Completions-2017

There is intense focus across the industry on profitability in the current low-oil-price environment. Yet, today’s profitability is not the only challenge. Laying the groundwork for future profitability must also occur.

I am very excited to begin my term as editorial reviewer for Completions. JPT has always been the source of cutting-edge information on industry technology developments, and I pledge to continue that tradition through expert review and selection of articles.

Our industry is showing signs of emerging from the recent downturn, and commodity prices are slowly improving. There is intense focus across the industry on profitability in the current low-oil-price environment, and profitability must be achieved while meeting regulatory requirements, delivering value to stakeholders, and attracting and retaining the best talent available. Yet, today’s profitability is not the only challenge. Laying the groundwork for future profitability must also occur.

One of the more powerful tools available to help achieve sustained profitability is innovation, and it has consistently generated cutting-edge technologies that have advanced the oil and gas industry.

The good news is that innovation has continued during the downturn. For example, advancements in dissolvable-materials technology and downhole data acquisition have continued. While the former primarily advances efficiency in multizone shale well completions, the latter will advance effectiveness in both land and offshore completions. Process innovation is also occurring and is evident in the drive to create advanced numerical models for optimization of stimulation and hardware choices in multizone shale well completions. Finally, increased focus on reliability in design, installation, and operation has emerged, as both operators and suppliers recognize the contribution of risk management to completion technology and systems.

The articles in this month’s Completions section are great examples of how innovation is driving profitability, and I hope that they help you drive profitability in your completions.

This Month's Technical Papers

Deep High-Pressure Completions: A Case History Offshore Gulf of Mexico

Integrated Cemented Inflow-Control-Device System Design

Integrated Completion Sensitivities for Horizontal-Well Design in the Vaca Muerta

Recommended Additional Reading

IADC/SPE 180542 Appropriate Completion To Prevent Potential Damage of Annular Pressure Buildup in Deepwater Wells by Bo Zhang, China University of Petroleum, et al.

SPE 185499 Fracturing-to-Production Integrated Completion Sensitivities for Horizontal-Well Design in the Vaca Muerta Shale by S. Pichon, Schlumberger, et al.

SPE 185051 The Impact of Completion Technique on Well Performance by D.M. Anderson, Anderson Thompson Reservoir Strategies, et al.

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Doug Lehr, SPE, is senior manager for design for reliability at Baker Hughes, a GE company. His current focus is driving reliability improvement through leading-edge processes across all product lines. Previously, Lehr was global director of technology, wellbore intervention. He has 37 years of experience in the development of downhole tools for completion and intervention applications. Lehr’s research interests include high-pressure/high-temperature applications, industry codes and standards, and accelerating innovation. He has authored or coauthored eight technical papers and holds 25 patents. Lehr holds a BS degree in mechanical engineering from The University of Texas at Austin and an MBA degree in finance and marketing from the University of Houston. He was an SPE Distinguished Lecturer for 2012–13 and is a member of the JPT Editorial Committee. Lehr can be reached at douglas.lehr@bhge.com.