Drilling Contractor | Archive

Suspending drilling is non-solution that will only beget more problems

Posted on 14 July 2010 in Departments, July/August, Opinion

Just a few weeks ago, as I was watching TV and flipping the channel back and forth between CNN’s endless coverage of the BP oil spill and the MTV Movie Awards…

From the President: Dr Lee Hunt

Posted on 30 April 2010 in 2010, IADC, May/June, Opinion

To the surprise of the US offshore drilling industry, the Obama administration announced that it will potentially open areas in the mid- and south Atlantic, eastern Gulf of Mexico and parts of Alaska to offshore drilling…

Drilling Ahead: Balanced energy strategy beats demonizing natural gas

Posted on 30 April 2010 in 2010, Departments, May/June, Opinion

In the oil and gas business, most people adopt an evenly balanced approach to energy and the environment. The people I brush shoulders with don’t trumpet oil-and-gas solutions for every niggling energy problem…

Managing exploration risks with trained intuition

Posted on 04 February 2010 in 2010, Global Market Trends, January/February, Opinion

Critical D&C issues with Susan Cunningham, Noble Energy. Risk management is what we do all the time, just by definition with exploration. My view of risk management is that it’s a disciplined process, and you can’t go by gut feeling. Gut feel is the road to…

To be competitive, rigs must go the extra mile

Posted on 04 February 2010 in 2010, Global Market Trends, January/February, Opinion

Critical D&C issues with Siegfried Meissner, president of Nabors International. DC: What are the critical issues the contract drilling industry is facing, and how is Nabors meeting those challenges? The hot spots that I see coming back in…

From the 2010 chairman: Preparing tomorrow’s generation today

Posted on 04 February 2010 in 2010, IADC, January/February, Opinion

As the oil and gas drilling industry advances into new frontiers with new technologies, it demands increasingly higher skill levels among workers. Yet historical ups and downs in the economy have created gaps in the work force. …

Control systems integration an ongoing challenge

Posted on 04 February 2010 in 2010, Automation, Deepwater Operations, Global Market Trends, January/February, Offshore Operations, Opinion

Critical D&C issues with Tim Juran, Seadrill Americas. Seadrill has delivered eight modern, highly sophisticated deepwater newbuilds in the last 15-18 months. What are the key challenges you’ve faced in doing that? …

Smart drilling a must as wells push technical limit

Posted on 04 February 2010 in 2010, Automation, Deepwater Operations, January/February, Offshore Operations, Opinion

Critical D&C issues with Ron Toufeeq, Pride International. Ron Toufeeq is senior vice president of operations, asset management and engineering for Pride International. What are some of the most critical issues facing the drilling and completion industry in…

From the 2009 chairman: Industry must walk the talk on environment

Posted on 04 February 2010 in 2010, IADC, January/February, Opinion

2009 is behind us, and it is time to take stock of the past year and relay the baton of the IADC chairmanship to Louis Raspino, president and CEO of Pride International. Chairing IADC in 2009 has been a great privilege, and I pass on the assignment with mixed feelings. …

Tax systems can tip the scales on brownfields

Posted on 04 February 2010 in 2010, January/February, Legislative & Regulatory Affairs, Offshore Operations, Opinion

Critical D&C issues with Nick Walker, Talisman Energy. There are a number of issues. We are, I hope, progressing out of recession. Oil prices have recovered somewhat, but gas prices still haven’t, and I think the latter will stay low in Europe…