This dummy valve is “smart” Gas lift is an artificial lift technology that uses gas injected (generally) from the surface through an opening in the production tubing to lower the density of the liquid column, allowing the well to be produced. In most modern completions, gas enters through one or more gas lift valves placed [...]

I recently had the opportunity to address a large group of materials scientists and engineers who work for Baker Hughes. I attended a few of their talks during the two-day conference and I was impressed with how complex and sophisticated the technologies involved are. While this blog is dedicated to reservoir issues I decided to [...]

Living in Asia the last year and a half has been a particularly edifying experience for my wife and me. I began writing this article in Hyderabad and am finishing it in Ulaanbaatar. I have been fortunate to have traveled much of the world in my life but living in Hong Kong and working on [...]

Operational and chemical solutions There are a variety of strategies available that can alleviate the safety, environmental and operational problems caused by the storage and handling of problematic crude oils, refined products, and various other feedstocks and intermediates, such as condensates, naphthas, light distillates, gas oils, and residual materials. Operating solutions In a perfect world, [...]

In this series of three blog posts we talk about hydrogen sulfide. Reservoir engineers often talk about H2S as non-hydrocarbon diluents in natural gas, it’s miscibility with crude oils and reservoir management issues. One such reservoir management issue is the possibility of souring reservoirs when inadequate or incorrect bactericides are included in injected fluids. But [...]

In this and the following two blog posts we talk about hydrogen sulfide. Reservoir engineers often talk about H2S as a non-hydrocarbon diluents in natural gas, it’s miscibility with crude oils and reservoir management issues. One such reservoir management issue is the possibility of souring reservoirs when inadequate or incorrect bactericides are included in injected [...]

Deepwater exploration, development and production present unique challenges to operators. Safe operations and protecting the environment are primary requirements. Minimizing risks and maximizing recovery are also among their top priorities. With average worldwide rig day rates remaining higher than $300,000 (drillships and semisubmersible rigs), there is no room for unexpected costs resulting from nonproductive time. [...]

For this blog entry I continue to quote from a White Paper prepared by Baker Hughes and available on our website. The complete paper can be obtained here. I will present it here in three parts. Minimizing risks with responsible fluids No regulatory body has documented a single case of fracturing fluid contaminating fresh water [...]

For this blog entry I continue to quote from a White Paper prepared by Baker Hughes and available on our website. The complete paper can be obtained here. I will present it here in three parts. Manmade barriers isolate and protect To supplement the natural barriers to fluid migration and further protect underground drinking water [...]

For this blog entry I continue to quote from a White Paper prepared by Baker Hughes and available on our website. The complete paper can be obtained here. I will present it here in three parts. Executive Brief Since the late 1940s, hydraulic fracturing technology has been used in more than a million U.S. wells to [...]