RPSEA RSS Feed

Ultra-Deepwater Subsea Facilities TAC Quarterly Meeting

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:00:00 GMT

Ultra-Deepwater Subsea Facilities TAC Quarterly Meeting
Start Date: 17-Mar-10 1:00 PM
End Time: 17-Mar-10 4:00 PM
Location: Chevron Bellaire Facility - BAX Auditorium, Bellaire, Texas 77401
Event Details:

The Subsea Facilities TAC's goal is to develop technology and qualify equipment to enable the deployment of “subsea facilities for 60 mile tie-backs from 10,000 foot water depth.” Focus is subsea production equipment, subsea processing technology, pipeline, flowline and umbilical technology, and subsea well intervention improvement.

All non-Chevron attendees should park in the visitor's parking lot located on Fournace at gate 1. Next, please enter in the front of the building and proceed to the security desk where you will be asked to provide your name and photo ID. Security will give you a visitor's badge to enter the appropriate meeting room - please return the badge to security after the meeting.

Chevron Bellaire Facility - BAX Auditorium

4800 Fournace Place

Bellaire, Texas 77401

Developing Unconventional Gas Conference & Exhibition

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 22:30:00 GMT

Developing Unconventional Gas Conference & Exhibition
Start Date: 29-Mar-10 5:30 PM
End Time: 31-Mar-10 1:00 PM
Location: Fort Worth Convention Center, Fort Worth, Texas 76102
Event Details:

The 5th annual Developing Unconventional Gas Conference & Exhibition again brings operators, investors, and the service industry together for the latest insights on unconventional gas plays across North America and around the world.

Confirmed Speakers Include:

Dave Hager, EVP of E&P, Devon Energy
Craig Clark, CEO, Forest Oil Corporation
Dick Stoneburner, COO, Petrohawk Energy Corporation
Hal Hickey, VP and COO, EXCO Resources Inc.
Glenn Darden, President and CEO, Quicksilver Resources
Gerry Blackshear, General Manager, Comstock Resources LLC
Wolf E. Regener, President and CEO, BNK Petroleum, Inc.
Aubrey McClendon, Chairman and CEO, Chesapeake Energy

The DUG Conference has grown into the largest gathering of industry interested in learning about the numerous unconventional plays in North America and beyond. Over the 2+ days of DUG your company can press the flesh with the operators and players in the many shale and unconventional plays.

Come by and visit RPSEA's booth #619.

For more information and to register, click here.

Fort Worth Convention Center

1201 Houston Street

Fort Worth, Texas 76102

The Premier 2010 Fluids Conference

Tue, 06 Apr 2010 12:00:00 GMT

The Premier 2010 Fluids Conference
Start Date: 6-Apr-10 7:00 AM
End Time: 7-Apr-10 5:00 PM
Location: Hilton Houston North Hotel, Houston, Texas
Event Details:

Please Note:

RPSEA Board Member Tom Williams will be the lunch keynote speaker.

For more information and to register, click here.

Hilton Houston North Hotel

12400 Greenspoint Dr

Houston, Texas

RPSEA Unconventional Gas Conference 2010: Technological Keys to Unlocking Additional Reserves

Tue, 06 Apr 2010 13:00:00 GMT

RPSEA Unconventional Gas Conference 2010: Technological Keys to Unlocking Additional Reserves
Start Date: 6-Apr-10 7:00 AM
End Time: 7-Apr-10 1:15 PM
Location: Denver Marriott West, Golden, Colorado 80401
Event Details:

The RPSEA Unconventional Gas Conference 2010: Technological Keys to Unlocking Additional Reserves is a conference to disseminate results from the RPSEA Unconventional Resources Program. The event will take place April 6-7 at the Denver Marriott West in Golden, Colorado.

RPSEA has an active research program with a current portfolio of 28 projects all targeting development of unconventional gas in the U.S. including activities in coalbed methane, tight gas formations, and shale gas. Unconventional gas currently represents almost one-half the domestic production in the U.S.

This conference offers an ideal opportunity to hear the latest perspectives and exchange ideas with industry experts.

Tuesday,
April 6

Research Results to be Highlighted Include:

Utah Gas Shale Potential
Understanding Piceance Basin Tight Sands – Mamm Creek Field Example
New Albany Shale Potential

Keynote Speaker: Tom Sheffield, Vice President, Pioneer Natural Resources

Wednesday,
April 7

The Latest in Well Stimulation
Produced Water Handling
Re-fracturing of Low Permeability Wells
Low k Field Development and Optimization

See agenda for full lineup of technology to be reviewed

There is a $50 registration fee for RPSEA members ($75 non-members) to help offset costs of the meeting. No shows will be billed.

A block of rooms under the event name has been reserved with a special meeting rate of $130 per night at the Denver Marriott West. Reservations need to be made by March 12.

