The current issue of Ryder Scott’s quarterly newsletter contains an informative analysis of the state of the art in shale gas reserve estimation. Focus is on decline curve analysis and the techniques and exponents that are appropriate for shale gas. Current favorite is Pete Valko’s ‘stretched exponential production decline’ SEPD method which has been integrated into software from TRC, Fekete and Halliburton. Ryder Scott also looks into the way the DCA techniques interact with the new SEC reporting requirements. More on SEPD on www.oilit.com/links/1110_25.
Ryder Scott has put papers from its Annual Reserves Conference online (www.oilit.com/links/1110_80). Topics include an analysis of recent SEC subpoenas to shale gas producers. The bottom line, according to presenter Jeffrey Elk of Porter Hedges is that the SEC is looking for discrepancies between what shale gas companies are telling investors about costs, profits and well performance and ‘reality’.
Andrew Barron of Rice University reviewed the use of nanotechnology in oil and gas shale production. One novel technique ‘fingerprints’ frac fluids with ‘uniquely detectable’ magnetic nanoparticles. Thus, if there are claims of frac fluids polluting water resources, companies can ensure ‘that it isn’t your frac that makes the news’. More from Rice’s ‘Connexions’ portal—www.oilit.com/links/1110_27.
RyderScott also announced the release of its ‘SEC Seeker’ freeware application. SEC Seeker searched publicly available datasets of oil and gas company filings within the US SEC’s Edgar database. SEC seeker retrieves annual filings, for US, Canadian and international companies along with comments letters and other collateral. SEC Seeker is a web app that will be available early in 2012. Read Ryder Scott’s current newsletter on www.oilit.com/links/1110_26.
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