BP announced it has awarded the first contracts for Project 20K鈩, a multi-year initiative to develop next-generation systems and tools to help unlock the next frontier of deepwater oil and gas resources, currently beyond the reach of today's technology鈥
Baker Hughes has expanded its SmartCare line of products to include what the company describes as 鈥榤ore environmentally responsible鈥 drilling and completion fluids, production chemicals and additives used in cementing and stimulation procedures鈥
Alderley has launched a new division specialising in the provision of metering solutions for brownfield modifications and ageing systems. Alderley Metering Solutions鈥 multi-disciplined team of engineers will provide local support and services鈥
Halliburton鈥檚 Boots & Coots has acquired Old School Services to enhance its pressure control offerings and provide operators with the throughtubing equipment resources required by today鈥檚 rapidly growing unconventionals, horizontal drilling and multistage completions markets鈥
Weatherford International has completed the acquisition of completion tools specialist Petrowell. The two companies have been aligned in a global partnership to develop and commercialize 鈥榞ame-changing technologies鈥 since 2008.
The 'digital oilfield' has been talked about for decades, been in practice for several years, but has not yet become a complete reality. despite its early promise, one issue that has consistently impeded the digital oilfield is the management鈥
Drilling and completing the Dutch North Sea's first intelligent auto-gas lift tri-lateral subsea oil and gas well helped transform the highly marginal Van Ghent discovery into an economically robust development. Dana Petroleum Netherlands's Michiel van der Most鈥
Technology is a key enabler for Shell, Matthias Bichsel, director of the supermajor鈥檚 Projects & Technology business, told a two-day briefing at the Rijswijk technology centre in The Hague this spring. Meg Chesshyre joined the tour of the company鈥檚 iScope鈥
With the successful deployment of its new large bore SIM plug systems at Apache鈥檚 Sinbad field on the North West Shelf, Peak Well Systems chalked up an industry first offshore Australia earlier this year. Russell McCulley pays a visit to the鈥
The urge to explore new offshore markets outwith its traditional base as a cement and stimulation additives supplier has seen chemical technology specialist Aubin diversify into buoyancy and ballasting territory in recent years. Meg Chesshyre discusses鈥
The Blue Orca, a state-ofthe-art pressure pumping vessel, has been chartered to provide offshore stimulation services to Maersk Oil in the North Sea. Upon completion, scheduled for late 2013, it will become the eighth vessel in the Baker Hughes fleet鈥
Omega Completion Technology鈥檚 new purposebuilt headquarters and manufacturing facility in Dyce, Aberdeen, was officially opened last month by Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond.
Fifty-six i-FRAC sleeves were opened with three balls on the Norwegian shelf.Well technology company i-TEC has developed an innovative lower completion ball drop sleeve system which it claims can bring wells in tight formations online much more quickly than other methods鈥
Andrew McBarnet speculates whether evolving microseismic monitoring technology being harnessed for the US onshore shale gas revolution could end up offshore. The rapid development of US onshore shale gas must count as the most stunning turnaround ever in the country's energy prospects鈥
When a story becomes the story it may sell a few more newspapers for a couple of days but most editors know that this is not a good way to the future 鈥 unless of course ideologically driven or vested interest motives become barely disguised鈥