Denver Marriott West

1717 Denver West Boulevard

Golden, Colorado 80401

AAPG 2010 Annual Convention & Exhibition (ACE)

Sun, 11 Apr 2010 22:00:00 GMT

AAPG 2010 Annual Convention & Exhibition (ACE)
Start Date: 11-Apr-10 5:00 PM
End Time: 14-Apr-10 12:00 PM
Location: New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
Event Details:

Make plans to attend the AAPG 2010 Annual Convention & Exhibition (ACE), 11–14 April, in New Orleans. ACE is an international gathering of geosciences professionals sharing insights and solutions to the most pressing issues facing the petroleum exploration and production industry. The science-driven atmosphere provides timely and relevant content in the form of more than 1,000 oral and poster sessions. Attendees can also choose to expand their capabilities by registering for a thought-provoking short course or field trip. With subjects
ranging from sedimentation and stratigraphy to unconventional resources, evolving plays and significant discoveries to technology and techniques, ACE is the most comprehensive event for industry professionals to unmask their personal potential or their company’s.
ACE is the place for geosciences professionals to:

Gather new ideas, new information and new insights
Discuss industry issues with peers from nearly 90 countries
Meet cutting-edge partners who can help optimize their operation
Gain new industry knowledge and learn about competitors
See the latest products, technologies and services

Join RPSEA at ACE by visiting our booth #1203.

For more information and to register, click here.

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center

900 Convention Center Blvd.

New Orleans, Louisiana 70130

2010 Alliance Expo and Annual Meeting

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 12:00:00 GMT

2010 Alliance Expo and Annual Meeting
Start Date: 20-Apr-10 7:00 AM
End Time: 21-Apr-10 4:00 PM
Location: Multi-Purpose Event Center (MPEC), Wichita Falls, TX 76301
Event Details:

The Texas Alliance of Energy Producers became a statewide organization in 2000 with the merger of two of the oldest oil and gas associations in the nation, the North Texas Oil and Gas Association and the West Central Texas Oil and Gas Association. With over 3,000 members, the Alliance is the largest state oil and gas associations in the nation. The Alliance has three offices to serve the needs of its members: Austin, Houston, and our headquarters in Wichita Falls.

The members of the Alliance are the decision-makers in the oil and gas industry. For example, 47% say they are the owner of their company, 13% said they were co-owners and 15% said they were the CEO. Most (52%) said they had been in business more than 30 years. Another 29% said they had been in business 21 to 30 years. Three-out-of-four members are in the exploration & production side of the business. The remaining 25% is made up of drilling and well servicing contractors, service and supply companies, crude oil and natural gas purchasers, accountants, lawyers and bankers.

Two-thirds of the members said they have 10 or less employees, while 5% said they had more than 100 employees. The members of the Alliance are active in the oil and gas business throughout the State of Texas and beyond. Eighty-three percent said they have operations in South Texas (Railroad Commission Districts 1 – 4), 35% in East Texas (RRC Districts 5 & 6), 73% in North Texas (RRC District 9), 92% in West Texas. Additionally, Alliance members said they operate in Oklahoma (44%), New Mexico (32%), Louisiana (27%) and other states (53%).

Come by and visit RPSEA's booth, in which we are coexhibiting with PTTC, booth #403.

For more information and to register, click here.

Multi-Purpose Event Center (MPEC)

1000 5th Street

Wichita Falls, TX 76301

2010 Offshore Technology Conference

Mon, 03 May 2010 13:00:00 GMT

2010 Offshore Technology Conference
Start Date: 3-May-10 8:00 AM
End Time: 6-May-10 2:00 PM
Location: Reliant Park, Houston, TX 77054
Event Details:

Founded in 1969, the Offshore Technology Conference is the world’s foremost event for the development of offshore resources in the fields of drilling, exploration, production, and environmental protection. OTC is held annually at Reliant Center in Houston.

Each year, OTC attracts more than 60,000 attendees and 2,000 exhibiting companies representing more than 110 countries.

OTC is sponsored by 12 industry organizations and societies, who work cooperatively to develop the technical program. OTC also has endorsing and supporting organizations.

Visit RPSEA's booth at OTC; we are proud to be a Supporting Organization of OTC!

Also, visit RPSEA's Member Reception at OTC on Monday, May 3, from 4-7 p.m. in Reliant Stadium. Be looking for your invitation.

Please Note:

RPSEA Board Member Rich Haut will be speaking on the panel Addressing Social and Environmental Performance Risks in International Development Projects: From Soft Awareness to Hard Management on Wednesday, May 5, at 2 p.m.

For more information and to register, click here.

Reliant Park

8400 Kirby Drive

Houston, TX 77054

Memorial Day Holiday

Fri, 28 May 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Memorial Day Holiday
Start Date: 28-May-10 8:00 AM
End Time: 28-May-10 5:00 PM

Ultra-Deepwater Reservoir Engineering TAC Quarterly Meeting

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 18:00:00 GMT

Ultra-Deepwater Reservoir Engineering TAC Quarterly Meeting
Start Date: 1-Jun-10 1:00 PM
End Time: 1-Jun-10 3:00 PM
Location: Anadarko, The Woodlands, Texas 77380
Event Details:

RPSEA's Ultra-Deepwater Technical Advisory Committees (TAC) focus on a particular ultra-deepwater technology area. The role of the TACs, with representation from subject matter experts who study and apply ultra-deepwater technologies in real field situations, is to identify current technology gaps and define the specific R&D efforts needed to address these gaps. As such, the TACs provide a bottom-up, end-user-driven program. There are a total of nine UDW TACs. The UDW TACs are open to the public.

The Reservoir Engineering TAC's goal is to examine trends that are of significant generic interest to the industry, while avoiding detailed reservoir issues where participants have competitive concerns. Focus is field development, appraisal and production, and reservoir surveillance.

