June 2009

On this month's cover: Smith International, Inc. is a leading global provider of products and services used by operators during the drilling, completion and production phases of oil and natural gas development activities. The company operates in over 80 countries around the world.

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World News
World News

The Arctic Frontier
Gordon Cope, Oilfield Technology Correspondent, looks at how the Arctic is heating up, in more ways than one

A Misplaced Consensus?
Peter Hughes, Arthur D. Little, UK, considers the possible future of the industry

Fuel for Thought
Piers Tuggey, Marsh, UK, outlines geopolitical risk exposures and describes how these risks can be managed

Exploring Off Limits
Brice Bouffard, Spectraseis AG, Switzerland, discusses how to reduce costs and risks through new exploration technologies

Enhanced ERD
Robert Ford, Smith International, USA, discusses technologies that help to lower oil production costs

A String of Broadband Benefits
Daan Veeningen, NOV-IntelliServ, USA, describes how broadband network expands possibilities for drilling extended reach, multilateral wells

A Multitude of Milling Applications
Brian Schwanitz and Kristine Henriques, Welltec, Denmark, describe a variety of milling applications illustrated with case studies

Wireless Logging
Jonathan Lee, GE Energy, USA, and Zhi Guo Zhang, Liaohe Wireline Logging Co., China, consider the use of logging while drilling systems in replacing wireline technology in multilateral wells

Drill Bit Review
In our inaugural Drill Bit Review, Oilfield Technology provides an overview of established drill bit technology and services from a number of international companies

The Next Phase
Cyril Nardi, Numerical Rocks, Norway, discusses the contribution of three-phase pore scale modelling to EOR

Academy Assistance
David Doig, OPITO - The Oil & Gas Academy, UK, discusses the importance of standardising safety training and investing in skills

Training School
Barry J. Cooper, Well Control School, USA, explains the benefits of online competency based training courses

At the Scene of the Blowout
Robert D. Grace, GSM, USA, Bob Cudd and Gin Fu Huang, Chinese Petroleum Corp., USA and Taiwan, discuss the use of imaginative well control strategies

Break It Down
Roger Esson and James Broadribb, RBG, UK, describe the stages involved in decommissioning the North West Hutton topsides

Designed for Decommissioning
Stewart French, ODE, UK, discusses whether gravity base structures can be engineered for decommissioning

June 2009

Contents