Announcements

Please join us for our final meeting of the year where  meeting where Dr. Christine Ehlig-Economides, University of Houston, will be presenting a talk on the Cost Comparison between Carbon Neutral Fuel and Alternative Low Carbon Energy Options.​ This meeting will also serve as the section’s annual meeting to finalize the selection of the 2021-2022 Board of Directors.

Title: Cost Comparison between Carbon Neutral Fuel and Alternative Low Carbon Energy Options
Where: Online via Zoom
Registration: Zoom Registration - SPEGGS June 2021 Meeting

Abstract

In efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel combustion, public funding for wind and solar alternative energy resources has enabled their evolution toward cost competitiveness with coal and natural gas options for electric power generation. To address combustion emissions from the transportation sector, the European Commission has committed to electrifying transportation, but this solution will not address transportation by air or by sea. Nor does it address continued production of petrochemical products that only require a small fraction of produced hydrocarbons. This study investigates the cost competitiveness of an alternative strategy to market crude oil priced to cover the cost of removing an amount of carbon dioxide equal to that produced through combustion of transportation fuels to be refined from it. This strategy enables continued use of fossil fuel for all transportation modes. The cost comparison considers life cycle carbon dioxide emissions and does not address other externalities related to materials or batteries employed in renewable energy options. Rather, we report known costs for carbon capture, use, and storage (CCUS) with consideration of both nature and technology-based carbon capture with focus mainly on geologic storage and utilization. Because road and rail transportation can be electrified, of particular interest is the levelized cost comparison between carbon neutral fuel and electrified transportation, the latter including infrastructure implementation costs. The resulting cost comparison informs investment decisions and justifies marketing fossil fuels on a carbon neutral basis.

About the Speaker

Christine Ehlig-Economides is Professor and Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished University Chair at the University of Houston. Previously, she was a professor at Texas A&M University for 10 years and before that worked for Schlumberger for 20 years. Her research interests include production and reservoir engineering of conventional and unconventional reservoirs. Ehlig-Economides has authored and/or coauthored more than 120 technical papers and has 2 patents. She holds a PhD in Petroleum Engineering from Stanford University, an MS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Kansas and a BA in Math-Science from Rice University. Ehlig-Economides is an Honorary Member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and a member of the National Academy of Engineering.

Please join us for our May 2021 meeting where SPE Distinguished Lecturer Dr. Naomi Boness, Stanford University, will be presenting a talk on the Natural gas in the Era of Decarbonization.​

Title: Natural Gas in the Era of Decarbonization
Where: Online via Zoom
Registration: Zoom Registration - SPEGGS May 2021 Meeting

Abstract

We are at a crucial and exciting time, designing and investing in the energy systems of the future that will provide clean, reliable, and affordable energy. As investment in renewable energy continues to accelerate, wind and solar are becoming the dominant source of new power capacity in many regions. At the same time, the harmful effects of coal combustion, on both the environment and humans, are becoming increasingly clear. Natural gas is a critical component of the evolving clean energy landscape to enable renewables and replace coal.
In the short- and mid-term, it is likely that the shift to cleaner energy systems will require more natural gas, not less, to ensure reliability and resiliency of the power sector, until such time that the cost of energy storage is significantly reduced.

In the longer term, projections show that natural gas demand will increase to replace coal and to meet the growing energy demand, particularly in the developing world. In addition to the power sector, natural gas offers a clean solution to replace heating and cooking fuels currently being used in Asia and Africa. Gas is not going anywhere anytime soon, and will continue to serve a multitude of human needs for decades.

For this reason, it is absolutely crucial that future gas demand be satisfied in the cleanest way possible. The Stanford Natural Gas Initiative has a strategic research portfolio that includes: reducing gas leakage; improving access and markets to speed the transition from coal to gas + renewables in Asia; reducing flaring through development of methane conversion processes to higher value products; the role of gas in supplying hydrogen without carbon emissions; gas distribution system transitions; blending of biogas, H2 or synthetic renewable-derived gas products; and gas systems as long-term energy storage in a high-renewable future.

About the Speaker

Dr. Naomi Boness is the Managing Director of the Natural Gas Initiative at Stanford University, Co-Managing Director of the Stanford Hydrogen Focus Group and a co-instructor of a graduate seminar class on the Hydrogen Economy. She is an experienced practitioner in the energy sector with a focus on natural gas, hydrogen and decarbonization in both the developed and the developing world. Prior to Stanford, she held a variety of technical and management positions at Chevron. Naomi is also a Director for a renewable fuels company and an advisor for a hydrogen startup. As an advocate for women and gender equality, she is a member of the organizing committee for the Women in Clean Energy, Education and Empowerment (C3E) Initiative. Naomi holds a Ph.D. in geophysics from Stanford University, a M.Sc. from Indiana University and a B.Sc. from the University of Leeds.