Anadarko

1201 Lake Robbins Drive

The Woodlands, Texas 77380

Ultra-Deepwater Drilling & Completion TAC Quarterly Meeting

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 18:00:00 GMT

Ultra-Deepwater Drilling & Completion TAC Quarterly Meeting
Start Date: 2-Jun-10 1:00 PM
End Time: 2-Jun-10 4:30 PM
Location: Chevron Bellaire Facility - BAX Auditorium, Bellaire, Texas 77401
Event Details:

The Drilling and Completion TAC's goal is to improve deep water drilling operations.

Chevron Bellaire Facility - BAX Auditorium

4800 Fournace Place

Bellaire, Texas 77401

A Comment: Natural Gas Can Lead the Way

Mark Zoback — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 01:00:00 GMT

RPSEA Board Member Dr. Mark Zoback with Stanford University wrote the Commentary in EARTH Magazine's February Edition.

Much of the debate concerning energy, climate and the economy involves how to manage the transition from fossil fuels to sustainable energy sources. In this context, it may seem ironic to promote one fossil fuel over another, but natural gas is an inexpensive, abundant and relatively clean fuel that can lead the transition away from coal and oil, while achieving significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants over the next two decades. In short, increased use of domestic sources of natural gas needs to be an essential component of U.S. energy policy.

Please click here to view the entire article.

16-Feb-10 7:00 PM

Global Unconventional Gas 2010: Unlocking Your Potential

Diane Miller — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 21:00:00 GMT

Global Unconventional Gas 2010: Unlocking Your Potential is the world’s premier international conference and workshop designed to transfer knowledge and best practices gained in active unconventional gas plays to the rest of the world. Energy professionals and stakeholders will hear from the top U.S. and international experts about the enormous potential of gas shale and other unconventional gas resources across the globe and learn about the latest issues, approaches, processes and techniques key to unlocking the resources in their own countries. The conference will be held June 15-17 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

GTI is pleased to announce that Aubrey K. McClendon, Chairman & CEO, Chesapeake Energy Corporation, will be speaking on the topic of enabling unconventional resource development and Dr. Abdul Rahim Hashim, President, IGU will address The International Gas Union perspective of a unified industry voice. Day One offers a broad perspective of the potential for unconventional gas in a sustainable global energy mix and the issues associated with resource development. Day Two is focused on five technical sessions that will deliver state of the art insights into unconventional gas resource development around the world, reviewing current and developing technology with a focus on gas shales. You can view the complete agenda by clicking here.

The Renaissance Amsterdam Hotel will host the group, with the conference sessions being held in the unique 17th century Koepelkerk, connected to the hotel. Hundreds of gas professionals from around the world are expected to attend. The conference will include several networking opportunities to meet and exchange ideas with others active in the unconventional gas area.

Registration is now open, with early discounts: $1495 if you register and pay by February 15; $1795 by April 15; and $1995 after April 15 and at the conference.

Make plans now to join the conference. View the conference website at www.gastechnology.org/gug2010 or e-mail gug2010@gastechnology.org for more information.

2-Feb-10 3:00 PM

U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy is Seeking Candidates for Advisory Committees

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy is currently seeking applications from qualified individuals to serve on their Unconventional Resources Technology Advisory Committee (URTAC) and Ultra-Deepwater Advisory Committee (UDAC). The Committees were established pursuant to Section 999D of the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

The closing date for receipt of applications is March 1, 2010. Any interested person or organization may nominate qualified individuals to serve on either committee.

More information about the program and how to apply can be found on the Committee Web pages linked below.

UDAC
http://www.fe.doe.gov/programs/oilgas/advisorycommittees/UltraDeepwater.html

URTAC
http://www.fe.doe.gov/programs/oilgas/advisorycommittees/UnconventionalResources.html

26-Jan-10 11:00 AM

RPSEA and ANGA Member Companies Win Big at Platts Global Energy Awards

Regina Hopper — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 20:00:00 GMT

It was a doubly successful night for two ANGA member companies at the recent 2009 Platts Global Energy Awards.

Not only did Chesapeake Energy take home the award for Energy Producer of the Year, but the company was recognized as the top-ranking industry leader of the year, too. Now that’s impressive! “Chesapeake has a track record of very strong financial and operating results with consistent production growth for 19 consecutive years, increasing production by 18 percent in 2008,” the judges wrote. “They hold a No. 1 or No. 2 position in each of the Big 4 shale plays, with no other company having more than one top-two position.”

If that isn’t enough to recognize our member companies’ leadership, Anadarko was awarded Energy Company of the Year and its chief executive, James Hackett, was named CEO of the Year. (Want to see why: See Hackett in action for yourself in Monday’s edition of CNBC’s Closing Bell.) The judges pointed to Anadarko’s three-year transformation following its acquisition of two major competitors, noting that with Hackett at the rudder, the firm had successfully steered through numerous divestitures, exceeded its production targets, restored its balance sheet and maintained its commitment to exploration, which paid off in one of the world’s top 10 discoveries offshore Ghana.

Congratulations on your well-deserved recognition as leaders in the energy industry!

To view the actual article, click here.

