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Dr. Lanny Schoeling: A Dedicated Professional & Friend
The Houston-based Shell C02 companies recently made an outstanding decision—the hiring of PTTC North Midcontinent Director Dr. Lanny Schoeling. Sadly, Shell’s gain is PTTC’s loss. Lanny, formerly with the Kansas University Energy Research Center, Lawrence, Kan., was among PTTC’s earliest advocates and most dedicated tech transfer experts. He not only guided the establishment of the region’s workshop program and resource center, but also set a precedent for working with his university’s research facilities, the state geological survey, and industry associations. As a result, his region quickly evolved into an outstanding example of what the PTTC technology transfer network is all about. Among Lanny’s many contributions was his innovative problem identification workshops all around the country. He developed a technology transfer model that is widely used. Also, his region initiated the Internet workshops that have since become popular with producers in the other regions. Success comes from the professionalism of Lanny and others like him—people with vision and a belief in our industry. Thank you, Lanny, and best wishes.—Deborah Rowell, executive director
PTTC Chairman Robert Nance was asked to represent independent producer technology issues during a July 2 Fossil Task Force meeting of the Energy R&D Panel of the President’s Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST). After the meeting, Nance said he was "especially gratified by the high level of interest expressed in technology transfer programs for oil and gas producers." His presentation included reviewing the PTTC regional network and its importance as a two-way information stream for producers and the nation’s R&D community. He presented task force members of the President’s Commission with a copy of The Best of PTTC Workshops. For more information about PCAST or a copy of the presentation, call (202) 785-2225.
PTTC and the National Stripper Well Association (NSWA) have agreed to pursue several joint technical workshops and other activities in the future. PTTC will help give marginal producers access to new technology.
The NSWA represents the operators of marginal wells—and promotes the importance of maintaining domestic production. The long-standing NSWA, a nonprofit association established in 1934, keeps Capitol Hill informed of the problems of marginal well owners, says Craig Ward, staff liaison for NSWA and senior government relations staff member for the Independent Petroleum Association of America.
Marginal or "stripper" wells provide 14 percent of US oil production and five percent of the natural gas production. There are more than 422,000 of the low-volume or high-cost wells, each producing less than 15 barrels of oil per day. New recovery technologies offer hope for many of these wells. An alarming number of the wells have been abandoned since 1986, according to Steve Layton, NSWA president and CEO of Equinox Oil Co., The Woodlands, Texas. Production has reached its lowest level since 1947 and "as much as 60 percent to 70 percent of the oil in a reservoir is left in the ground" after the primary production of a well.
Working with the regional PTTC offices for technology transfer, NSWA hopes to get more oil to market through the use of advances in recovery technology. "Unfortunately, if these marginal wells are abandoned and plugged, we can permanently lose access to that resource," said Layton. "America’s stripper wells contribute $10 billion to the economy each year. Without stripper wells, the nation would have to increase imports by 10 percent." To learn more about NSWA, contact Craig Ward at 800-433-2851.
PTTC leadership and representatives from the IPAA Board of Governors join in a Sept. 12 tour of the Los Alamos National Lab, New Mexico, hosted by the PTTC Southwest Region.
Independent producers recently got an inside look at one of the nation’s leading research centers. On Sept. 12 PTTC hosted a tour of Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico for the Board of Governors of the Independent Petroleum Association of America.
Robert Hanold of Los Alamos National Laboratory and David Northrop of Sandia National Laboratory, co-directors of DOE’s Natural Gas and Oil Technology Partnership, directed the event.
Participants heard presentations about the national labs’ research in reservoir fracture mapping, microborehole drilling, reservoir management and fluid identification. They also gained insights about how to work with the Technology Partnership program.
In addition, attendees got the chance to tour the Los Alamos Satellite Assembly Area, Ground Station Data Link and Science Museum.
"The Natural Gas and Oil Technology Partnership at the national labs is an under-utilized resource for our industry," said Montana independent producer Bob Nance, PTTC chairman. "Their dedication to oil and gas research and their focus on assisting the independent producers fits perfectly with the PTTC's technology transfer mission.
"I want to commit the PTTC's nation-wide network to build a strong bond with the national labs," he said. "Through PTTC programs, our industry’s highest-priority technical needs can be identified and communicated back to the labs where a solution may be found."
"The tour was part of PTTC’s effort to help independents learn how DOE’s nine national labs can work to benefit the domestic oil and gas industry," according to Deborah Rowell, PTTC executive director.
The Emerging Technologies Energy Conference will be held Nov. 17, during the 68th annual meeting of the Independent Petroleum Association of America (Nov. 16-19) in Houston.
The program, sponsored by Landmark Graphics, is designed to help operators find practical, cost-efficient solutions to technology problems. It will have a unique focus with presentations tailored for executive-level managers, instead of having detailed technical material. ETEC is a joint effort of IPAA, PTTC, and Cambridge Energy Research Associates. The cost for attending ETEC is $195 ($225 after Oct. 30). For registration information, call 1-800-433-2851. The enclosed flyer includes the ETEC timetable and program.
Conference Highlights
Featured speakers are Pulitzer Prize-winning author Dan Yergin; Ed McCracken, chairman and CEO of Silicon Graphics; Donna Shirley, manager of the Mars Exploration Program at the Jet Propulsion Lab; and John Gibson, executive vice president, Integrated Products Group, Landmark Graphics. US Senator Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) will be the luncheon speaker.
Of special interest, ETEC’s afternoon sessions will include a panel discussion by senior executives of five leading service companies. The "Technology Provider Panel on Emerging Technologies" will be moderated by Jim Bruning, CEO, Freedom Energy, Ft. Smith, Ark. The panelists will discuss which technological challenges will be most important to the survival of independents. They will address the role of 3-D seismic, horizontal drilling and other technologies.
The technology provider panelists are Chad Deaton, president, Schlumberger-Dowell Energy Services; Jed DiPaolo, vice president, business development, Halliburton Energy Services; Andrew Szescila, executive vice president, Baker Hughes, Inc.; Tommy Koops, vice president of technology, BJ Services Co.; and Denby Auble, senior vice president, technology, Western Geophysical.
In addition, a session on "Producer-Provider Case Studies on Integrated Solutions," will be moderated by Chairman Robert L. Nance, president, Nance Petroleum Corp. It will offer three case histories presented by senior executives from both the operating company using the technology and the service company involved. The studies cover 3-D seismic, integrating geological and engineering studies, and advanced stimulation technology.