Next Meeting
Also, please mark your calendar for the June meeting of the Golden Gate Section which will be on Monday June 7, 2021, 11:00am to 12:30pm. Our speaker will be the  Dr. Christine Ehlig-Economides, University of Houston who will be presenting a talk on Cost Comparison between Carbon Neutral Fuel and Alternative Low Carbon Energy Options.

Please join us for our April 2021 meeting where SPE Distinguished Lecturer Paul Craddock, Schlumberger, will be presenting a talk on the Science of Kerogen: Engineering Applications for Shale Exploration & Production.​

Title: Science of kerogen: Engineering applications for shale exploration & production
Where: Online via Zoom
Registration: Zoom Registration - SPEGGS April 2021 Meeting

Abstract

Kerogen is solid, black organic matter in sedimentary rocks. It is the source of all petroleum and, in organic-rich source rocks, also hosts porosity, influencing storage and transport of petroleum in shale. Despite its importance, kerogen cannot be analyzed by traditional laboratory techniques, such as gas chromatography used to study oils, and the composition and properties of kerogen are not well understood in general.

In this presentation, I will describe analytical developments that have advanced the science of kerogen. Recent studies show that kerogen composition and properties vary substantially, and that this variability is highly correlated to the thermal history of the kerogen and is remarkably similar among major oil- and gas-producing shales globally. I will introduce several applications for shale exploration and development that are made possible by this gained scientific knowledge of kerogen. In one application, more accurate and consistent evaluations of shale porosity and hydrocarbon-in-place are achieved by objectively optimizing petrophysical properties of kerogen needing only knowledge of the thermal maturity of the kerogen. In other applications, kerogen characterization can be used to identify favorable zones for well placement and production as well as new potential enhanced hydrocarbon recovery schemes in shale.

This lecture illuminates the science of kerogen and how it can advance our understanding of industry-disruptive organic-rich shales, from exploration to production.

About the Speaker


Paul Craddock is a geochemist and Senior Research Scientist in the Modeling & Interpretation Department at Schlumberger-Doll Research Center, Boston. His research addresses oilfield petrophysics and formation evaluation using nuclear, X-ray, infrared spectroscopy, and most recently machine learning methods. He has developed methods to: derive resistivity-independent saturation from spectroscopy logs; indicate zones for favorable well placement and production in shale (Reservoir Producibility Index, RPI); combine cuttings and logs for enhanced petrophysics in data-poor shale wells; and optimize kerogen properties for global shale evaluation (Thermal Maturity-Adjusted Log Interpretation, TMALI). Paul received a Ph.D. in chemical oceanography from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2009 and has co-authored 50 journal and conference publications. His paper “Thermal maturity-adjusted log interpretation (TMALI) in organic shales” was awarded Best Paper at the SPWLA 60^th Annual Logging Symposium. Paul is twice a SPWLA Distinguished Speaker (2016-17, 2019-20) and a current SPE Distinguished Lecturer (2020-21).

Please join us for our March 2021 meeting where Steven Shryock, former Subsurface Manager, Chevron Australia, will be presenting a talk on the Big Gorgon Project: A Giant World-Class Development of Deep Water Gas in Australia.​

Title: A Giant World-Class Development of Deep Water Gas in Australia
Where: Online via Zoom
Registration: Zoom Registration - SPEGGS March 2021 Meeting

Abstract

The Gorgon Project developed two deepwater gas fields off the Northwest coast of Australia. Gas from the Gorgon and Jansz-Io Fields is gathered from 18 subsea wells through two pipelines back to Barrow Island where three LNG trains have been constructed at a total project cost of $54 billion. In 2016, the plant ramped up to the designed capacity of 15.6 MTPA of LNG. In addition to LNG sales, the project delivers 300 TJ/d of gas to the domestic market.

The highly deviated (80 deg.) big bore wells at the Jansz-Io Field were completed with open hole gravel packs and 9-5/8-in. tubing. Interference tests were conducted as these wells were initially flowed to the plant. For the Gorgon field, a high rate monobore design was employed with perforated 7-in. production casing and 7-5/8-in. tubing for the 270 MMSCFD production rates, where clean-ups were conducted with limited rate flow-backs to the rig.

CO2 is removed from the Gorgon Field gas stream and reinjected into an aquifer beneath Barrow Island. Several technologies are used to monitor the extent of the CO2 plume in the aquifer and ensure containment.

The Gorgon project is one of the world’s largest natural gas projects and constitutes the largest resource development in Australia’s history.

About the Speaker




Steve has BS & MS degrees in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Southern California. He is a Distinguished Member of SPE having received the Cedric Ferguson Medal in 1984, and was co-chair for the Technical Program Committee for the 2018 Western Regional Meeting.