18-Jan-10 2:00 PM

Worldwide Gas Shales and Unconventional Gas: A Status Report

Danette Mozisek — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Vello A. Kuuskraa, president of Advanced Resources International, Inc. and a member of the Board of Directors and the Strategic Advisory Committee for the Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America (RPSEA), presented Worldwide Gas Shales and Unconventional Gas: A Status Report in Copenhagen, Denmark at the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2009 on December 12, 2009. His talk was part of a panel on “The Evolving Role of Natural Gas: An Industry Perspective” during the special Saturday afternoon session on “Natural Gas, Renewables and Efficiency: Pathways to a Low-Carbon Economy."

Kuuskraa’s talk discussed how the discovery and development of gas shales and other unconventional gas resources in North America have led to a “paradigm shift” in the outlook for natural gas and the much larger role it could play in reducing emissions of CO₂. Using the North American experience as the example, he discussed how the development of gas shales and unconventional gas could provide similar impacts on energy security and CO₂ emission reductions in Europe, China and other areas with large, prospective gas shale basins.

Other presenters included Christopher Flavin, president of the Worldwatch Institute, Aubrey McClendon, CEO of Chesapeake Energy, and Senator Timothy E. Wirth, president of the United Nations Foundation.

The event marked RPSEA's partnership with the Worldwatch Institute and the American Clean Skies Foundation, with generous support from The Fleischaker Companies, of the United Nations Conference. It highlighted the role that natural gas could play in emerging global energy systems and kicked off a global unconventional gas resource assessment led by RPSEA with team support from and RPSEA members Advanced Resources International, the Colorado Oil & Gas Association, the Gas Technology Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Texas A&M University and several other invited organizations.

Please see below to view the report and presentation.

29-Dec-09 4:00 PM

RPSEA to Present at the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference

Danette Mozisek — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:45:00 GMT

RPSEA is pleased to announce its support in partnership with the Worldwatch Institute and the American Clean Skies Foundation, with generous support from the Fleischaker Companies, for a presentation in conjunction with the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2009. Vello A. Kuuskraa, president of Advanced Resources International, Inc., and a member of the Board of Directors and the Strategic Advisory Committee for the Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America (RPSEA), will present his outlook on “World Resources of Gas Shales and Unconventional Gas” in Copenhagen, Denmark on December 12, 2009. His talk is part of a panel on “The Evolving Role of Natural Gas: An Industry Perspective” during the special Saturday afternoon session on “Natural Gas, Renewables and Efficiency: Pathways to a Low-Carbon Economy,” in support of the climate change meetings and negotiations underway in Copenhagen.

Kuuskraa’s talk will discuss how the discovery and development of gas shales and other unconventional gas resources in North America have led to a “paradigm shift” in the outlook for natural gas and the much larger role it could play in reducing emissions of CO₂. Using the North American experience as the example, he will discuss how the development of gas shales and unconventional gas could provide similar impacts on energy security and CO₂ emission reductions in Europe, China and other areas with large, prospective gas shale basins. Other presenters include Christopher Flavin, president of the Worldwatch Institute, Aubrey McClendon, CEO of Chesapeake Energy, and Senator Timothy E. Wirth, president of the United Nations Foundation.

This invitation only event will highlight the role that natural gas could play in emerging global energy systems and will be the inaugural event to kick off a global unconventional gas resource assessment led by RPSEA with team support from and RPSEA members Advanced Resources International, the Colorado Oil & Gas Association, the Gas Technology Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Texas A&M University and several other invited organizations.

If you are interested in attending this event, or if you are interested in supporting the global gas resource assessment study, please contact Danette Mozisek with RPSEA at dmozisek@rpsea.org for further information.

For more information on the conference, please click here.

2-Dec-09 11:45 AM

RPSEA's Unconventional Resources Program Wins Best Project Award at the 24th World Gas Conference

Danette Mozisek — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:00:00 GMT

The Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America (RPSEA) Unconventional Resources Program was recognized at the 24^th World Gas Conference, The Global Energy Challenge: Reviewing the Strategies for Natural Gas with the RPSEA New Albany Shale Gas project receiving a best project award.

RPSEA’s Team Lead, Unconventional Resources Kent Perry presented at the conference that was held in Buenos Aires, Argentina and was attended by more than 3,500 attendees from 83 countries around the world.

The International Gas Union (IGU) hosts the event every three years, which comprises all domains of the gas industry, from the wellhead to the end user, covering special important features, sustainable development, market integration, regulation, and research and development. It is the purpose of IGU to continue in its contribution to a sharper insight on the new key energy and natural gas industry challenges, involving every representative stakeholder in this process, including governments and policymakers.

The New Albany Shale Gas project is being performed by a research team led by the Gas Technology Institute and includes Amherst College, University of Massachusetts, ResTech, Texas A&M University, Pinnacle Technologies, West Virginia University and the Texas Bureau of Economic Geology to develop techniques and methods for increasing the productivity of New Albany shale gas wells to a level where the otherwise noncommercial gas resource may become commercially viable.

The primary goal of this project is to identify technical hurdles to successful development of this large gas resource and, through a focused research effort, resolve those issues. All the necessary aspects of developing a shale resource are being integrated into this project. The New Albany shale will require careful consideration of well drilling geometries, accurate formation characterization, and completion practices to ensure optimum gas recovery.

