailed syllabi which specify training required for country managers, and party managers as well as safety staff and crew members. The intent is for all employees working in the seismic industry to have a "passport" which details the training they have received. The ultimate goal is to raise the quality of employees in the seismic industry and, hopefully, to guarantee some degree of consistency. Proactive approaches, such as these, should be the driving force to improve safety, regardless of the industry. Too often, unfortunately, industry is reactive to the number of injuries/incidents rather than the programs (or lack of) that are causing the "numbers" to be unsatisfactory.
Future items that these industry groups plan to address include bird dog quality and health issues in remote conditions. It is refreshing to see that both groups have recognized the need for improving safety within the seismic industry, and have, without government mandate, initiated proactive programs to proceed to excellent safety performance.
SARA Sections 311-312 Compliance: Is It Worth the Cost?
Authors: Holliday G. H. 
Published: December 2007

ABSTRACT
SARA Title III Sections 311 & 312 require notification and inventorying of Hazardous Chemicals at or above the 10,000 pound threshold (except in Louisiana, where the 312 threshold is 500 pounds). The original concept of Sections 311 and 312 limited applicability to Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Codes 20–39. The courts extended the applicability to all SIC Codes. This includes the Petroleum Extraction Industry (SIC 13). SARA requires Hazardous Chemicals, such as cement, sand, xylenes and acids, even though they remain onsite at drilling and producing locations in closed trucks for 1–4 hours. The SARA program provides no funding for local agencies and local fire departments. Thus, these organizations have little incentive to process the information.
Near oil and gas fields, fire departments are typically manned by volunteers. Also, many of the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) chairpersons are without staff or assistance.
This paper discusses the results of surveys of fire departments and LEPC in rural petroleum producing areas regarding: What they do with the SARA 311 and 312 information,Depth of requests for information, andAvailability of SARA 311 and 312 data during emergencies.
Finally, the paper assesses economic impact of the SARA 311 and 312 programs on Voluntary Fire Departments, LEPC and the Petroleum Extraction Industry in remote areas.
Safety Equal to Other Management Challenges Means Profits
Authors: Avery W. S. , Sartain Randy 
Published: December 2007

ABSTRACT
In late 1990, top management was introduced to the concept that safety is not FIRST, but is EQUAL to other management challenges facing the company — production, quality, morale, expenses. Careful management of any of these areas EQUALS increased profits from that area. Top management approved the investment required and a commitment was made to save $100,000 per year on worker’s compensation insurance by the end of the second year of the program. Reduction of this type of expense falls directly to the company’s bottom line and is readily understood by all managers. A comprehensive safety management program was implemented that included training on accident prevention and injury management for 120 managers and supervisors, including top management. A commitment was made to train employees to identify unsafe acts BEFORE they become accidents or injuries and make corrections. Then, when accidents occur, a program of active injury management was implemented that involved local management, headquarters safety and risk departments, the physician and the employee.
Safe Deployment of Specialized Coiled-Tubing Tools in Live Wells
Authors: Thomeer H. V. , Eslinger D. M. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
Using coiled tubing (CT) for specialized work, such as logging, selective treatment, drilling, CT completions and CT with gas lift valves installed, requires running long specialized tool strings into live wells. The conventional method of deploying these tools poses several safety hazards and operational problems. A new method for deploying these specialized electrical and fluid tool strings has been developed and addresses the safety and operational concerns of previous methods.
Investigation of Stability of Three-Dimensional Condensation Fronts in Porous Media
Authors: Kocberber Sait , Miller M. A. 
Published: December 2007

ABSTRACT
The stability of three-dimensional condensible gas (steam) displacements in porous media is investigated by precise simulation using a recently developed three-dimensional front tracking model. This model uses a finite element method with an adaptive grid redistribution scheme that accurately represents the front as a moving discontinuity. Frontal displacement is evaluated by precise calculation of the velocity field around the front. Abrupt changes in volumetric flux across the front is a consequence of conservation of mass and energy, which enhances stability. Model results show excellent agreement with data in the literature. Displacement patterns and sweep efficiency correlations are shown for selective flooding patterns using steam.
Evaluation of Horizontal, Radial, and Vertical Injection Wells in a Pilot Steamflood
Authors: Buller S. M. 
Published: December 2007

