R&D/innovation
This article is the fourth in a Q&A series from the SPE Research and Development Technical Section focusing on emerging energy technologies. In this piece, David Reid, the CTO and CMO for NOV, discusses the evolution and current state of automated drilling systems.
Oil and gas experts encourage human/AI partnerships that can “supercharge” capabilities to create competitive advantages.
The US supermajor is using one of its lowest-value hydrocarbon products to generate double-digit production increases in its most prolific US asset.
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WiSub will lead a consortium with Statoil, Kongsberg, Saab, and other companies and universities to develop a standardized interface for AUV docking with subsea structures, as well as bi-directional power transfer to help charge sensor networks. -
For startups in the upstream sector, knowing how to navigate through a technology's Minimum Viable Product stage is critical, but not always straight forward.
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A new material under development is highly effective at sieving carbon dioxide from natural gas streams and is also cheap and easy to make, according to researchers.
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When technology startups and oil and gas companies finally agree to run a pilot test, there are a few things both sides of the table should know before they move forward.
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Oil production from the Canadian oil sands is big, growing, and its future is in doubt. The problem is the cost and time required to develop new production is not competitive now. While some big international oil companies are selling out, others are focused on changing the economics of growth.
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Things are so tough in the Canadian oil sands that competitors are considering whether to start sharing some of what they know about producing more and doing it for less. Collaboration should speed progress for everyone, but companies with something to give are looking for something in return.
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Technology that allows researchers to see stress forming inside rock samples may help unravel some of the mysteries associated with fracture behavior.
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Getting a good well for a field test can make or break a new idea. A government backed research group in Saskatchewan is offering up to CAD 100,000 break on royalty payments to test ways to extend the life of conventional, heavy-oil fields.
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Tyer Wind in Tunisia developed a wind turbine that mimics the flapping motion of hummingbirds' wings. Rated power output is 1 kW, using two carbon-fiber wings, each 5.25-ft long. At rated power, it operates at 450 rpm. The machine is currently undergoing open air/real conditions testing.
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Scientists have developed oxidized carbon particles that extract radioactive metals, such as cesium and strontium, from water. They said the materials may help purify contaminated waters stored after the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident and also can trap common radioactive elements found in waterfloods from oil extraction, such as uranium, thorium, and radium,
