Industry View

What has been the biggest "hurdle" you have encountered? In a related vein, although it may not have been the biggest hurdle, what has been the biggest "surprise?"

Oglesby: Time, Sleep and Money. One has a 'day' job and your 'burning new idea' eats up your free time and sleep time - if you really believe in it! Money because it never works the first time, unless you are brilliant—so it takes a few times to make it work. The more technically advanced the idea, the more expensive each step. Also industry (service and operators) continues to

be reluctant to try new things. It may take building a complete infrastructure around your idea just to prove it works, which again takes time and money. The patenting process can take much time and money as well. At a personal level, once you have poured yourself into an idea or project for so long and success is there, it may be hard to give it up if that's where the opportunity leads.

The Surprise - I liked the creative effort and decided to follow that direction for other ideas.

Miller: Getting acceptance of processes in different areas. Operators want processes proven in their back yard. Obviously there are differences in reservoirs and applications, but if a process is commercial in one basin, then the same process can be successful if properly applied in other basins.

Oglesby: Make sure you are ready to be very committed to making it work. Think about the pros and cons about the new idea and satisfy your self that it will work before making that commitment. Also find some deep pockets to get it to a marketing stage quicker. Industry has some built in inertia and resistance to change so make sure it will make a difference!

Miller: Do the research! Whether it is an enhanced oil recovery process or a mechanical application, do the market/data search. With the databases now online and available from the states, target marketing has been brought to a new level. This will help the technology provider as well as the operator.

The Surprise - when operators that it would seem wouldn't be interested in testing a new process suddenly step up to the plate and commit to a project.

What is the single most important "advice" you would offer those contemplating what you have done?

Ken Oglesby, PE, is president and owner of Oak Resources, Inc. (Oak), an E&P company he established in 1987. Oak has drilling and production operations in Oklahoma and Texas. Oak has investigated and tested new technologies for the O&G industry, including horizontal wells using small drillpipe, underbalanced, air hammers and high pressure jetting. He recently formed IMPACT Technologies, LLC, to design, build and bring together the needed technologies to provide underbalanced, short radius, hydraulic and CO2 abrasive slurry jetting services. Like many in the industry today, Ken began his career with a major, working for Chevron in Louisiana and California. Ken holds a MS in Engineering and BS in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Tulsa.. He represents the Society of Petroleum Engineers on PTTC’s National Board.

Bernie Miller is president of Miller Energy Technologies, LLC, an oil and gas production company with properties in the Appalachian and Illinois Basins. Miller is pursuing technology development in two areas—(1) EOR processes using nitrogen from onsite air separation membrane units and liquid CO2 from ethanol and other sources and (2) artificial lift systems for stripper wells that are capable of being deployed on coiled-reinforced poly. He has extensive experience in reservoir and field engineering, from majors to small independents and has a strong interest in improved oil recovery. Miller received a BS degree in Petroleum Engineering from West Virginia University and an MBA in Finance from Tulane University. He represents the Appalachian Region on PTTC's National Board.