Introduction

Welcome to the May 2003 issue of our newsletter, the fifth issue in all.

As usual, David Hughes, in his editorial, provides the statistics of “visits” made to this newsletter. The increasing number of visits made is encouraging, although it is somewhat short of our rather ambitious stretch target. As we are in the realms of web technology national borders are not a constraint, and we have had “visits” from as far a field as North America, Europe and Malaysia.

These days, IOR is not the exclusive domain of petroleum and reservoir engineers. The need to pull in all disciplines that go to increase economic hydrocarbon recovery from the UKCS has become vital. In this respect lately the explorationists and the geoscientists have been taking the high ground, and this is evidenced by the articles in recent issues of the newsletter. In this issue we have an article by Jim Munns propounding the hypothesis that a large part of new reserves are to be found in stratigraphic traps and this is where we should be looking. The article by Neil Dunlop et al discuss the integration of 4D seismic into reservoir management for uncertainty quantification and management. The reservoir engineers have been active too with the articles on Gas Huff and Puff, Hysteresis Effects in Three-Phase Rel Perms and Rel Perms for Post-Waterflood Depressurisation. Notably nothing has come in from the universities. Perhaps this may be attributed to the busy M.Sc. programmes that culminate in intense activity at this time of the year.

Under “Talking Point” we have an article by John Brooks expressing his concerns on the fall in exploration drilling activity since his days with the DTI. You will recall that John was the Director of the Licensing and Exploration branch until his retirement towards the end of 2000. John is now very active in the private sector as an independent consultant. John outlines his views on the reasons for the severe drop in exploration well count and discusses the remedial measures needed to arrest this. DTI and PILOT have grappled with some of these and appropriate measures are already in place - notably the Fallow Discoveries Initiative, the issuing of Promote Licences. The most recent initiative was announced by the Chancellor (on Budget day, 6 April 2003), to launch a consultative exercise to examine whether there are cost-effective, targeted measures that could improve the current low levels of exploration in the North Sea. Nevertheless, John’s article is interesting reading and is expected to stimulate a lively discussion.

Under “People and Projects” we have an appreciation of Mervyn Grist, who retired from the DTI on 30 April this year. Mervyn was a well-respected and much valued member of DTI LCU’s Licensing Exploration and Development branch. His vast experience of the oil industry was much sought after and Mervyn was very generous when it came to helping anybody who was stuck with a technical problem. I myself can recall the long telephone conversations we had whenever I sought his advice. It has indeed been a privilege to have worked with him.

Lastly, I would like to draw your attention to the DTI IOR Research Dissemination Seminar, planned for Tuesday 24 June 2003, in the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (http://www.dti-sharp.com and click under “Forthcoming Events”). We will have some interesting presentations from new work done in the JIPs that DTI co-sponsors. We will keep to the same format as last year where the afternoon sessions are devoted to new themes with invited presentations from a wider sector. This year the new themes we have selected are, “CO2 EOR and Sequestration” and “Mining Oil Field Data for Better Reservoir Management”. I hope that most of you will be able to attend and make it a successful and productive event.

Disclaimer: The material available on this website is designed to provide general information only. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is accurate, it does not constitute legal or other professional advice.
Please note: The Department of Trade and Industry cannot be held responsible for the contents of any pages referenced by an external link.