US operators, government officials and academics push deepwater technology to solve supply problems. A consortium of producers, research organizations and government agencies has initiated a fast-track campaign to raise funds for... more

Equipment and service outsourcing offers a cost-effective solution. In the gas compression industry, rapid advances in computer hardware and software, wireless technology and the Internet have produced stunning results in keeping... more

Gas-to-liquids (GTL) technology is spreading around the world. New technologies and high demand to sell and use stranded gas make GTL a high-growth industry for some companies and some countries that... more

A new coiled-tubing-conveyed tool uses special beads to clean in situ completions. In three areas of the world, insoluble scale deposits were removed from wellbores in which previous removal attempts using... more

Kuwait wants major international oil companies to develop its northern oil fields, but it will allow the process to take place slowly, carefully and under extremely tight restrictions. As an indication,... more

Real-time field data back at the office can be a mixed blessing, especially if management starts second-guessing the field hands. The Web is an enabling technology that empowers people by providing... more

Despite a strict safety regime, and the step change in safety initiatives, the number of UK Continental Shelf hydrocarbon releases refuses to fall. There are several reasons for that claim. First,... more

Charles R. Williamson has been named chief executive officer of Unocal Corp. Timothy H. Ling has been named president and chief operating officer, and John W. Creighton Jr. has been... more

Operators run seismic and drill wells as they anticipate construction of a pipeline to the south. Mark the winter of 2000-2001 as the time when second-generation development of the Canadian Arctic's... more

Operators drilled more wells deeper in the Gulf of Mexico big structures. Record action in the Gulf of Mexico is raising hopes, production and prices for producers on the shelf and... more

Operators are riding high on their successes in Norway. Operators achieved a discovery rate of about 50% out of the 24 exploration and appraisal (E&A) wells spudded on the Norwegian shelf... more

Occidental is looking for more oil in Colombia on newly licensed blocks in the Llanos Basin. Even as Occidental Petroleum Co. (Oxy) drills its controversial Gibraltar-1 well on its Siriri prospect... more

Healthy oil and gas prices increase licensing activity. Oil and gas licensing is getting to be a popular occupation in Central and South America as high oil prices offer potential relief... more

High bidders don't always walk away with the top prizes. Nigeria's latest licensing round had oil company executives and analysts scratching their heads as the nation apparently forgot about its intentions... more

Sonangol is a key player in Angola's campaign to manage its assets. It's not easy working in Angola these days. The government is determined to call the shots on the development... more

Oil and gas producers find hidden treasures in Yemen. Occidental Petroleum Corp. recently signed a production-sharing agreement with Yemen's government to explore for oil on Block 44 in the Hadramaut Province... more

The emirate will take over operations of one of its biggest gas providers. Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates is assuming operations of one of Dubai's largest onshore fields and forming... more

India takes its deepwater emphasis and oil and gas growth program to the world. India has opened its choice western deepwater areas to the world in the second round of its... more

Vietnam's government is clearing paths to production gains by international producers. Vietnam appears intent on increasing its oil and gas production, and it's making the right moves to make more territory... more

Exploration keeps the summer warm as operators concentrate on the Taranaki Basin. Operators working the Taranaki Basin aren't surprised New Zealand became the 24th most attractive country in the world for... more

1. Royale Energy Inc., San Diego, Calif., came up with natural gas at its two latest attempts in California. The latest well in the company's Victor Ranch field in Section 8-23n-2w,... more

1. The William G. Helis Co. reached productive sands at the Cib op interval at its Galveston Block 418 (OCS-G 18921) No. 1 well. The well has been completed with platform... more

1. Phillips Petroleum is looking more likely to get an exploration well under way targeting a prospect in its core J-block area to be drilled from the Judy platform in Block... more

1. Enterprise Oil has signed an 8-year exploration agreement for Morocco's Cap Draa Haute Mer deepwater block south of Agadir with state oil company Office National de Recherches & d'Exploitations Petrolieres... more

1. Conoco Inc. will drill additional wells to evaluate its Gulf of Paria West discovery in northern Venezuela. The company and its partners will drill four wells at a cost of... more

1. The Anglo-Dutch oil group Royal Dutch Shell may invest in developing an oil field in northern Russia. Shell and Russian gas giant Gazprom have discussed the new project to develop... more

1. BG has completed drilling on its Gaza Marine 2 deepwater appraisal well off the coast of Palestine. Although the company didn't release details of the appraisal well in 1,755 ft... more

1. Kerr-McGee Corp. has discovered natural gas at its Saratoga-1 exploration well in the Timor Sea off the northwestern coast of Australia. The discovery is in Block WA-276-P, 250 miles (400... more

While major companies spend millions on multicomponent research, a small band of mavericks is ready to start shooting surveys. Once in awhile I get wind of new companies trying different things,... more

Accurate prediction of pore pressures and fracture gradients has become almost essential to drilling deep wells with higher-than-normal pore pressures. Costs and drilling problems can be reduced substantially by recognizing abnormally... more

Proven tips help avoid costly negative production optimization. This column is meant to be about production optimization. And it will be, in a backhanded sort of way. Say production optimization and... more

Perhaps there is something in the water - worldwide. Or maybe it is a couple of spoiled, unrealistic OECD generations coming to immaturity. Whatever it is, the unreasonable demands and... more

Partners prepare to start an onshore oil industry in western Newfoundland. Canadian Imperial Venture Corp. intends to prove Newfoundland's oil industry isn't restricted to the huge offshore structures to the east.... more

We all recognize that in order to survive a company must be a low-cost producer or supplier. We also are familiar with the claims of the glorious things that can... more

When Reynolds, manager of emerging technologies for Conoco's upstream organization, discusses technology with anyone who seems to have very much familiarity with the oil business, "I get a little nervous,"... more