Avoiding Reservoir Souring
Determining the source of hydrogen sulphide on an offshore oil production platform is an important part of preventing or controlling this unwanted gas. Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) is a corrosive and…
Middle East
Iraqi Kurdistan: It’s All in the Timing
The Zagros fold and thrust belt of Iraqi Kurdistan is a prolific petroleum province with several large-scale producing oil and gas fields. The region is under active exploration and hence…
The Buraimi Affair
Buraimi: The Struggle for Power, Influence and Oil in Arabia, Michael Quentin Morton. I.B. Taurus (2013) Buraimi and Al Ain are twin towns that today sit astride the fenced border between…
A Beautiful Country – The Geology of Lebanon
This book is in large format, making it suitable for presenting text along with photos and maps. The list of contents includes eight chapters, references, index and author’s biography, but lacks a list of figures.…
Iran Returns to the Market
With Iranian export sanctions about to be lifted, what effect will this potential influx of hydrocarbons have on the already pressurised price of oil? In July, Iran signed an historic…
Rio: The “Marvellous City”
The endless beauty of its people and its setting put Rio de Janeiro as one of the most visited cities in the Southern Hemisphere. Rio Summer Olympics 2016 Rio de…
Real-Time Data = Proactive Field Decisions
Recent developments in permanent downhole monitoring provide accurate and stable measurements even in extreme high pressure/high temperature reservoir conditions. The integration of multiple measurements as they happen allows operators to…
Libya’s missing barrels
The Brent oil price continues to slide as Libyan oil is expected to gradually return to the market after two key export terminals, which had been blocked for almost a year by…
Gaining a Regional Perspective
What has happened in recent years in the Caspian region, how has it changed – and what is preventing companies from operating here? In 2010, the international scientific consortium Geology Without…
Mountains and the sea: Muscat
Muscat is indeed a unique city, surrounded by high barren mountains and for centuries almost inaccessible except by sea. Even the modern air traveller cannot fail to be impressed, as…
Looking Back to Predict the Future
Conventional exploration continues to be very successful, but 2014 is a make or break year for frontier deepwater exploration. One can learn a lot from looking at even the recent past.…
Torres del Paine – The Patagonian Diamond.
Patagonia plays host to numerous geological marvels, including the famous Torres del Paine granite intrusion – a stunning spot in a fantastic wilderness. The screams of a group of Guanacos…