Critical issues in drilling and completions

Here is the good news: 2010 is shaping up to be better than 2009. Here is the bad news: It will still be a tough year. Jackup and land rig utilization numbers are coming off bottom but still relatively weak. The deepwater market, which has largely remained immune thus far...

2010 chairman profile: Louis Raspino, Pride International – Stronger with every step

“That which does not kill us makes us stronger” is an old saying that Pride International president, CEO and director Louis Raspino takes to heart. For him, market slumps are actually opportunities to make his company stronger...

2010 IADC/SPE Drilling Conference: ‘Tomorrow’s Workplace: The Essential Ingredients’

This industry is at a crossroads. With so much technology at our fingertips, companies can design and implement the most innovative tools for drilling...

Apache: Lower prices make gas projects hard to justify, technology is opportunity to ‘think positively’

As a company that prides itself on being “lean and mean” and being able to move fast when the economics of a project line up right, Apache Corp...

Global jackup market is still soft to terrible. Is there anywhere to go but up?

While it’s true that appearances can be deceiving, it’s worth noting that as of early October, drilling activity appeared to be on the rise. Actual increases in drilling activity still ranged from minimal to barely noticeable...

Automation’s learning curve must be overcome

Critical D&C issues with Ed Kautz, Ensign Energy Services. Implementing automation technologies and equipment on land drilling rigs is still not universally accepted. Are you a believer in technology and automation? ...

HSE system uses visual icons to help employees identify potential hazards, correct behaviors

Many companies use one system for hazard identification, one system for a job safety analysis/job hazard analysis (JSA/JHA) and still another system for behavioral...

In GOM deepwater completions, sand control is big hitter that industry is still trying to master

The bounty of rich hydrocarbons that lies deep beneath the ocean floor holds great promise for an industry that is continually searching for new production frontiers. But tapping...

Driver tracking, monitoring yields measurable improvement in employee driving culture

Motor vehicle incidents are the most common cause of death and serious injury for the oil and gas industry, mainly due to a high level of exposure. The World Health...

Recent News

  • 26 February 2010

    MPD on drillship solves fluid loss problem

    MPD on floating drilling rigs is significantly more complex due to vessel movement. A paper presented at the 2010 SPE/IADC Managed Pressure Drilling and...

Read more news

1. Do scientific findings support the belief that human activities are affecting the climate of the Earth? Required Question
2.  Required Question

1. What is the primary hurdle to automation of the drilling process?

1. Are you aware that Drilling Contractor is active on several social networking sites – Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn?
2.