Drilling technology for major projects
Joel KikerVice President, Drilling, ExxonMobil Development Company, Houston
The APPEA Journal 49(3) - https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ08092
Published: 30 June 2009
Abstract
By 2030, the world’s total energy demand is expected to be approximately 35% higher than in 2005 despite significant gains in energy efficiency.
The innovative application of technology has a critical role to play in meeting the challenge of increasing energy supplies while also reducing the environmental footprint of energy development.
Today, technology is more important than ever, with a significant portion of the world’s oil and gas resources located in challenging environments such as deepwater, heavy oil or oil sands, tight gas and Arctic regions. ExxonMobil is using advanced drilling and completions technology to address the challenges of finding and producing resources in these tough environments.
Our patented Fast Drill Process (FDP) is delivering significantly faster drilling rates and reduced downtime on projects globally, including most recently in Bass Strait and offshore Angola.
Our patented non-aqueous fluid pack (NAFPac) completions are delivering wells with high rate, sand-free production. The technique has been 100% successful in more than 100 wells in West Africa. It is planned for the 200 MMSCF/D Jansz development wells in the North West Shelf.
Directional drilling technology is used to drill from onshore Sakhalin Island, Russia, reaching reserves six miles offshore and reducing our environmental footprint.
ExxonMobil’s multi-zone stimulation technology is opening up resources previously considered inaccessible or too costly to recover.
The presentation will discuss the application of these and other breakthrough drilling technologies to meet the technical challenges of major global development projects.
Joel Kiker is Vice President of ExxonMobil Development Company—an ExxonMobil Subsidiary—with responsibility for worldwide drilling and completions operations. Kiker started his career with Exxon in 1976 as a civil engineer. In the early part of his career he held various engineering, planning, supervisory and management positions, including Exxon USA crude oil manager, production manager for Alaska and affiliate advisor to Malaysia and Australia. In 1998 Kiker was named technology manager for Exxon Company, USA, responsible for geoscience and engineering. He became the global subsurface engineering manager for ExxonMobil in 2000. In 2002, he became drilling operations manager, ExxonMobil Development Company and was named global drilling manager in 2005. Kiker was named Drilling Vice President in January, 2007. Kiker holds a civil engineering degree from Texas A&M University. |
