Technology

Shale Gas in South Africa

‘South Africa’ and ‘energy giant’ are words infrequently strung together, as the country has almost no conventional onshore or offshore hydrocarbons of note. However, over the past couple of years…

Geophysics: A Simple Guide to Volumetrics

A Simple Guide to Volumetrics We start this article with an example that many geoscientists may find uncomfortable, if not downright contentious. A top structure depth map from a depth…

Gas Hydrates – Part VIII

Hydrates in Outer Space (1) Today found widespread on Earth wherever stability conditions are met and an ample supply of natural gas is present, methane hydrate was originally thought to…

Novel digital platforms: OneGeology and OpenGeosci

OneGeology In March 2007, over 80 scientists from 43 countries gathered in Brighton, UK, to discuss the proposition of creating an online geological map of the world for the benefit of students, teachers,…

Gas Hydrates – Part VI

Hydrates in the Arctic (I) ‘You can know the name of a bird in all the languages of the world, but when you’re finished, you’ll know absolutely nothing whatever about…

Three Disappointments in the Barents Sea

None of Statoil’s three wells in the Barents Sea in 2014 were associated with EM anomalies of any significance. It is therefore not surprising that not one of them proved…

Puzzling Salt Structures

Detailed salt modeling has unraveled the development of a mystifying collection of structures that are a key element in the eastern Gulf of Mexico petroleum system. Seismic mapping near recent…

Petrophysics in high angle and horizontal wells

Increasing numbers of wells are drilled horizontally or at high angles for a number of reasons – to improve reservoir exposure, avoid or target particular features, and in relief-well scenarios.…

Reducing Risk in Offshore Planning and Development

Ultrahigh resolution 3D seismic methods not only bridge the gap in continuity between the shallow subsurface and seafloor, but also the gap in communication between geoscientists and engineers. Responsible development…

New Perspectives on the Barents Sea

The recent opening of the south-east Barents Sea to oil and gas exploration has provided an opportunity to deploy the latest technologies such as full tensor gravity gradiometry to improve…