Tag: Schlumberger

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The Other Drilling Guys

Directional Drilling Feature Image

The increasing complexity of today’s drilling process places considerable attention on the role of drilling contractors.  However, there are drilling-related services not traditionally provided by drillers that play an equally important role in determining the quality and profitability of a well.

For the purposes of EnergyPoint’s independent surveys, these other services fall into five segments: drilling fluids, fishing, cementing, directional drilling and measurement-while-drilling (MWD). Generally speaking, survey results suggest customers have high regard for the drilling-related services they provide.  In fact, the category’s customer satisfaction scores have outperformed EnergyPoint’s broader index of oilfield products and services since 2004. Continue reading “The Other Drilling Guys”

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Wanted: Responsible Oilfield Suppliers

HSE Feature Image

It doesn’t take long for even the most casual observer to understand the role health, safety and environmental (HSE) plays in the relationship between customers and suppliers in the oil and gas industry. Put simply, HSE performance is the first and last factor many consider when selecting an oilfield supplier.

In general, EnergyPoint’s data indicate customers’ satisfaction with suppliers in HSE-related areas remains strong. In fact, the last five years’ HSE scores are materially higher than for other satisfaction metrics. Moreover, despite overall satisfaction hitting a low point in 2006-07, HSE ratings remained in relatively good shape. Continue reading “Wanted: Responsible Oilfield Suppliers”

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Knowing the Hole

Since the oil and gas industry’s early days, providers of formation and well evaluation  (FWE) services have helped answer two questions: Are there hydrocarbons down there? And, if so, in what amounts, forms and environments? Gaining the answers with greater certainty and at lower cost is an ongoing pursuit.

Of course, the needs of today go beyond those of past eras. Today’s E&Ps seek and extract deposits held in more complex and unconventional formations. Thus, ever more rigorous, precise and available data—and the equipment and personnel to gather and interpret such data—remains the focus.

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Courting the National Oil Companies

Courting the National Oil Companies Featured Image

By some estimates, national oil companies (NOCs) control an estimated 90% of the world’s proven petroleum reserves. One need look no further than Statoil’s recent announcement to purchase Norsk Hydro’s offshore oil and gas assets, Royal Dutch Shell’s sale of interest in the Sakhalin II project to Gazprom, or the creeping nationalization in Latin America to understand that state-controlled oil and gas companies are poised to grow in size and influence in coming years.

In the past, NOCs sought established international oil companies (IOCs) like ExxonMobil, Chevron, BP, ConocoPhillips and Shell to develop their reserves. Under these arrangements, the IOCs typically handled much of the selection and management of oilfield vendors on behalf of their NOC partners. However, NOCs now appear to be asserting themselves in the process to a greater degree . Continue reading “Courting the National Oil Companies”