Innovation

  • INNOVATION

    Drones assist researchers to identify dangerous, unplugged oil wells

    There are millions of unplugged oil wells in the United States, which pose a serious risk to the environment. Using drones, researchers from Binghamton University, State University of New York have developed a ... more

  • INNOVATION

    New sensor paves way to low-cost sensitive methane measurements

    Researchers in the U.S. have developed a new sensor that could enable the practical and low-cost detection of low concentrations of methane gas. “Detecting methane leaks is critical to the oil and gas ind... more

  • INNOVATION

    Petroleum engineers develop tech to simulate mechanical properties of subterranean rock

    A test facility simulating rock positions was developed at Samara State Technical University (Samara Polytech) in Samara, Russia. It allows many experiments with the core material to be conducted under conditio... more

  • INNOVATION

    3-D model shows off the insides of a giant permafrost crater

    Researchers from the Oil and Gas Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (OGRI) and the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) have surveyed the newest known 30-meter deep gas blo... more

  • Drones assist researchers to identify dangerous, unplugged oil wells
    03 Mar, 2021
  • New sensor paves way to low-cost sensitive methane measurements
    02 Mar, 2021
  • Petroleum engineers develop tech to simulate mechanical properties of subterranean rock
    02 Mar, 2021
  • 3-D model shows off the insides of a giant permafrost crater
    22 Feb, 2021

The ‘Internet of Things’ goes underwater

James Cook University (JCU) scientists believe the emerging ‘Internet of Underwater Things’ has significant potential – but serious issues need to be overcome first. Dr Mostafa Rahimi Azghadi is a Senior Lecturer in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at JCU’s College of Science and Engineering. He said the Internet of Things (IoT) can be broadly described as infrastructure that connects equipment and other devices to the Internet and to one another. “The IoT is expected to transform and revolutionise the way we live in almost every technological area. It’s advancing at a truly astonishing... more

Addressing wellbore instability for safer operations

In Australia, wells are typically between 2,000 and 4,000 metres deep, but globally, wells beyond 10,000 metres are gradually becoming more common. These depths are demanding innovative measures to ensure the safety of operations in increasingly challenging production locations. Drilling, the first step in constructing a well, presents a number of potential risks to well integrity. Mud weight is vital in maintaining well integrity before the casing is cemented. If the mud pressure is less than the formation pore pressure, formation fluid may enter the well. Uncontrolled influx of large volumes of hydrocarbons... more

Drilling Australia’s first offshore CO2 appraisal well

The CarbonNet Project, jointly funded by the Federal and Victorian Governments, is investigating the potential for a commercial-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) network. Should the CarbonNet Project proceed, by 2030 the network will deliver carbon dioxide (CO2) captured from a range of industries based in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley, via an underground pipeline, to offshore storage sites in Bass Strait. The first storage site is known as Pelican, which has at least 125 million tonnes capacity at P90 and at five million tonnes per year. Pelican will have three injection wells and one observation well.... more

Protecting hazardous sites from risks

From onshore pipelines, refineries and office buildings to offshore platforms and vessels, the oil and gas industry has a range of expensive and critical assets which require protection from unwanted damage or intrusion. Operators commonly use a range of security measures including closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to safeguard their sites. For oil and gas facilities, operators may employ intrusion detection which uses a variety of technologies, such as active fences equipped with fibre-optic and microphonic cable to detect vibrations and sound; infrared and m... more

Pushing the limit of subsea technology

The emergence of new offshore exploration targets at depths of 3,000 metres or more is putting increasing pressure on operators to maintain their deepwater assets, which requires the industry to keep pushing the limits of current technology. While oil and gas structures, equipment and other high-value components located above the surface require regular inspection and monitoring, subsea assets, located in increasingly deeper water require the same treatment. While certain subsea inspections can be carried out by professional scuba divers, operators may need to conduct inspections in water that is not clear... more

Operators increase adoption of power alternatives

Due to increasing pressure from stakeholders, governments, communities and environmental groups to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, oil and gas operators around the globe are turning to renewables to power their operations. According to a new database and analysis by IHS Markit, oil and gas companies are starting to utilise alternative sources to reduce carbon emissions associated with their operations. “There has been a striking pace of growth over the past few years and a dynamic commercial environment for delivering renewable energy to oil and gas operations,” detailed Judson Jacobs, executive... more

Drawing inspiration from nature to detect corrosion

Engineers in the United Kingdom have developed a new scanning technique inspired by the natural world that can detect corroding metals in oil and gas pipelines. By mimicking how bats use differing wavelengths of ultrasound to detect objects, hunt, and avoid predators, the engineers have developed a new system that combines two separate types of radiation - fast neutrons and gamma rays – to detect corrosion, which is something the oil and gas industry is all too familiar with. According to a study by NACE International, the annual cost of corrosion in the U.S. oil and gas production industry is estimated ... more