Funding for the projects is provided through the “Ultra-Deepwater and Unconventional Natural Gas and Other Petroleum Resources Research and Development Program” authorized by the Energy Policy Act of 2005. This program—funded from lease bonuses and royalties paid by industry to produce oil and gas on federal lands—is specifically designed to increase supply and reduce costs to consumers while enhancing the global leadership position of the United States in energy technology through the development of domestic intellectual capital. RPSEA is under contract with the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory to administer several elements of the program. RPSEA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit consortium with more than 150 members, including 25 of the nation's premier research universities, five national laboratories, other major research institutions, large and small energy producers and energy consumers. The mission of RPSEA, headquartered in Sugar Land, Texas, is to provide a stewardship role in ensuring the focused research, development and deployment of safe and environmentally responsible technology that can effectively deliver hydrocarbons from domestic resources to the citizens of the United States.

Please see below Kent Perry's paper and presentation that won the award. Congratulations to Kent and his team for a job well done!

3-Nov-09 11:00 AM

IOGCC Selects HARC Program for Stewardship Award

Ginny Jahn — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:00:00 GMT

The Environmentally Friendly Drilling Systems (EFD) Program, a collaborative project led by the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC), has been selected by the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission's Stewardship Award Subcommittee as the winner in the Environmental Partnership category. The award was presented at the Commission's annual meeting in Biloxi, Mississippi on October 5.

Since its inception in 1935, the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC) has voiced the need for sound oil and natural gas environmental policy. In 2001, the IOGCC initiated the annual Chairman's Stewardship Awards, representing the Commission's highest honor for exemplary efforts in environmental stewardship. The awards recognize achievement and challenge organizations, companies and individuals nationwide to demonstrate innovation, dedication and passion for our environment.

The EFD program seeks to

combine new low-impact technologies that reduce the footprint of drilling activities,
integrate light-weight drilling rigs with reduced emission engine packages,
address on-site waste management,
optimize the systems to fit the needs of a specific development sites, and
provide stewardship of the environment.

The program involves industry, the public, environmental organizations, and elected officials in a collaboration that addresses concerns on development of unconventional natural gas resources in environmentally sensitive areas. Partners bring their regional expertise together in a synergistic manner to address the needs across the country.

Dr. Richard Haut, project director and principal investigator of the EFD program, explained that the project seeks to reduce environmental tradeoffs associated with operations for unconventional natural gas and, at the same time, to involve all stakeholders in the process. "Our program aims to foster dialogue among the public, industry, environmental organizations, academia, and government agencies/regulators so together we can develop the best drilling methods to safeguard environmentally sensitive ecosystems."

Mike Smith, Executive Director of the IOGCC, said that the Environmental Partnership award presented to the EFD program recognizes an innovative project led by a non-industry organization in cooperation with industry partners. "The EFD program is an outstanding example of what the award represents," Smith said.

Created in 2005, the EFD program is a partnership of HARC, Texas A&M University, Sam Houston State University, the University of Arkansas, the University of Colorado, West Virginia University and TerraPlatforms, L.L.C. It is co-funded by the US Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory, the Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America and a number of environmental organizations, government agencies, and industry sponsors including major integrated and independent operators, service companies and suppliers. The program has become a clearing house of knowledge on reducing the impact of oil and gas operations through presentations, publications and website: www.efdsystems.com.

Created in 1982, HARC is a not-for-profit organization based in The Woodlands, Texas, dedicated to improving human and ecosystem well-being through the application of sustainability science and principles of sustainable development.

The IOGCC, representing the governors of 30 member and eight associate states, promotes the conservation and efficient recovery of the nation's oil and natural gas resources while protecting health, safety, and the environment. Established by the charter member states' governors in 1935, it is the oldest, largest, and most effective interstate compact in the nation.

For more information, contact Rich Haut at 281-364-6093 or rhaut@harc.edu.

You can view this press release on the HARC website at www.HARConline.net/Press/IOGCC.

RPSEA footnote:

Both HARC and IOGCC sit on RPSEA's Board of Directors and are RPSEA members. Congratulations to HARC!

21-Oct-09 4:00 PM

UH Professor Making Waves in Deepwater Drilling

Brett Clanton — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 01:00:00 GMT

No matter how big the oil company or smart the scientists they employ, drilling for oil in the deepest waters of the Gulf of Mexico may always be a gamble.

Little by little, however, Arthur Weglein is helping to improve the odds.

Research by the University of Houston physics professor, along with faculty colleagues and graduate students in a program he directs, has led to advances in the field of seismic exploration technology that have played a role in recent major oil discoveries in the Gulf of Mexico, off Brazil and elsewhere.

Today his team is close to completing a theory that could be another leap forward. Though it would use conventional seismic equipment, it calls for a fundamentally different approach to processing the data.

In an attempt to remove the “noise” sound waves pick up as they travel thousands of feet into rock beds and out again, Weglein said he has a found a way to make existing seismic data “talk” to one another and link information to produce a more accurate picture of subsea formations.

Such images could help oil companies reduce drilling risk and provide an invaluable road map to the industry in its global hunt for energy resources.

“Our goal is to make the currently inaccessible petroleum target accessible and the accessible better defined,” Weglein said in a recent interview at the University of Houston building where he teaches.