ABSTRACT
A unique pilot steamflood incorporates one horizontal, one radial, and three vertical steam injection wells. The horizontal and radial wells were designed to alleviate steam override and improve sweep efficiency. The horizontal injector is a medium radius well with 400’ of completion in the horizontal section. The radial well has four completed, near-horizontal, ultra-short radius laterals drilled within a short vertical section. The vertical injectors are conventional completions, with perforations in one or two sand lobes. Production data from offset producers, injection profile data, produced fluid and downhole temperature data, and a comprehensive log suite conducted on three temperature observation wells were used to compare the three injection strategies. While a significant increase in oil production has not yet been seen, changes in water production, cut and flowline temperature provide clear indications that many of the offsets are being affected by steam injection.
The pilot steamflood is located in a 5-acre area in the southwest portion of Unocal’s Bremer lease, Midway Sunset Field. The steamflood targets the Mio-Pliocene age Potter formation, a highly permeable sand comprised of massive debris and grain flows deposited as proximal submarine fans. The pilot and surrounding areas have been cyclically steamed for over 10 years. The pilot steamflood has been in place for just under 2 years. In addition to comparisons within the pilot area, comparisons are also made with the eastern portion of the lease which has been successfully steamflooded for over 10 years.
The horizontal injector has efficiently heated a very localized, previously unswept, portion of the thick, sub-homogeneous reservoir being steamflooded. To date, the radial well has been used as a huff-n-puff producer. Despite the short steam injection periods, producers surrounding the well have responded dramatically. Observation well data, rates from offset producers, and temperatures in the offset producers confirm that the vertical injectors are distributing heat and affecting oil production less effectively than the horizontal and radial methods.
Quality Improvement: A Petroleum Industry Comparison
Authors: Presley G. F. 
Published: December 2007

ABSTRACT
Most integrated petroleum companies began implementing continuous quality improvement (CQI) programs in the early to mid-1980s. The Chemical line of business was first to implement CQI, at least partly in response to their customers initiating total quality programs. The Downstream (refining and marketing) line of business followed soon thereafter. By now, these two lines of business have institutionalized several aspects of their CQI programs. Quality is being permanently woven into the organization’s culture.
The future of CQI in the Upstream (exploration and production) line of business is less certain. Towers Perrin assessed the status of CQI in the Upstream line of business of nine companies (see Table 1). We found that after some initial enthusiasm the implementation of CQI has slowed. At this point, it is unclear when these programs will be fully implemented.
Correlating Waterflood Ultimate Recovery With Controllable Field Operating Variables in Prudhoe Bay
Authors: Kwan G. W. L. 
Published: December 2007

ABSTRACT
With over seven years of waterflood and five years of miscible gas alternating water injection (WF/EOR) performance data, a solid foundation has been established to evaluate these recovery processes at Prudhoe Bay. WF/EOR ultimate recovery was projected on a pattern-by-pattern basis from decline curves for all patterns currently under water or water-alternating-gas (WAG) flood.
The study attempts to correlate projected recovery with various controllable field operating variables and fully reconcile results using surveillance data. The comprehensive performance analysis presented here has immediate implications for reservoir management and development strategy in the WF/EOR areas of Prudhoe Bay.
Overall WF/EOR performance has been robust in Prudhoe Bay. However individual pattern recoveries vary across the field because of different operating strategies and reservoir heterogeneities. This study concluded that well spacing, geometric and production skew, pressure maintenance, ultimate throughput, water/solvent ratio and solvent injection rate show varying degree of impact on projected individual pattern ultimate recovery.
It is feasible to develop site-specific correlations for ultimate recovery by applying an empirical regression to these operating variables. An example correlation is applied toward evaluating infill potential in a selected waterflood region. This technique implicitly accounts for field performance and serves as a complementary tool to conventional infill benefit evaluations.
Transient Pressure Response of Horizontal Wells in Layered and Naturally Fractured Reservoirs With Dual-Porosity Behavior
Authors: Du Kui-Fu , Stewart George 
Published: December 2007

