We know that the people of Mesopotamia were using crude oil as a tar for building ships and houses as early as 3000 BC, so it is not by any means a new industry-but it is a volatile one. Oil and gas are important to every aspect of our economy yet this industry is distinguished by its combination of increasing demands and decreasing discovery volumes-and it is an industry shrouded in an environment of extremely volatile pricing. This book is a vital introduction to the oil and gas industry that focuses on history, operations, major companies, outside market forces, regulation, and the current challenges the industry faces. Such factors as finite natural resources, the environment, economics, geopolitics, and technology are also analyzed in detail. The focus on oil and gas is likely to continue to grow until efficient, environmentally safe alternate fuels become available. And because it's woven with complex relationships that are ever changing, this book is the best tool to have for a better understanding of this industry.

Oil and gas are important to every aspect of our economy, yet the oil and gas industry is distinguished by its combination of increasing demands and decreasing discovery volumes--and it is an industry shrouded in an environment of extremely volatile pricing. Although the profits enjoyed by the oil and gas industry are enormous, the industry remains one of the most capital-intensive in a world where rising expenses continue to threaten to squeeze profit margins. Geopolitics may continue to be the most important variable in maintaining existing assets and in successfully achieving new discoveries and carrying out their subsequent development. But finding new oil and gas reserves is becoming more challenging and the places where hydrocarbons are being found are more remote. Thus technology advances are also a key variable to enable exploration, drilling and development to become economically feasible in some of these more difficult operating environments. For the last century oil and gas additions have exceeded demand but has this industry now reached a "peak oil" situation? Some experts argue we are on the cusp of maximum oil production while others suggest we are still about a decade away. Natural gas demand however, is rising at a slightly faster rate than oil. Natural gas may be the immediate replacement fuel for oil as a source of clean and efficient electric power generation. Three out of the top ten Fortune 500 companies were oil/gas companies in 2011. This short introduction to the oil and gas industry will focus on history, operations, major companies, outside market forces, regulation and the current challenges the industry faces. Such factors as finite natural resources, the environment, economics, geopolitics, and technology will all come into play in the narrative. The book will demonstrate how the leaders of this industry, former champions of progress, are now coming under scrutiny and being depicted as the biggest culprits of environmental degradation. Yet the industry is likely to continue to grow until some form of alternate fuels is developed. The oil and gas industry will continue to have an enormous impact on life on the planet.

This text discusses a wide variety of production chemicals used by the oil and gas industry for down-hole and topside applications both onshore and offshore. It reviews all past and present classes of production chemicals, providing numerous difficult-to-obtain references. Unlike other texts that focus on how products perform in the field, this book focuses on the specific structures of chemicals that are known to deliver the required or desired performance. Where known, it also details the environmental aspects of the chemicals discussed and their success in the field.

"Based on A Dictionary for the Petroleum Industry, third edition revised."

Production chemistry issues result from changes in well stream fluids, both liquid and gaseous, during processing. Since crude oil production is characterized by variable production rates and unpredictable changes to the nature of the produced fluids, it is essential for production chemists to have a range of chemical additives available for rectifying issues that would not otherwise be fully resolved. Modern production methods, the need to upgrade crude oils of variable quality, and environmental constraints demand chemical solutions. Thus, oilfield production chemicals are necessary to overcome or minimize the effects of the production chemistry problems. Production Chemicals for the Oil and Gas Industry, Second Edition discusses a wide variety of production chemicals used by the oil and gas industry for down-hole and topside applications both onshore and offshore. Incorporating the large amount of research and applications since the first edition, this new edition reviews all past and present classes of production chemicals, providing numerous difficult-to-obtain references, especially SPE papers and patents. Unlike other texts that focus on how products perform in the field, this book focuses on the specific structures of chemicals that are known to deliver the required or desired performance—information that is very useful for research and development. Each updated chapter begins by introducing a problem, such as scale or corrosion, for which there is a production chemical. The author then briefly discusses all chemical and nonchemical methods to treat the problem and provides in-depth descriptions of the structural classes of relevant production chemicals. He also mentions, when available, the environmental properties of chemicals and whether the chemical or technique has been successfully used in the field. This edition includes two new chapters and nearly 50 percent more references.

Petroleum Production Engineering, Second Edition, updates both the new and veteran engineer on how to employ day-to-day production fundamentals to solve real-world challenges with modern technology. Enhanced to include equations and references with today's more complex systems, such as working with horizontal wells, workovers, and an entire new section of chapters dedicated to flow assurance, this go-to reference remains the most all-inclusive source for answering all upstream and midstream production issues. Completely updated with five sections covering the entire production spectrum, including well productivity, equipment and facilities, well stimulation and workover, artificial lift methods, and flow assurance, this updated edition continues to deliver the most practical applied production techniques, answers, and methods for today's production engineer and manager. In addition, updated Excel spreadsheets that cover the most critical production equations from the book are included for download. - Updated to cover today's critical production challenges, such as flow assurance, horizontal and multi-lateral wells, and workovers - Guides users from theory to practical application with the help of over 50 online Excel spreadsheets that contain basic production equations, such as gas lift potential, multilateral gas well deliverability, and production forecasting - Delivers an all-inclusive product with real-world answers for training or quick look up solutions for the entire petroleum production spectrum

This updated edition provides the unique combination of an encyclopaedia with commentary for the entire chain of petroleum activities.Fully updated, this new edition provides additional sections on (i) international laws and treaties with direct impact on the upstream sector, (2) anti-corruption laws and practices, (3) corporate and social responsi