That mission has gained importance in recent years, as higher commodity prices and rising world energy demands have pushed oil companies into ever-deeper waters and into more complex rock formations in search of resources.

Limitations found

Along the way, the companies have encountered limitations in traditional seismic survey technology that has been the industry standard for years.

Seismic surveys use sound waves to determine the composition of subsurface rock layers, yet they have had trouble providing accurate data through salt domes that often trap oil deposits underneath.

Rather than shooting straight through, bouncing off the target and coming back to the surface where the data is collected, sound waves tend to bounce around several times in a salt dome before emerging, creating readings called “multiples” that make interpretation of the data difficult.

What's really there

Weglein is perhaps best known for theories and processes that have helped remove these multiples and achieve a better picture of what lies beneath a salt dome.

That research laid the foundation for Weglein to establish the Mission-Oriented Seismic Research Program at the University of Houston in 2001, with the backing of more than a dozen corporate sponsors including Exxon Mobil Corp., BP and Shell.

“All of those companies are members because of Art Weglein,” said Tom McClure, IBM's business and technical manager for deep computing to the petroleum industry and a member of the program's board.

The program is at the forefront of UH President Renu Khator's effort to make the school a leading hub for energy industry education and research.

Even member companies that don't use research produced by Weglein's program see value in supporting it because of its potential to improve subsurface images extracted from seismic data.

“Better images lead to more effective oil and gas exploration, particularly in geologically complicated areas such as the deep water Gulf of Mexico,” said Bill Dragoset, geophysical adviser with WesternGeco, oil field services giant Schlumberger's seismic business, and another member of the consortium's board.

Doubts arise

Weglein, however, will be the first to admit there are plenty of naysayers about his current theory, which he will present at a conference in Egypt in November and hopes to field test next year.

“What we're aiming to do is to get the target located and delineated without needing to know anything above it,” he said.

By contrast, traditional seismic imaging methods require an estimate of the speed of a sound wave as it travels from the water's surface, into the earth, bounces off a target, and returns to the surface.

Oil companies may spend years and hundreds of millions of dollars trying to interpret such data and map a formation, but deciding where to drill still involves a lot of guesswork, Weglein said.

Last year, for instance, oil companies drilled 85 exploratory wells in water depths of 1,000 feet or greater in the Gulf of Mexico but only announced 15 discoveries, a success rate of about 17 percent, according to the U.S. Minerals Management Service. And at more than $100 million per well, the cost of dry holes can add up quickly for oil companies.

Domestic oil potential

Weglein believes his new theory will help boost the success rate in the deep water and allow oil producers to revisit shallow-water areas where salt domes had blocked their view. It could even reveal far more oil in U.S. waters than previously thought.

A recent Interior Department report said unexplored areas of the Outer Continental Shelf could contain some 86 billion barrels of oil and 420 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, though not all is economically feasible to recover.

But those who try to predict the amount of petroleum left in the U.S. or the rest of the world, Weglein said, are “destined to be incorrect.”

For the actual Houston Chronicle article, click here.

11-Oct-09 8:00 PM

Observers Question Strategy Behind Raising Taxes on Oil, Gas

Nick Snow — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, DC, Sept. 29 -- A strategy that diverts federal tax incentives from domestic oil and gas to renewable and alternative energy would quickly increase oil and gas imports, industry observers warned on Sept. 28.

“We need to probe what it actual means to overinvest in oil and gas,” said Lucian (Lou) Pugliaresi, president of Energy Policy Research Foundation Inc. (EPRINC) in reference to recent statements by US President Barack Obama and other administration officials.

“But if you reduce what you invest domestically in oil and gas, you increase imports. There’s no way to get around it,” Pugliaresi told congressional staff members at a Capitol Hill briefing that EPRINC cosponsored with the University of Texas at Austin’s Center for Energy Economics and the Brookings Institution.

The organizations hosted the briefing at the requests of US Reps. Cynthia M. Lummus (R-Wyo.) and Harry Teague (D-NM), Pugliaresi noted. He said White House oil and gas tax proposals in its proposed fiscal 2010 budget would adversely affect downstream as well as upstream operations.

One proposal that would keep refiners from the Section 199 tax exemption available to all other US manufacturers would hit a business with a rate of return significantly lower than other industries, he said. Combined with proposed carbon cap-and-trade costs and existing consumption taxes, EPRINC estimates that losing the tax credit could reduce US refining capacity by 2 million b/d over time, Pugliaresi said.

Gas demand growth
Even without a federal greenhouse gas emissions control program, stronger US natural gas demand also is inevitable because low-carbon technologies are immature and their costs and timing of deployment are uncertain, observed Michelle M. Foss, chief economist and head of UT-Austin’s Center for Energy Economics.

“Demand for gas is going to be robust in the future, especially as people explore new ways to use it,” Foss said. “The desire to move away from fuels with higher carbon emissions also is having an impact.”

The oil and gas investment climate is similar to that of the pharmaceutical industry because it requires large sums to be committed with slim chances of success, she pointed out.

“I wouldn’t call it overinvesting,” Foss said. “More people simply need to understand how much money needs to be spent before that first barrel of oil or first cubic foot of gas is produced. Even with all the technology that’s available, there’s still a substantial risk.”

