OTC2001 looks at what works and what to expect

MORE THAN 300 TECHNICAL pre- will cut E&P industry operating costs by to underbalanced drilling for ultimate sentations and two general interest ses- $4-6 billion/year in the short to medium reservoir recovery; sions at OTC2001 explored the most rel- term through applications connectivity, • Underbalanced drilling application in evant trends and issues affecting indus- bandwidth availability, and knowledge highly fractured carbonate formation; try professionals. The general sessions management. focused on two questions facing the • Underbalanced drilling in unconsoli- The panel focused on how e-business industry: How to make money in ultra- dated, low gravity oil reservoirs in Latin cost savings, efficiencies and newly deep water and what the internet will do America; enabled processes are likely to impact for—or to—the petroleum industry. petroleum operations and technology. • A new technique for successfully cas- IADC is an Endorsing Organiza- ing off differentially pressured tion of OTC2001. zones with solid expandable tubulars. Eight timely topical luncheons and the second OTC Global TOPICAL LUNCHEONS Energy Summit were other high- lights of the 2001 Offshore Tech- Topical Luncheons at OTC 2001 nology Conference, 30 April-3 discussed some of the key May in Houston. TECHNICAL RANGE issues facing the offshore industry and explored the technology that can help “As the world’s leading conference on The 300 papers presented at OTC2001 meet the challenges. offshore upstream oil and gas technolo- covered the application of a broad range gy, OTC 2001 provides the answers to of technology in projects around the “Terra Nova—Contributing to New- ‘how’ and ‘when.’ It conveys a clear world and lessons learned from operat- foundland’s Emerging Offshore Oil understanding of what works today and ing in a wide variety of environments. Industry,” was the focus of a presenta- what the possibilities of tomorrow can Much of the focus become,” said Wolfgang E was on deepwater Schollnberger, Technology Vice Presi- technology, opera- dent, BP, and OTC 2001 General Chair- tions and econom- man. ics. Dr Rilwanu Lukman, Nigerian Presi- Some of the ses- dential Advisor on Petroleum and Ener- sions shared project gy and former OPEC Secretary General, experience, includ- presented the keynote address at the ing those on the OTC Awards Luncheon. Diana/Hoover proj- TWO KEY QUESTIONS ect, the Terra Nova project and the The two general sessions explored Cantarell project. answers to two questions uppermost in Another session the minds of many offshore profession- explored the als and corporate financial managers: Ekofisk life exten- “Commercialization of the Ultradeep: sion project. What Will it Take?” and “e-Business Impact on the Petroleum Industry: Evo- A session devoted lution or Revolution?” entirely to drilling included papers A panel led by Andrew J Szescila, titled: COO, Baker Hughes, addressed the technical and operational barriers that • Search for a must be overcome and the economic tar- viable multilateral gets that must be met to make ultradeep solution for a very development feasible and profitable. marginal heavy oil field; Another panel of experts moderated by Art J Schroeder Jr, President and CEO, • Gravity-based Energy Valley, discussed when and orientation device how e-business initiatives are likely to for premilled multi- become profitable in E&P. lateral window joints; Recent studies predict that e-business • Holistic approach

May/June 2001 DRILLING CONTRACTOR 47 tion by Gary Bruce, Vice President, Off- activity rigs, the Discoverer Enterprise, Eastern Gulf,” were discussed by Chris shore Development and Operations, began operations for BP in the Gulf of Oynes, Regional Director, Gulf of Mexi- Petro-Canada. Terra Nova is the first Mexico. co OCS Region, US Minerals Manage- floating production, storage, and offload ment Service. New geologic ventures “Solving Our Energy Crisis: The Impor- (FPSO) system to operate in North continue to unfold in deepwater regions, tant Role Which the Offshore Oil and American waters and the first to oper- meaning the long-term resurgence of the Gas Industry Must Play,” was outlined ate in a harsh North Atlantic environ- appears fruitful. by Matthew R Simmons, President, ment with sea ice and icebergs. Simmons & Company International. “Evolution of Subsea Production Sys- “Whale-Friendly Seismic: A Scientific He said the solution to our energy crisis tems,” was the focus of the presentation and Environmentally Responsible comes through expanding the capacity by Dalton Thomas, President, Approach to Seismic Data Acquisition,” to create more energy while also begin- Cameron. Mr Thomas also discussed was discussed by Jack Caldwell, ning to rebuild our aging infrastructure. the critical technical and commercial Senior Scientist, Geco-Prakla. He issues that will guide its continuing “Strategic Retention and Magnetic explored how the oil industry, specifical- development in the future, and subsea Recruiting: How Delivers ly the seismic segment, impacts noise in tree and control systems technologies. the Best People in a Tight Labor Mar- the oceans and reviewed the state of ket,” was presented by Margaret Car- “An Independent in Deepwater West knowledge of the effect of noise on riere, Vice President, Human Africa,” was the subject of a presenta- marine mammals. Resources, Halliburton. The cyclical tion by Gene Van Dyke, President, “Dual-Activity Drilling: Past Year’s nature of the oil and gas industry and an Vanco Energy Company. Experience,” was shared by Dennis ever-tightening labor market have made Vanco has emerged as a leader in West Heagney, Executive Vice President, traditional methods of attracting and Africa deepwater exploration, holding Sedco Forex. In 1995, retaining top employees increasingly 25 million gross acres in water depths engineering and operations personnel ineffective. Ms Carriere explained how as great as 10,000 ft. conceived the idea of dual activity Halliburton has met that challenge. drilling, a concept that became reality in “Deepwater and Other Trends in the ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS December 1999 when the first of 3 dual Gulf of Mexico and New Plans in the The OTC 2001 Awards Luncheon each year recognizes an individual and a company, organization or institution for distinct and unique achievement in, or outstanding contributions to, the advancement of offshore technology. This year’s recipient of the Distin- guished Achievement Award for Individ- uals is Howard L Shatto Jr, Shatto Engineering. His 55-year career has led to important milestones in offshore drilling and pro- duction. In 1960, he conceived the world’s first automatic control for dynamic position- ing of Shell’s core drillship, Eureka. Mr Shatto also was part of a group of engi- neers who designed the first subsea wellheads using remotely operated vehi- cles (ROV). He holds 35 patents and continues as consultant with major oil companies and deepwater contractors. In 2000, he was inducted as pioneer in the Offshore Energy Center Hall of Fame. The 2001 OTC Distinguished Achieve- ment Award for Companies, Organiza- tion and Institutions was presented to Petrobras for its Roncador field develop- ment. Roncador was recognized for out- standing advancements in deepwater technology and economics. I

48 DRILLING CONTRACTOR May/June 2001