Improved Recovery Week articles from September 1994

Improved Recovery Week archives from September 1994

Clayton Williams completes three slim-hole horizontals. (three horizontal oil wells drilled using slim-hole technology, Clayton Williams Energy Inc.)
September 5, 1994... Using slim-hole technology, Clayton Williams Energy Inc., Midland, Texas, successfully completed three horizontal wells recently in Burleson and Robertson counties, Texas. The company drilled the three wells as part of an evaluation of...

Torch forms finance unit. (Torch Energy Advisors Inc. forms Torch Energy Finance Co.) (Brief Article)
September 5, 1994... Houston-based Torch Energy Advisors Inc. has formed a new finance subsidiary to provide capital to independent producers for both development and acquisition programs. The company, a unit of Torchmark Corp. of Atlanta, said the new unit,...

River Gas eyes 1,000 new coalgas wells. (River Gas of Utah)
September 5, 1994... River Gas of Utah has advised the U.S. Bureau of Land Management that it hopes to drill 100 wells a year for the next 10 years on its coalbed methane unit in central Utah. BLM officials say these plans are subject to change, however, and...

Polar Lights moves production. (joint venture between Conoco Inc. and Russian firm Arkhangelskgeologia)
September 5, 1994... Conoco Inc. and its Russian joint venture partner have announced first production from their development of an existing oil field in the Russian arctic. The company last week announced that the venture, Polar Lights Co., is capable of...

Producers consider trade group consolidation. (independent oil producers' merger of Midcontinent Oil & Gas Association and Independent Petroleum Association of America)
September 5, 1994... Independent producer groups could be banding together to get the most bang for the association buck, if current activity bears fruit. Earlier this month, a study group within the Independent Petroleum Assn. of America (IPAA) met in Dallas,...

Nowsco gets Russian contract. (Nowsco Well Service Ltd. Cyprus subsidiary's contract with Varyeganneftegaz)
September 5, 1994... Canadian service company Nowsco Well Service Ltd. says its Nowsco Well Service (Cyprus) Ltd. subsidiary has been awarded a contract to supply cementing, stimulation and coiled tubing services for Russian drilling and production activity in the...

Texas regulators seek input on incentives. (Texas Railroad Commission survey)
September 5, 1994... Beginning tomorrow, the three-member Texas Railroad Commission, will go on a road show during the next few weeks to see what the industry thinks of 10 drilling incentives now in the draft stages. In addition, the commissioners, who...

New IOR patents. (Improved Oil Recovery, E.T. Premuzic and M. Lin, patent number 5,297,625; H. Cholet and J. Lessi, France, patent number 2,692, 320)
September 5, 1994... E.T. Premuzic and M. Lin of Associated Universities, Inc., Washington, D.C. have patented the preparation of new, modified organisms, through challenge growth processes, that are viable in the extreme temperature, pressure and Ph conditions...

Task force seeks source of Colorado methane seepage.
September 5, 1994... A state/federal interagency task force has been formed to find out why methane is contaminating well water and bubbling to the surface of a river in Colorado']s portion of the San Juan Basin. The task force will examine the results of...

U.S. independent pioneers U.K. coalbed methane production. (Evergreen Resources Inc.)
September 12, 1994... With more than three years of acreage acquisition, evaluation of databases, drilling and testing, Evergreen Resources (U.K.) Ltd. is nearing production of the first onshore coalbed methane in the United Kingdom. A subsidiary of...

Sandia unaffected by merger. (Sandia National Laboratories, merger of Lockheed Corp. and Martin Marietta Corp.)
September 12, 1994... The proposed $10 billion merger between Lockheed Corp. and Martin Marietta Corp. shouldn't affect Sandia National Laboratories, which currently is managed by Martin Marietta. According to a Sandia spokesperson, there is nothing to...

Texaco completes first South La. horizontal. (Texaco Exploration and Production Inc., South Louisiana horizontal well)
September 12, 1994... Texaco Exploration & Production Inc. recently completed the first successful horizontal oil well in its vast holdings in state waters off South Louisiana, and plans to drill more in the future. The well, drilled in the Bay de Chene...

New seismic technology touted. (seismic surveying)
September 12, 1994... A new subsea seismic (Sumic) technology developed by Statoil, Norway's state oil company, promises a minor revolution for such surveying by cutting the risk of drilling dry wells, the company says. Placing the seismic recording...

Nova Scotia coalgas lease due. (Jilbey Exploration Co.)
September 12, 1994... Jilbey Exploration Co. said its application for a coalbed methane production lease in Nova Scotia is under review by the Minister of Natural Resources in that Canadian province. The North Bay, Ontario-based production company said it...

Queensland well 'encouraging'. (Tipperary Corp., Australia)
September 12, 1994... Denver-based Tipperary Corp. said completion operations on its Fairview Well No. 1 in Queensland, Australia, are proceeding promptly and progress to date is "encouraging." After casing was set at 2,246', repeated injection and...