Development of hydraulic fracturing to recover gas from shale formations has improved the domestic resource outlook significantly, Foss said. It also has made water management a key issue in several potential production areas, she pointed out.

“There’s a lot of communication across the producing community, state regulatory offices, and the National Energy Technology Laboratory to see what happens in each shale formation,” Foss said. “But every formation is different. Parts of each formation are different too.”

The overall goal is to use fewer rigs to produce more gas, she explained. “It’s extremely exciting, but it’s extremely challenging too. We need to consider what the best regulatory environment will be,” she said.

Incentives needed
Smaller independent producers would be hit hardest without exemptions for intangible drilling costs, tertiary injectant expenses, enhanced oil recovery costs, and costs for marginally producing wells, several speakers said. They said that these producers, who are not big enough to go to private capital markets for money, must rely on cash flow to stay in business, and that cash flow has fallen with oil and gas prices recently.

Upstream independents who use commodity hedges to keep cash flow steadier also would suffer if proposals to require all over-the-counter transactions to go through regulated exchanges become law, according to Lee O. Fuller, vice-president of government relations at the Independent Petroleum Association of America.

“Using the OTC markets lets them use their reserves as collateral,” Fuller explained. “Forcing them onto regulated exchanges requiring cash collateral and daily clearing could lead to more volatile prices because most independent producers could no longer afford to hedge 2 or 3 years of production as they do now.”

“Small producers also can’t survive without government-supported research at universities like ours,” said Van Romero, vice-president of research and development at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology in Socorro, NM.

Romero noted that since the US Department of Energy’s fossil fuel research budget has been eliminated, the only federal money available for oil and gas research and development is $35.9 million that the Energy Policy Act of 2005 authorized for unconventional onshore and ultra-deepwater research.

“This is no giveaway to Big Oil as I’ve heard some people call it,” Romero said. “It’s directed money, not an appropriation, which supports education of the future oil and gas workforce as well as future technologies’ R&D.”

29-Sep-09 5:00 PM

RPSEA Other Events

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:56:10 GMT

2010 RPSEA UDW Working Committee Review February 16, 2010 Released Presentation Project 07121-1701 Technology Transfer Meeting at Deep Offshore Technology RPSEA Project on Improved Oil Recovery - Art Schroeder RPSEA Small Producer Program Showcase - Permian Basin Focus February 3, 210 The University of Texas of the Permian Basin Midland, TX Released Presentations Mini-Waterflood: A New Cost Effective Approach to Extend the Economic Life of Small, Mature Oil Reserves - Thomas Engler 2009 Year 21st Annual Rocky Mountain Natural Gas Strategy Conference and Investment Forum July 7 - 9, 2009 Colorado Convention Center/Korbel Ballroom Denver Colorado Released Presentations The Natural Gas Industry: Doing, Not Just Saying - Mike Ming, RPSEA Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPPA) Midyear Meeting June 15, 2009 The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel Dana Point, California Released Presentations RPSEA and Small Producers - Iraj Ershaghi, University of Southern...

Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:36:37 GMT

RPSEA Unconventional Gas Conference 2010: Technological Keys to Unlocking Additional Reserves April 6-7, 2010 RPSEA Unconventional Gas Conference 2010: Technological Keys to Unlocking Additional Reserves is a conference to disseminate results from the RPSEA Unconventional Resources Program. The event will take place April 6-7 at the Denver Marriott West in Golden, Colorado. RPSEA has an active research program with a current portfolio of 28 projects all targeting development of unconventional gas in the U.S., including activities in coalbed methane, tight gas formations and shale gas. Unconventional gas currently represents almost one-half the domestic production in the U.S. This conference offers an ideal opportunity to hear the latest perspectives and exchange ideas with industry experts. For more information and to register, click here.

Industry News

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 21:30:51 GMT

The latest news and analysis of issues and events in the oil & gas industry.

Click here for more
industry related news.

Archive of Closed RFPs

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:21:29 GMT

Previous RFPs have been archived. Please click on links below to access. Technology Transfer Services, 2010 Technology Transfer Services RFP, PDF, (529 KB) Unconventional Gas and Other Petroleum Resources Program, 2009 The Unconventional Gas and Other Petroleum Resources Program RFP for 2009, PDF, (410 KB) Small Producer Program, 2009 The Small Producer Program RFP for 2009, PDF, (392 KB) Ultra-Deepwater Program, 2009 Seabed Discharge of Produced Water and/or Solids (DW3100), PDF, (700 KB) Significantly Extending Subsea Tieback Distances/Surface Host Elimination (DW3300), PDF, (826 KB) Drilling & Completion and Well Interventions (DW3500), PDF, (816 KB) Appraisal, Development Geosciences and Reservoir Engineering (DW3700), PDF, (809 KB) Unconventional Gas and Other Petroleum Resources Program, 2008 The Unconventional Gas and Other Petroleum Resources Program RFP for 2008, PDF, (293 KB) Small Producer Program, 2008 The Small Producer Program RFP for 2008,...

Request for Proposals

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:04:11 GMT

RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP TO SECURE ENERGY FOR AMERICA

(Update 3/02/2010) The Technology Transfer Services RFP closed on 3/02/2010 at 4:00 p.m.

(RFPs are in PDF format. In order to fully utilize these forms you must have the current version of Adobe Reader. If you don't have Adobe Reader or you need the current version, you can download it here.)

