Applying Successful Practices in 2002
PTTC's effort is focusing in the West Coast (California) and South Midcontinent (Oklahoma and Arkansas) regions. In these states, the PTTC team will seek to refine understanding of oil production constraints and prioritize them by focusing on those where proven solutions exist and successful implementation will make an impact quickly. The organization will then search globally for solutions by interacting with producers, the service sector and the technology development community. Finally, the results will be packaged and transferred to the oil and natural gas industry for application. The heart of PTTC's effort is increased one-on-one and small group interaction with industry by experienced, well-respected, well-networked individuals having an industry background. Many terms, such as Mentors or Field Agents, have been used to describe them, but the phrase "PUMPers" illustrates the essence of their activities. Theirs is not an office job. As the effort kicks off during early 2002, the PTTC PUMPers will be out in the "patch," visiting with industry to truly understand constraints and discover solutions that are working. They will also assist in tech transfer as well as follow-on encouragement for operators to apply preferred practices. PTTC chose this approach because of the encouraging results of Bob Kiker's work as the Permian Basin Program Director for PTTC's Texas Region. Bob, a Texas Tech graduate, has a broad engineering background with much of that experience in the Permian Basin. After retiring from Conoco, Bob served as Executive Director of the Permian Basin Petroleum Association for a few years before pursuing a consulting career. Bottom line, Bob knows the Permian Basin, its problems and opportunities, and the people who work in the E&P industry there. He has helped the PTTC connect with industry across Texas. With the success that he has experienced in interfacing with industry, Mr. Kiker will be a valuable resource that PTTC will access during program implementation. PTTC expects the same success as PUMPers in Arkansas, California, and Oklahoma "hit the road." (See Photos) Tech transfer is driven by people, and below is a brief background of each PUMPer. They will be interacting with industry as well as each other. As you will see from the bios, there is a combined quarter of a millennium of experience working to find successful practices just within the PUMPers team. West Coast PUMPersFred Crosby, California, PE and NACE corrosion specialist, brings 40 years of experience in petroleum production operations engineering in California to bear in this PUMP effort. Crosby's specialty is operations, particularly in the chemicals and corrosion engineering field. Through an extensive career with Tidelands Oil Production Company, he developed expertise in downhole corrosion and scale programs, well work analysis, and production operations. He has particular expertise at finding different ways to prevent well shut-ins and increase production; these skills are right on target with this PUMP project. He holds BS and MS degrees in petroleum engineering from Stanford University. Ed Mayer, California, PE and California Registered Environmental Assessor, has over 40 years petroleum engineering experience, primarily in the Los Angeles Basin area. Following early experience with Exxon USA and Occidental Petroleum, he worked most of his career for the THUMS Long Beach Company, retiring from there as chief engineer. His experience focuses on reservoir engineering, operations, and operations management. He has been responsible for development exploitation plans throughout California and has worked to establish coordinated environmental and safety programs. He holds a BS degree in petroleum engineering from Stanford University and an MS degree in petroleum engineering from the University of Southern California. Mike Starzer, California, PE, began his engineering career with Unocal in California. From 1983 to 1991, Starzer served in engineering and supervisory functions on both offshore and onshore developments in Alaska. Returning to California in 1991, he worked for the State Lands Commission as Statewide Reservoir Engineer. In 1995, he accepted a position with Berry Petroleum where he served as VP of Corporate Development beginning in 1996. Starzer is now the principle of Starzer Consulting Company. Recent experience has focused on operations and engineering in the Bakersfield area. He holds a BS degree in petroleum engineering from the Colorado School of Mines and an MS in engineering management from the University of Alaska. South Midcontinent PUMPersCranston Fletcher, Oklahoma, PE, has 50 years of petroleum engineering experience, most of that as an independent engineer working from Oklahoma. Growing up in the oil patch in Oklahoma, it was a natural for Fletcher to make it a lifelong pursuit. Fletcher holds BS degrees in petroleum engineering and geological engineering from the University of Oklahoma. His experience includes aspects of drilling, well completions, well workovers, waterflooding, coalbed methane, appraisals and mineral evaluations, and expert witness work. He is well acquainted with the geology, engineering and operational challenges facing Oklahoma producers, and is well networked throughout the Midcontinent region. Carl Hampton "Hamp" Bussey, Arkansas, is the former Deputy Director of the Arkansas Oil & Gas Commission. Mr. Bussey is a member of the IOGCC and was on the Council of State Regulatory Officials from 1990-2000, as well as the State Review Committee from 1999 through 2000. Currently semi-retired, he performs various consulting services. He will work part-time serving producers in Southern Arkansas's oil-producing area. Mr. Bussey has a petroleum engineering degree from Louisiana Polytechnic Institute. He has worked in Arkansas's producing industry for over 40 years, serving in engineering and management roles for various companies as well as his experience in the Oil and Gas Commission. |
Oil and natural gas prices continue to cycle up and down. During market downturns, applying proven successful technologies can provide the margin for business survival for many independent operators across the United States. In 2001, the Petroleum Technology Transfer Council (PTTC) was one of several groups to receive awards in the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Preferred Upstream Management Practices (PUMP) program. This program focuses on identifying and applying preferred or successful practices to mitigate factors constraining oil production. The focus is on finding solutions or preferred practices that can be quickly applied to increase production within the near term.