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Visualization
Centers, What if I Want to See One First?
In the last issue of PTTC Network News, we
listed visualization centers available for lease in the
Houston area. If you want to first see how they work, go to
the Society of Exploration Geophysicists International
Exposition and 74th Annual Meeting, October 10–15, 2004 in
Denver, CO. A complete visualization theatre will be set up in
the exhibit hall. See the visualization applications,
workflows and hardware. There will be presentations on the
unique capabilities to enhance the interpretation process and
presentations on the hardware and software making it all work.
Hardware providers include HP, IBM, Sun, SGI, Barco, Fakespace,
Landmark, Paradigm and Schlumberger.
RAPPS (Reasonable & Prudent Practices for Stabilization)
The Independent Petroleum Association of
America (IPAA) and several other oil and gas trade
associations and their members have compiled RAPPS, or
Reasonable and Prudent Practices for Stabilization for oil and
natural gas E&P sites. The RAPPS guidance lists various
operating practices and control measures used by operators to
effectively control erosion and sedimentation in storm water
runoff from clearing, grading, and excavation operations at
oil and gas exploration and production sites under various
conditions of location, climate, and slope.
After a producer determines that storm water runoff from
clearing, grading, and excavation operations requires coverage
under a Construction General Permit (CGP), the producer should
consult the Environmental Protection Agency's or the state's
CGP to evaluate whether those permits require different or
additional best management practices (BMPs) beyond the
reasonable and prudent practices described in the RAPPS
document.
The RAPPS are suggestions of alternatives, from which one or
more of the listed techniques or practices may be selected for
a given site under site-specific circumstances. Not all RAPPS
listed will necessarily be required for any given project. |
The list of RAPPS may not exhaust all of the available RAPPS that may be
effective for any given construction site. Other RAPPS not
listed on the flowcharts may be beneficial for controlling
surface water runoff from a construction site, in addition to
or in lieu of the RAPPS listed in this document.
Each topographic area type of the country is
treated separately. Within each topographic area type,
decision tree analyses are presented based on the percentage
of vegetative cover and the distance to regulated water
bodies. For each category, possible RAPPS are presented. As
the instructions indicate, a producer may choose one or a
combination of the RAPPS to control runoff from the
construction site.
Further information about RAPPS are available online at
www.ipaa.
org/govtrelations/RAPPs.asp.
2003–2004 Oil & Gas
Producing Industry in Your state
This unique look at the oil and natural gas
industry in each of the 33 producing states is published each
year as the special statistical issue of America's
Independent, official magazine of the Independent Petroleum
Association of America (IPAA). The annual publication details
information covering the upstream side of the industry,
including prices, production, severance taxes, industry
employment, and drilling.
Roustabout and corporate members of IPAA may receive one free
copy of this issue, additional copies cost $25. Non-members of
IPAA are charged $75 per copy. When purchasing, mention you
heard about it through PTTC's newsletter and you can purchase
the issue for a reduced price of $35. Contact Fred Lawrence
(phone 202-857-4722, email
Flawrence@ipaa.
org).
A Virtual Student Expo
Offered by Major Professional Societies
Major E&P technical societies have worked
together to develop the Virtual Student Expo (EXPO), designed
to connect undergraduate/ graduate students with prospective
employers. Participating societies are the American
Association of Petroleum |
Geologists (AAPG),
the Geological Society of America (GSA), the Society of
Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) and the Society of Petroleum
Engineers (SPE).
The web-enabled Expo matches students with
potential employers for full-time entry-level positions and
internships. The Expo allows students to post resumes—along
with examples of their work or a short video—to virtually
present themselves. Students who are members of the sponsoring
professional societies may utilize the Expo free of charge.
Employers pay a small fee to access the student postings and
to post job openings. With the virtual information, employers
can improve recruiting efficiency. Truly a win-win for both.
Visit the society websites (www.
aapg.org,
www.geosociety.org,
www.seg.org,
www.spe.org) for more information.
PC-Based Software for Lightweight Cement Decisions
A PC-based decision tool, SmartCement by CSI
Technologies, is available from 3M for selecting a lightweight
cement system. It evaluates suitability of typical
density-reducing additives for casing cement at various
conditions. Given operating parameters supplied by the user,
it will suggest a low-density cementing option and identify
several alternatives. SmartCement is one result of a
three-year DOE-supported project to help develop lightweight
cementing systems for deepwater wells and other critical
applications. Contact DOE's Gary
Covatch (phone 304-285-4589, email
gary.covatch@netl.doe.gov)
for information on how to get this free software.
Practical, Low-Cost
Field Solutions
Leading edge technologies can be fun, but
for most marginal leases, it's the day-to-day operations that
are critical. Omega Technologies, Inc. (Omega), Texas, is
focusing its innovation on bottom-line operational matters.
Two examples of Omega's effort include:
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Tech
Transfer Track