Happy Holidays to you and your family! We hope you're all safe and healthy as we prepare to celebrate the end of 2020 and welcome 2021! We're excited to announce our first meeting of 2021 with SPE Distinguished Lecturer Derrick O'Keeffe!

Title: In Relentless Pursuit of Offshore Safety: A Privileged Perspective
When: Wednesday, 20 January 2020 4PM Pacific Time
Where: Online via Zoom
Registration: Zoom Registration - SPEGGS January 2021 Meeting

Abstract

Offshore worker occupational safety may be improving, but less frequent, high consequence events and leading indicators – like major gas releases – are proving stubbornly difficult to drive down. Getting the right information is key to understanding the risks and the available controls for effective risk management. Is there an over-focus on bad-outcome events, and insufficient attention paid to “weak signals”? Are opportunities in data analytics being missed?

 The concept of “Privileged Perspectives” is introduced; the idea that industry players, stakeholders and governments have access to quantitative and qualitative information in different ways, and can apply this for their specific organisational goals. Perhaps the most powerful use of a regulators’ Privileged Perspective is to influence improved safety outcomes.

 Australia became the world’s largest exporter of LNG in 2019 in a technology-led growth. It also has facilities from the 1960s. Against this diverse backdrop, its offshore regulator provides examples of how it has developed and uses its Privileged Perspective, working with industry, to promote risk awareness and control measures. A single event that narrowly avoided a diving fatality led, through a “big data” approach to a global opportunity to reduce risk across countless dynamically positioned vessels. A 500 well study on barrier failures revealed interesting opportunities in consistent, simple reporting and prediction. The way forward? Commitment at the leadership level to greater pooling – at a global level - of Privileged Perspectives derived from safety information, to drive opportunities for safe offshore work.

About the Speaker

Derrick O’Keeffe is the Head of Safety and Integrity for NOPSEMA, Australia’s independent offshore regulator. He holds a BSc (Hons.) in Chemical Engineering and an MBA. He has 37 years’ engineering, commercial, management and Director experience in oil and gas in Australia, Iran, UAE, Bangladesh, Africa, USA and the UK. He is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, life member and past President of the Petroleum Club of Western Australia, where he contributes to short-courses on petroleum. He is a regular witness at Australian government parliamentary senate hearings and inquiries.

When: Wednesday, 4 November 2020 11AM Pacific Time
Where: Online via Zoom

We are excited to announce the third meeting of the 2020-2021 season. As you know, our meetings are virtual while we all deal with the COVID-19 Pandemic. The meeting will be on Wednesday November 4, 2020 starting at 11:00 am. Our speaker will be Chevron’s Dr. Samaa Morsy and the title of her talk is: Optimized Development Strategy Workflow for Unconventional Reservoirs.

Abstract

A comprehensive workflow to support short and long-term development strategy for the unconventional Wolfcamp formation in the Midland and Delaware Basins is presented. The workflow is applied to every new pad to ensure child wells are targeting more of the virgin rock. The developed workflow considers pressure and stress changes around parent wells, landing strategy, completion optimization, and frac order design. A 3-D reservoir model was developed to estimate the depletion and induced stress changes around the parent wells. Hydraulic fracture modeling is coupled with the flow simulation model to assess the child wells fracture propagation under different scenarios. Different landing strategies were investigated to reduce depletion effects on child wells. Certain technologies were successfully utilized to change the pressure and stress around the existing wells to properly alter Child well fracture propagation towards virgin rock. Frac order was adjusted accordingly to benefit from the induced changes in reservoir pressure and stress around parent wells. Results show the effectiveness of the developed workflow to maintain Basin development performance.

About the Speaker
Dr. Morsy is a reservoir engineer in Chevron’s Gulf of Mexico group. She has sixteen years of experience in the oil and gas industry working in both conventional and unconventional assets. She has experience in in shaly sand petrophysics, EOR, IOR, Well Testing, Hydraulic Fracturing, Deepwater productivity decline, acidizing, competitor intelligence, reservoir simulation, completion and development strategy optimization, and strategic planning. Dr. Morsy has 25 published papers and four pending patents. She has B.Sc, M.S., and PhD degrees all in Petroleum Engineering.

Please join us for our first meeting of the 2020-2021 year where 2010 SPE President Dr. Behrooz Fattahi will be presenting a talk on "A Leadership Approach to Management" via Zoom!

When: Tuesday 15 Sept 2020 12:00PM PT
Where: Online via Zoom
Sign-up: http://spe-goldengate.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT04MDc2OTUyJnA9MSZ1PTkzNjQwNDQzNSZsaT02NzQzNzA3Mw/index.html

Join us on 15 Sept 2020 at 12:00 PT where 2010 SPE President Dr. Behrooz Fattahi will be presenting a talk on "A Leadership Approach to Management" online via Zoom!