ABSTRACT
Over the last decade, extensive studies have been carried out on the behaviour of vertical well tests in dual porosity systems. Although some research has been done on the horizontal well counterpart [1-5], most of this work has just dealt with a specific situation. No systematic investigation has been yet reported on the behaviour of transient horizontal well tests in dual porosity systems. One of the major purposes of this study is to bridge this gap. An approximate analytic solution in real time space modelling the horizontal well test in a dual porosity reservoir is given. Responses for both pseudo-semi-steady-state (PSSS) and transient dual porosity models in linear flow are investigated.
For homogeneous reservoirs the theory of pressure transient analysis for horizontal wells suggests that linear flow should be the dominant flow regime when L/h is large and the log-log derivative diagnostic would frequently exhibit a half slope. However field examples quoted in this paper do not show this feature nearly as often as one might anticipate and unexpectedly quarter slopes have been observed in many cases. The paper particularly illustrates how a bilinear flow can arise in the case of a horizontal well in a transient dual porosity (fractured or layered) reservoir.
Several field examples are analysed to illustrate the horizontal well transient pressure response in linear flow.
Making an Old Gem Sparkle: The Rejuvenation of McAllen Ranch Field, Texas
Authors: Hill D. W. , Lennon Russell , Wright Cary 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
Over the last three years, Shell's McAllen Ranch Field in Hidalgo County, Texas, has increased daily production rates by nearly 300%. This dramatic increase in production is due to a combined program of recompletions, commingling and an aggressive development drilling campaign supported by a 3D seismic survey. This recent development program has been very successful; the first eighteen wells have booked over 100 BCFG and additional drilling locations are being evaluated.
This paper highlights the development program which concentrated on optimizing well locations through a better understanding of structure and stratigraphy. A detailed study of the ‘S’ sand in North McAllen has shown this reservoir to be a stratigraphie trap with structurally related porosity development and capillarity controlled downdip limits. Updip production limits have been identified by the event amplitude on the 3D seismic survey and are supported by well control. Structural mapping from the 3D survey was combined with detailed isopach mapping of individual sands to locate development wells for highest reserve recovery.
The "Gypsyy" Field Research Program in Integrated Reservoir Characterization
Authors: Doyle J. D. , O'Meara D. J. , Witterholt E. J. 
Published: December 2007

ABSTRACT
Integrating information from varied data sources is the technology of this decade. The use of geostsatistical tools to combine descriptions of reservoir heterogeneity, derived from outcrop analogues, with measurements of subsurface properties forms the basis of a growing list of published works. However, the verification of geostatistical or measurement or reservoir description tools requires data sets usually not provided by standard production operations. BP Exploration has, over the past several years, engaged in a research program for integrating reservoir description tools which uses a highly characterized field laboratory in Oklahoma to bring focus to tool development. This field laboratory, known as "Gypsy", consists of coupled outcrop and subsurface sites which have been characterized to a degree of detail not possible in a production operation. The geological, geophysical, petrophysical and well test data gathered to date is valued at about two and a half million dollars. The next phase of the project will be a pilot flood designed to confront and verify the descriptive and predictive tools with an equally detailed set of flow measurements.
At the time of this writing, BP Exploration has reached an agreement to cede the existing Gypsy resources (sites and data) to the University of Oklahoma who will make the Gypsy project accessible to industry and government researchers through a university consortiu m.
Detection of Bed Continuity Using Crosswell Data: A Gypsy Pilot Site Study
Authors: Turpening W. R. , Chon Yu-Taik , Pepper R. E. F. , Szerbiak Robert , Schultz Thomas , Thielmier Gary , Ballard Richard 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
BP’s Integrated Reservoir Description project has been the basis for development of a number of new geophysical techniques for reservoir description. This paper introduces two new reservoir description techniques, namely crosswell bed continuity detection and full waveform sonic formation analysis. These are presented in the context of the full geophysical data sets collected at the Gypsy Site.
The crosswell seismic surveys were used to generate conventional velocity tomograms. These data were also used to generate bed continuity maps between wellbores. This technique identifies and analyzes the low velocity wave guides.
The full waveform sonic logs were consistently recorded. The waveform amplitudes were analyzed for formation discriminating characteristics. Results from one well are used to clearly discriminate between clean and dirty sands.
The sonic log amplitude analysis combined with the bed continuity mapping and velocity tomography adds new information to the conventional surface seismic mapping and greatly helps the correlation between the wells in this complex reservoir.
Computer-Based Downhole Data Acquisition and Transmission in Well Testing
Authors: Veneruso A. F. , Ehlig-Economides C. A. , Akmansoy A. M. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
Data acquisition techniques for computer-based systems are discussed for making continuous pressure, temperature and flow measurements. To ensure that the data faithfully represent the essential signal content over the time interval of interest, the important considerations for each system are measurement resolution, signal bandwidth, sampling, filtering and aliasing.
Key data transmission techniques are discussed, starting with downhole recorders that must be hauled out of the hole for data retrieval, to telemetry systems for sending real-time or bulk data transmissions to the surface. The important issues for downhole recorders are storage media and capacity. For signal transmission systems, the issues are information modulation, data and error rate, and signal-to-noise ratio.
Effects of Thermal Convection on Oxygen Activation Logs
Authors: Wydrinski Ray , Katahara K. W. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
Oxygen Activation (O/A) logging is becoming a popular method of determining whether there is water movement inside the casing or the annulus. The EPA is considering a requirement that this tool be run in all injection wells to determine if water is moving into the U.S.D.W. (Underground Source of Drinking Water). Although Oxygen Activation logs can detect water movement, they cannot differentiate water channeling from thermal convection.
Previous studies indicates that convection is present in most wells. This paper examines a few wells where the O/A log may have been affected. The O/A log should be run to detect flow in both the up and down directions. Convective flow will give comparable flow rates in either direction. For the Water Flow Log, the character of the count rate decay combined with the raw data counts can help identify whether thermal convection is the cause of the water movement. Mistaking naturally-occurring convection for channel flow may trick one into wasting millions of dollars attempting to repair a well.
Some Influences of Stratigraphy and Structure on Reservoir Stress Orientation
Authors: Bruno M. S. , Winterstein D. F. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
The orientation of maximum horizontal stress in a reservoir, which strongly influences several drilling, stimulation and production operations, can vary significantly with both depth and structural position. This paper presents field observations, analytical solutions, and numerical model results to illustrate some mechanisms by which stratigraphy and structure act to reorient the direction of maximum stress within anisotropic and heterogeneous reservoir formations.
Influence of Composition and Texture on Compressive Strength Variations in the Travis Peak Formation
Authors: Plumb R. A. , Herron S. L. , Olsen M. P. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
The evaluation of rock strength from geophysical well logs is fundamental to engineering problems associated with wellbore stability, sand control and hydraulic fracture containment. Meaningful inversion of geophysical data for rock strength requires a better understanding of how intrinsic rock properties affect rock strength as well as new models to capture this understanding. A study of the relationships between compressive strength and rock composition and texture was conducted on cores from the Travis Peak formation. Travis Peak lithologies vary from mudstones to quartz arenites, and porosities range from 5.5% to 8.5%. After identifying the dominant composition and texture elements controlling strength variations in the Travis Peak formation, we explain our results in terms of micromechanical deformation mechanisms. A simple predictive model of rock strength is developed, based on measurable quantities physically linked to the governing deformation mechanisms. We show that the most accurate strength models include explicit information on both extrinsic and intrinsic rock properties. Our method suggests a new approach to quantifying rock strength from well logs.
Wettability of Porous Media by NMR Relaxation Methods
Authors: Hsu Wen-Fu , Li Xiaoyu , Flumerfelt R. W. 
Published: December 2007

