Oilpro Highlights This Week

It's Squeaky Bum Time For The Jackup Speculators. December approaches, 2015 is ever closer.
That's when the initial batch of speculative jackups comes due for delivery. That's when the 90% or the
95% payments are due. That's when a plethora of operators will line up to sign new contracts on these
rigs... or will they? Offshore rig market expert Ian Craven describes a sticky situation in the shallow water
sector.
The Big Crew Change is Underway. The coming talent crunch in O&G has been called the graying of
our workforce, the big crew change, and paying the penalty for our significant downsizing in past
cycles. No matter what you call it, the phenomenon is real and presents a significant concern. Oilpro
Bruce Crager provides new perspective on the situation.
Howard Hughes Sr. & the Spudding of a Drilling Revolution. Howard Hughes Sr. revolutionized
arguably the most important part of the oil and gas business: the method of getting the oil from the
ground. This requires more than a pick and shovel, and Hughes knew it.
It Just Got Real: Sand Spike Dings Bottom Line of Biggest Frac Company. A typical frac job for
Halliburton a year ago consumed four million pounds of sand (20 rail cars). Now, Halliburton is completing
wells with over 15 million pounds per well. That's 75+ rail cars of sand for one job.
Stepping into the Oilfield Game: A Beginner's Guide. Oilpro Justin Hall outlines some aspects of
working in O&G everyone considering a career in the industry should think about. Excellent perspective
for old timers and newbies alike.
$45 Billion Alaska LNG Project is One Step Closer to Approval. The Alaska LNG Project marked a
major milestone with XOM's FERC request to begin the pre-file process for the major natural gas
project. A foundation is now set for the environmental review for siting, design, and construction
permitting.
Gulf of Mexico Rig Update. In the Gulf of Mexico, there are currently 127 of 205 rigs under contract for
utilization of 61.9%. Oilpro Terry Childs updates readers on the state of contracting in the GOM.
Worth the Wait? E&Ps Queuing Up a Year in Advance for New Land Rigs. Operators wanting a
newbuild land rig fresh from the construction yards are now signing contracts up to a year ahead of
delivery. This kind of lead time is new to the land rig business.
Corruption Revealed as Costa Blows the Whistle. Paulo Roberto Costa, the former Petrobras director
currently in jail, is now putting all his cards on the table. He has begun cooperating with authorities to
identify other corrupt officials, a move which puts Petrobras' dealings under further scrutiny.
Venezuela's Oil Sector Was Just Shaken Up - What Happened, Why & What's Next? Rafael
Ramirez, Venezuela's oil minister and the head of state-run PDVSA, has been dismissed and his dual
role split: Asdrubal Chavez will be oil minister and Eulogio Del Pino will head up PDVSA. Oilpro Jeff Reed
discusses the implications of the shake-up at the top of Venezuela's oil empire.
Q&A Discussions This Week
O&G Entrepreneurs: What are You Working On? Big companies get most of the press in O&G. But
some new innovators are taking big risks and pursuing interesting projects in the space as well. Hear
about their efforts, challenges, and successes directly.
Can Beach Sand be Used for Fracing? Sand miners are profiting greatly from the shale boom. But
beaches and deserts around the world are full of sand; can't beach or desert sand be used?
What's a Day in the O&G Life Like? From geologists, to offshore drillers, to the board room; working in
O&G can mean a lot of different things. Read about a day in the life of 10 interesting roles.
Who are the Best Offshore Drillers to Work for? If you are mulling a career offshore, get some
feedback on the best companies to work for in this sector before jumping in.
Are Overseas Markets More Susceptible to Theft and Corruption? Sovereign risk and FCPA
compliance are key concerns as companies push into emerging markets with different operating and
security considerations.
Where to Download Technical Drawings? Don't recreate the wheel if you don't have to. Get some tips
on technical drawing sourcing from the experts.
What Happens to Crushed Proppant? When proppant succumbs to high pressures and temperatures
downhole, does it impact well performance? Where does it go?