JPT December 2020 Issue
On the Cover
After it is mined, wet sand is left to decant in piles before being sent into industrial-sized kilns where it is dried in preparation for sorting. Skipping the costly drying process represents a new trend in the US unconventional sector where cost pressure continues to reshape the proppant supply chain. Source: Getty Images.
President's Column
I begin this column by saying that after attending several recent SPE events filled with students and professionals, all virtual of course, that I have seen the very best of us as members of SPE. To a person, you all have been nothing short of inspiring.
Monthly Features
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A quarter of the oil and gas workforce now comes from Generation Z, which has raised important questions about whether companies and universities are doing enough to attract and retain this tech-savvy cohort. -
Skipping one traditional step in the supply chain might save oil and gas companies hundreds of millions of dollars a year while making a meaningful dent in emissions. -
Digital transformation offers opportunities beyond the technical goal of increased production. It may also enhance sustainability, the work/life balance, and the public’s perception of the industry. -
In the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the oil and gas industry, regulators, and other stakeholders recognized the need for increased collaboration and data sharing to better identify safety risks and address them before an accident occurs. -
A presentation at the 2020 Offshore Technology Conference Asia described a study of unmanned aerial vehicles operated by off-site pilots based in remote control centers many miles from the facility. -
The UK offshore Lancaster field was to prove that complex basement formations could be profitably developed. Instead, it is a reminder of how a long-term production test can drastically alter a reservoir model built upon years of exploration work. -
The oil and gas industry has picked up on the benefits of digitization and artificial intelligence in its day-to-day activities, and the health, safety, and environment sector is no exception. While AI brings clear benefits, the risks that come with those benefits remain unclear. -
In his first remarks as SPE President, Tom Blasingame announced that the theme of his tenure is “Survive, Revive, and Thrive.”
Africa Oil announced Impact Oil & Gas entered into two agreements for exploration areas offshore South Africa. The company has a 31.10% shareholding in Impact, a privately owned exploration company.
Sinopec recorded China’s highest daily output of shale gas at 20.62 million cubic meters (Mcm) at its Fuling shale-gas field in Chongqing, China, a key gas source for the Sichuan-East gas pipeline.
BP started gas production from its Qattameya gasfield development offshore Egypt in the North Damietta offshore concession.
Hess completed the sale of its 28% working interest in the Shenzi Field in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico (GOM) to BHP, the field’s operator, for $505 million.
Apache filed appraisal plans for its Maka and Sapakara oil discoveries in block 58 offshore Suriname.
Total made a significant second gas condensate discovery on the Luiperd prospect, located on Block 11B/12B in the Outeniqua Basin, 175 km off the southern coast of South Africa.
This section lists with regret SPE members who recently passed away.
BP was the only operator to place a bid in the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board call for bids, which offered 17 parcels in the eastern Newfoundland region.
OPEC’s easing of production cuts originally planned for January may be delayed until mid-2021 because of the global increases in COVID-19 cases occurring in November.
Technology Focus