RPSEA Solicitation Process General Questions, (Updated 10/08/09), PDF, (87 KB)

Technology Transfer Services

The Technology Transfer Services RFP closed on 3/02/10.

Unconventional Gas and Other Petroleum Resources Program

The FY2009 RFP closed on 12/8/09.

Small Producer Program

The FY2009 RFP closed on 12/15/09.

Ultra-Deepwater Program

The RFPs for DW3100, DW3300, DW3500, and DW3700 closed on 12/14/09.

Quick Links

Archive of Closed RFP's

Draft Annual Plans

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 03:09:37 GMT

RPSEA is required to write a draft Annual Plan (DAP), a component of the Ultra-Deepwater and Unconventional Natural Gas and Other Petroleum Resources Research and Development Program Annual Plan established to the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct), each year. The DAP is written and submitted by RPSEA and is used as the input for a final Annual Plan that must be approved by the Secretary of Energy each year. Please see below each draft Annual Plan written to date.

2010 Draft Annual Plan

2009 Draft Annual Plan

2008 Draft Annual Plan

2007 Draft Annual Plan

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Wed, 17 Feb 2010 01:23:39 GMT

RPSEA Members

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 19:36:39 GMT

MAP OF RPSEA MEMBERS Acute Technological Services, LLC Advanced Resources International, Inc. AeroVironment, Inc. Altira Group LLC American Gas Association Anadarko Petroleum Corporation Apache Corporation APS Technology, Inc. Baker Hughes Incorporated Big Cat Energy Corp. Bill Barrett Corporation BJ Services Company BlueView Technologies Inc. BP America, Inc. Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP Cameron/Curtiss-Wright EMD Campbell Applied Physics Capstone Turbine Corporation CARBO Ceramics, Inc. Centre for Marine CNG, Inc.Chesapeake Energy Corporation Chevron Corporation City of Sugar Land Colorado School of Mines Colorado Oil & Gas Association ConocoPhillips Company Conservation Committee of California Oil & Gas Producers Consortium for Ocean Leadership (pending) Correlations Company CSI Technologies, Inc. DCP Midstream, LLC DeepFlex, Inc. (pending) Deepwater Structures, Inc Deepwater XLP Technology, LLP Det Norske Veritas (USA) Devon Energy Corporation Drilling &...

Abstracts

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:28:19 GMT

The Small Producer Program is designed to bring the resources of America’s leading universities, research institutions and technology innovators to bear on the problems facing small producers trying to enhance production from mature fields. In mature fields up to two thirds of the original oil in place is often left behind, making this program especially beneficial to extract additional resources from existing surface footprints. Projects selected under the RPSEA Small Producer Program will provide the technology to enable small producers to extract the maximum amount of oil and natural gas out of their existing asset base and continue to make their important contribution to the nation’s energy needs

All awards under the RPSEA Small Producer Program are made to consortia organized for the benefit of small producers, and each proposal must provide a minimum of 20% cost share, with up to 50% for field demonstration projects.

2007 Abstracts (Projects Funded)

2008 Abstracts (Projects Funded)

Current Ultra-Deepwater Project Website Links

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 18:53:04 GMT

Please note, not all projects have website completed yet. Links will be added as they are submitted to RPSEA. Please check back.

Wax Control in the Presence of Hydrates

Lorem ipsum survey

noemail@rpsea.org — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 19:20:50 GMT

Objectives:

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Release Date: 8-Mar-07 1:20 PM
Expiration Date: 8-Jun-07 1:20 PM

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2007-03-08T19:20:50Z

Instructor: Instructor

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Ultra-Deepwater Subsea Facilities TAC Quarterly Meeting

Developing Unconventional Gas Conference & Exhibition

The Premier 2010 Fluids Conference

RPSEA Unconventional Gas Conference 2010: Technological Keys to Unlocking Additional Reserves

AAPG 2010 Annual Convention & Exhibition (ACE)

2010 Alliance Expo and Annual Meeting

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Memorial Day Holiday

Ultra-Deepwater Reservoir Engineering TAC Quarterly Meeting

Ultra-Deepwater Drilling & Completion TAC Quarterly Meeting

A Comment: Natural Gas Can Lead the Way

Global Unconventional Gas 2010: Unlocking Your Potential

U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy is Seeking Candidates for Advisory Committees

RPSEA and ANGA Member Companies Win Big at Platts Global Energy Awards

Worldwide Gas Shales and Unconventional Gas: A Status Report

RPSEA to Present at the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference

RPSEA's Unconventional Resources Program Wins Best Project Award at the 24th World Gas Conference

IOGCC Selects HARC Program for Stewardship Award

UH Professor Making Waves in Deepwater Drilling

Limitations found

What's really there

Doubts arise

Domestic oil potential

Observers Question Strategy Behind Raising Taxes on Oil, Gas

RPSEA Other Events

Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America

Industry News

Archive of Closed RFPs

Request for Proposals

RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP TO SECURE ENERGY FOR AMERICA

Technology Transfer Services

Unconventional Gas and Other Petroleum Resources Program

Small Producer Program

Ultra-Deepwater Program

Quick Links

Draft Annual Plans

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RPSEA Members

Abstracts

Current Ultra-Deepwater Project Website Links

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