Chalk successes push Chesapeake's net. (Chesapeake Energy Corp.)
September 12, 1994... Because of continued success of its horizontal drilling activities in the Austin Chalk trend of Texas, Chesapeake Energy Corp., Oklahoma City, is boasting much improved earnings. With plans to spend about $125 million for drilling...

U.S. discoveries up, says EIA. (oil and gas discoveries, Energy Information Administration)
September 12, 1994... New U.S. discoveries of oil and gas rose substantially in 1993, but not enough to offset continuing declines in reserves, says an advance summary report by the Energy Information Administration (EIA). And while higher gas prices and...

National Oilwell sells pump line.
September 12, 1994... Energy Ventures Inc. has acquired the Fluid Packed Pumps line of rod pumps, parts and accessories from National Oilwell for $13.5 million in cash. The acquisition includes manufacturing facilities in Woodward, Okla., and Santa...

Industry interest high in MMS marketing plan. (offshore gas industry, Minerals Management Service)
September 12, 1994... About 20 producers have volunteered to participate in the Minerals Management Service's (MMS) pilot program to take about 10% of its royalties from Gulf of Mexico gas production in kind, the Agency said recently. During the one-year...

Coastal arranges financing for independents.
September 12, 1994... Houston-based Coastal Corp. said its gas marketing subsidiary has arranged for up to $250 million in financing for independent oil and gas producers. The Coastal announcement came on the heels of a similar announcement by Torch...

Abu Dhabi uses horizontals offshore. (Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Co.)
September 12, 1994... The Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Co. (ADMA-OPCO) has increased output capacity to nearly 600,000 b/d by applying the latest horizontal drilling technology. ADMA-OPCO is the second largest oil company in the United Arab Emirates after...

New IOR Patents. (L. Hayes, L. Comeau, C. Wittrisch, R. Smith)(French Patent No. 2,692,315)
September 12, 1994... L. Hayes, L. Comeau, C. Wittrisch and R. Smith, all of Institut Francais due Petrole (IFP) have patented a drilling and lateral drilling system and method. The main concept is the tubing of the main well with a tubular duct which comprises...

New IOR Patents. (F.J. Shuh)(U.S. Patent No. 5,289,881)
September 12, 1994... F.J. Shuh has patented a method of drilling a wellbore for production of heavy oil. The drilling of the well is substantially vertically downwards, then curving the wellbore out into a substantially horizontal portion, then thermal...

Amoco Canada drilling plan stopped in Alberta. (Amoco Canada Petroleum Co.)
September 19, 1994... A plan by Amoco Canada Petroleum Co. to use horizontal drilling technology to develop a 1.2 tcf sour gas reservoir in the Whaleback area of southwestern Alberta has been re jected by the province's Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB)....

Conoco enters Aussie coalgas hunt. (joint venture with M.I.M. Holdings Ltd.)
September 19, 1994... Conoco Inc., Houston, is buying into a coalbed methane exploration project in Australia. Conoco, a unit of Du Pont Co., will spend A$22 million (US$16.4 million) on exploration, research and trial production work under a...

Russians get logging services. (MD Log Co.)
September 19, 1994... A joint venture between a Canadian logging services company and a consortiu m of European and Russian companies has been formed to provide US$8 million in wireline loggin g equipment for use in Russia. Calgary, Alberta-based...

Venezuelan agreement pends. (oil well development contract)
September 19, 1994... An operating agreement between a consortium of U.S. and Canadian companies and Maraven S.A. should result in development of the Colon block in the Maracaibo Basin of W estern Venezuela. The block, covering some 760,000 acres, produces...

University opens research office. (at the National Institute for Petroleum and Energy, University of Tulsa)
September 19, 1994... The University of Tulsa has opened an office at the National Institute for Petroleum and Energy Research (NIPER) in Bartlesville, Okla. The university is fulfilling its role as a partner with BDM-Oklahoma Inc. f or the management and...

Big pumping services takeover bid aired. (BJ Services Co. to acquire Western Company of North America)
September 19, 1994... Spurned by Western Co. of North America in an unpublicized $450 million tak eover bid, BJ Services Co. has taken its case to shareholders. BJ Services last week revealed it had made an offer in July to pay $18.50 i n cash and stock...

Utah eyes coalgas water. (River Gas plans to treat water produced from coalbed methane wells)
September 19, 1994... The expanding coalbed methane activity in central Utah by River Gas of Utah could mean more water for nearby residents. River Gas, which is proposing to add 1,000 wells near Price in the next dec ade (IRW, 9/5), is talking to local...

CPC may take Syncrude share. (Chinese Petroleum Co. to acquire 5% interest in Syncrude Canada Ltd.)
September 19, 1994... Preliminary discussions are underway concerning the possibility of Taiwan's Chinese Petroleum Co. to acquire a 5% stake in Syncrude Canada Ltd.'s 183,000-b/d upgrad er near Fort McMurray, Alberta. Taiwanese and Alberta officials...