ABSTRACT
Determination of the wettability characteristics of reservoir rock is difficult and time-consuming. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) relaxation measurements provide a quantitative, fast, and relative easy technique for determining rock wettabilities. We have used NMR relaxation experiments to study the wettability of various bead packs and rock samples. Specifically, we have used T1 (longitudinal relaxation time in laboratory frame) and T1ρ (longitudinal relaxation time in rotating frame) measurements in H2O or D2O in porous media to characterize the wetting.
Such studies enabled us to explain the apparent contradictory observations of previous investigators. The data indicate that in the absence of magnetic impurities on the surfaces, both H2O and D2O have shorter relaxation times in water-wet porous media than in oil-wet media. Carbonate core samples were treated to create preferentially water-wet and preferentially oil-wet systems, and NMR measurements of such cores were compared with the combined Amott/USBM method. The results showed good agreement between the wetting behavior obtained from NMR relaxation and that from the combined Amott/USBM method.
A New Approach for Injection Water Quality
Authors: Bansal K. M. , Caudle D. D. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
With increasingly strong environmental concerns in the disposal of produced water onshore and offshore, it has become even more important to have a better understanding of the water injection processes both technically and economically. No reliable models are currently available to predict injection water quality requirements. This paper discusses a new comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach for establishing injection water quality guidelines by correlation and interpretation of actual field water quality, injection well surveys, and injection data (injection rates and pressures), A decision tree approach to facilitate interpretation of the data for design purposes is discussed.
Field data from two existing waterflood systems was gathered and evaluated to illustrate the decision tree approach. The new interdisciplinary approach has potential applications for existing systems to give a meaningful economic evaluation of water quality needs and for establishing more realistic water quality specifications for new systems.