SOCIETY OF PETROLEUM ENGINEERS
Gulf Coast Section
Efforts to Educate the Public about Energy
Jeanne M. Perdue
SPE Distinguished Lecturer
Harry Potter
and the Best-Kept Secret
of the Oil Patch
(with apologies to J. K. Rowling)
Today’s Oil Industry
Uses High-Tech Tools
to Improve
Your Quality of Life
(But this is kept secret from the general public.)
Not Your Grandfather’s Industry
Yesterday
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Manual
Hardcopy
Post or Fax
Five-spot
Vertical wells
Simple, Silos
Today
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Automated
Electronic
Satellite
Multilateral
Designer wells
Complex, Integrated
The Top Ten Tech Solutions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
3D Seismic Interpretation & Visualization
3D Plant Design & Plant Lifecycle Management
Measurement & Logging While Drilling
Reservoir Modeling and Simulation
Real-time Data from Production Operations
Satellite & Wireless Applications
Knowledge & Content Management
Enterprise Resource Management Systems
Infrastructure, Security & Data Storage
Applications & Systems Integration
#1: 3D Seismic Interpretation
Photo courtesy of Schlumberger
3D Seismic – create models of
subsurface formations to
identify oil and gas deposits.
Increased accuracy in locating
resources leads to fewer wells
drilled and less waste, for the
same volume of oil and gas.
3D seismic models are projected in a 180-degree view so
geoscientists can virtually step into the subsurface to
explore.
#2: 3D Plant Design & PLM
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Outsourcing
Collaboration
As-Built Models
Training
Operations
Maintenance
#3: MWD & LWD Via Web
#5: Real-Time Data From
Production Operations
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RFID =
radio frequency
identification
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SCADA =
supervisory control
& data acquisition
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Process Optimization
#6: Satellite & Wireless
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IPoVSAT = Internet
Protocol over Very
Small Aperture
Terminal
TDMA = Time
Division Multiple
Access
802.11 Wi-Fi
WLAN
#9: Infrastructure,
Security & Data Storage
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Grid computing
Firewalls & spam blockers
Role-based SmartCard
access
Nearline storage
Paper Well Logs => Digital
Seismic Tapes => DVD
Technology Has Resulted in
a Significant Increase in
Drilling Success Rates
Drilled That Successfully
Locate Oil and Gas Deposits
Percentage of U.S. Wells
Source: EIA, Monthly Energy Review, August 2004
100
80
60
40
20
0
Exploratory Wells
All Wells
Lost Time Injury Frequency
(per million hours worked)
Newer Technology Reduces
Injuries, Improves Safety
5
4
3
2
1
0
1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
Company
Contractor
Overall
Source: International Association of Oil and Gas Producers,
“Safety Performance of the Global E&P Industry – 2002”
Oil + Gas > Energy
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Materials: asphalt, linoleum, rubber
Liquids: antifreeze, refrigerants
Plastics: soccer balls, milk jugs
Synthetic fabrics: nylon, polyester
Agriculture: fertilizers, pesticides
Medical: artificial limbs, bandages
We have an image problem!
Harry Potter
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16 years old
Bright, inventive
Works well with
others in teams
Seeks solutions
even when there is
little information
available
SPE Trying to Improve
the Industry’s Image
SPE Magic Suitcase
 High School Recruiting Fairs – Nov. 14-17
 Scholarships for Engineering – Feb. 15
 SPE.org - PowerPoint slides
 Presentations in the schools, civic clubs
 Toastmasters

Petroleum Industry is High-Tech
Keep Houston Oil Capital of the World