Driller to explore in 'explosive' area. (J.W. McTiernan to explore for gas beneath the Army's McAlester Ammunition Depot, Oklahoma)
September 19, 1994... A U.S. Army ordnance area has become the target of an oil and gas explorati on and production effort. Oklahoma City producer J.W. McTiernan is heading up a five-year, $25 millio n drilling and development plan expected to yield 600...

Arab states plan to use more horizontal drilling. (petroleum industry)
September 19, 1994... Horizontal drilling is to be used more widely in the Arab oil states as one of a number of initiatives to increase oil recovery. A report from the Kuwait-based Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Cou ntries (OAPEC) said member...

Albanian project includes steamflooding. (steamflooding older oil reservoirs)
September 19, 1994... Steamflooding of older reservoirs and rehabilitation of underperforming fie lds in Albania are key goals of a recently formed joint venture between Premier Consolidated Oilfie lds plc of London and Albpetrol, the country's state-owned...

T.S. Ong and R.A. Hamm of Pecten International Co. (Shell Canada Ltd.) (New IOR Patents)
September 19, 1994... T.S. Ong and R.A. Hamm of Pecten International Co. (Shell Canada Ltd.) have patented a method of recovering gas and gas liquids from an underground tar sand or heavy o il reservoir. The method comprises drilling and completing a pair of...

T.S. Ong and R.A. Hamm, both of Pecten International Co. (Shell Canada Ltd.) (New IOR Patents)
September 19, 1994... T.S. Ong and R.A. Hamm, both of Pecten International Co. (Shell Canada Ltd. ), have patented a method of recovering oil and gas liquids from heavy oil and tar sands reservoirs which comprises drilling and completing a pair of wells -- an...

IOR technology helps up Lake Maracaibo oil yield. (oil drilling technique, Lagoven S.A., Maraven S.A.)
September 19, 1994... Significant oil and gas production increases have been reported from fields in Lake Maracaibo by Lagoven and Maraven, both operating subsidiaries of state-owned Petroleos de Venezuela. According to a bulletin from the Organization of...

Texaco uses artificial intelligence for E&P analysis. (exploration and production)
September 26, 1994... A patented invention to apply artificial intelligence to analysis of oil and gas exploration and production data could change exploration and production procedures around the world, Texaco E&P Inc. says. And Texaco will benefit from...

Shell Expro sets drilling record.
September 26, 1994... Using steerable turbodrills supplied by Neyrfor-Weir, Shell Expro in August drilled what is believed to be the company's longest horizontal development well in the U.K. sector of the North Sea. The downhole motor/bit assemblies were use to...

Directional drilling abounds at Mereenie. (Australian Northern Territory)
September 26, 1994... Directional drilling has solved several problems at once at the Mereenie field in Australia's Northern Territory. The slant holes, plus fracture stimulation, are keeping oil production at the 3,000-b/d level. According to Santos Ltd.,...

Azerbaijan pact signed. (with western oil companies)
September 26, 1994... After more than two years of negotiations, a consortium of western companies last week signed a 30-year production-sharing contract with the government of Azerbaijan to develop existing reserves in that country's sector of the Caspian Sea. ...

Tide West joins Parker & Parsley. (merger)
September 26, 1994... An agreement to merge has been entered into by Midland, Texas-based Parker & Parsley Petroleum Co. and Tide West Oil Co., Holdenville, Okla. The deal calls for Tide West to become a unit of Parker & Parsley. The Midland company will...

DOE puts short fuse of FY '95 ACTI proposals. (Department of Energy, Advanced Computational Technology Initiative)
September 26, 1994... The Energy Dept. has called for proposals on collaborative projects to enhance, apply and transfer advanced computational technology to oil and gas exploration and development projects. And interested producers and universities have only...

Cooper Industries to spin off oil tool division.
September 26, 1994... Houston-based Cooper Industries Inc. plans to spin off its financially ailing Oil Tool Division, along with several other industrial equipment businesses, as a stand-alone company. The plan affects the operations of the former Cameron Iron...

CANMET funds Canadian IOR projects. (Canada Centre for Mineral and Energy Technology, improved oil recovery)
September 26, 1994... The Canada Centre for Mineral and Energy Technology (CANMET) announced last week its Western Research Centre approved 14 improved oil recovery technology development proposals for the period 1994-95 totaling C$3.5 million (US$2.6 million). ...

New IOR patent.
September 26, 1994... R.C. Green, G.F. Stuntz and R.J. Koveal, all of Exxon Research A Engineering Co., have patented a process for recovering oil from tar sands by subjecting the tar sands to aqueous extraction to produce a bitumen-rich layer containing bitumen,...