Introduction To Petroleum Exploration And Engineering

by Andrew Clennel Palmer

Overview

This book is an introduction to oil and gas designed to be both accessible to absolute beginners who know nothing about the subject, and at the same time interesting to people who work in one area (such as drilling or seismic exploration) and would like to know about other areas (such as production offshore, or how oil and gas were formed, or what can go wrong).It begins by discussing oil and gas in the broader context of human society, and goes on to examine what they consist of, how and where they were formed, how we find them, how we drill for them and how we measure them. It describes production onshore and offshore, and examines in detail some instructive mishaps, including some that are well known, such as Deepwater Horizon and Piper Alpha, and other lesser known incidents. It looks at recent developments, such as shale oil, and concludes with some speculation about the future. It includes many references for readers who would like to read further. Mathematical content is minimal.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9789813147782
Publisher:	World Scientific Publishing Company, Incorporated
Publication date:	11/17/2016
Pages:	156
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.40(d)

Table of Contents

Foreword v

About the Author ix

Introduction xiii

Chapter 1 Petroleum and Human Society 1

1.1 Introduction 1

1.2 Alternatives to Petroleum 2

1.3 Climate 6

References 12

Chapter 2 What is Petroleum? 15

2.1 Introduction 15

2.2 Hydrocarbons 15

2.3 Natural Gas 16

2.4 Crude Oil 17

2.5 Hydrates 20

2.6 Heavy Oil 22

2.7 Oil Sands 22

References 23

Chapter 3 Where Does Petroleum Come From, and Where is it Now? 25

3.1 Introduction 25

3.2 Background in Geology 25

3.3 Formation of Petroleum 28

3.4 Migration 29

3.5 Traps 31

3.6 Shale Oil and Gas 36

3.7 Abiogenic Theory of Petroleum Formation 37

References 39

Chapter 4 Finding Petroleum 41

4.1 Introduction 41

4.2 Seeps and Anticlines 41

4.3 Gravity Surveys 43

4.4 Seismic Surveys 44

4.5 Magnetic Surveys 48

4.6 Surface Geochemistry 49

4.7 Drilling 49

References 49

Chapter 5 Drilling 51

5.1 Introduction 51

5.2 Cable Drilling 51

5.3 Rotary Drilling: Introduction 52

5.4 Drill Bits 53

5.5 Drilling Mud 56

5.6 Casing and Cementing 58

5.7 Drilling Rig 59

5.8 Operation of Rotary Drilling Rig 61

5.9 Directional, Horizontal and Multilateral Drilling 62

5.10 Blowout Prevention 65

5.11 Fishing 65

References 65

Chapter 6 Producing Petroleum on Land 67

6.1 Introduction 67

6.2 Oil and Gas Flow in Rocks; Single-Phase Flow 68

6.3 Oil and Gas Flow in Rocks: Multi-phase Flow 78

6.4 Interfacial Tension 79

6.5 Fracturing 81

6.6 Pressure Maintenance 84

6.7 Well Spacing 86

6.8 Gas Production from Hydrates 87

References 87

Chapter 7 Producing Petroleum Under the Sea 89

7.1 Introduction 89

7.2 Early History 89

7.3 Mobile Submersible Drilling Rigs 91

7.4 Jack-up Platforms 91

7.5 Fixed Platforms 92

7.6 Floating Systems 97

7.7 Seabed Systems 100

7.8 Moving Petroleum from Offshore 101

References 103

Chapter 8 Petroleum Accidents 105

8.1 Introduction 105

8.2 Drilling Accidents 107

8.2.1 Macondo 107

8.2.2 Lapindo 112

8.2.3 Sea Gem 112

8.2.4 Ocean Odyssey 113

8.3 Onshore Production Accidents 114

8.3.1 Texas City 114

8.4 Offshore Production Accidents 115

8.4.1 Piper Alpha 115

8.4.2 Alexander L. Kielland 116

8.5 Transportation Accidents 117

8.5.1 Floating Pipeline 117

8.5.2 Bromborough 118

8.5.3 Lac-Megantic 118

8.5.4 Prince William Sound, Alaska 118

8.5.5 Bellingham 119

8.6 Conclusions 120

References 121

Chapter 9 The Future of Petroleum 123

9.1 Introduction 123

9.2 Technological Developments 124

9.2.1 Fracking and Horizontal Drilling 124

9.2.2 Heavy Oil 124

9.2.3 Deep Water 126

9.2.4 Unmanned Platforms 126

9.2.5 Facilities on the Seabed 127

9.3 Economic and Political Developments 128

References 129

Appendix: Units 131

References 133

Index 135