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The classical source-to-trap petroleum system concept only considers the migration and accumulation of conventional oil and gas in traps driven dominantly by buoyance in a basin, although revised and improved, even some new concepts as composite petroleum system, total petroleum system, total composite petroleum system, were proposed, but they do not account for the vast unconventional oil and gas reservoirs within the system, which is not formed and distributed in traps dominantly by buoyancedriven. Therefore, the petroleum system concept is no longer adequate in dealing with all the oil and gas accumulations in a basin where significant amount of the unconventional oil and gas resources are present in addition to the conventional oil and gas accumulations. This paper looked into and analyzed the distribution characteristics of conventional and unconventional oil/gas reservoirs and their differences and correlations in petroliferous basins in China and North America, and then proposed whole petroleum system (WPS) concept, the WPS is defined as a natural system that encompasses all the conventional and unconventional oil and gas, reservoirs and resources originated from organic matter in source rocks, the geological elements and processes involving the formation, evolution, and distribution of these oil and gas, reservoirs and resources. It is found in the WPS that there are three kinds of hydrocarbons dynamic fields, three kinds of original hydrocarbons, three kinds of reservoir rocks, and the coupling of these three essential elements lead to the basic ordered distribution model of shale oil/gas reservoirs contacting or interbeded with tight oil/gas reservoirs and separated conventional oil/gas reservoirs from source rocks upward, which is expressed as "S\T-C". Abnormal conditions lead to other three special ordered distribution models: The first is that with shale oil/gas reservoirs separated from tight oil/gas reservoirs. The second is that with two direction ordered distributions from source upward and downward. The third is with lateral distribution from source outside. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Oil Drilling & Production Technology / Shiyou Zuancai Gongyi is the property of Shiyou Zuancai Gongyi Bianjibu and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

There have been significant changes in global energy initiatives following the shale gas developments, predominantly in North America. Due to the over-supply of shale gas, local gas prices are steadily declining in North America. In the case of continuous decreasing prices of gas, it is expected that the increase in the economic efficiency of gas power generation will lead global oil companies to enter the gas power generation sector in developing and under-developed countries possessing gas reserves. Global oil companies co-develop natural gas and electricity concurrently in developing/under-developed countries. Global oil companies now feature electricity generation as a key business area. Global electric utilities respond to global oil companies' entry into electricity production by cross-enter into gas development. This paper examines recent industrial dynamics that could considerably influence future natural gas and power generation markets due to the co-development strategy of global oil companies and electric utilities. This paper shows the boundary of energy business concerning electricity and gas is blurring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Oil Drilling & Production Technology / Shiyou Zuancai Gongyi is the property of Shiyou Zuancai Gongyi Bianjibu and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The increase in liquefied natural gas trade has accelerated the integration of previously segmented markets in North America, Europe, and Asia. This paper provides evidence on the integration of the transatlantic natural gas market; it thus complements other papers in the EMF 23 study that focus on prices and international natural gas trade. We test the theoretical proposition that in integrating markets commodity prices should move closer than before. Using 2,059 pairs of daily spot prices for natural gas in North America and Europe we investigate price dynamics covering the period from 1999 until 2008. We apply the Kalman Filter technique which measures convergence by allowing for dynamic structural change to gain detailed information on trends inherent in prices over time. Results suggest an increasing convergence of spot prices on either side of the Atlantic Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents results of simulating a more collusive behavior of a group of natural gas producing and exporting countries, sometimes called GASPEC. We use the World Gas Model, a dynamic, strategic representation of world gas production, trade, and consumption between 2005 and 2030. In particular, we simulate a closer cooperation of the GASPEC countries when exporting pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas; we also run a more drastic scenario where GASPEC countries deliberately hold back production. The results show that compared to our Base Case, a gas cartel would reduce total supplied quantities and induce price increases in gas importing countries up to 22%. There is evidence that the natural gas markets in Europe and North America would be affected more than other parts of the world. Lastly, the vulnerability of gas importers worldwide is further illustrated by the results of a sensitivity case in which price levels are up to 87% higher in Europe and North America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People's focus on either financial benefit or ecological benefit makes decisions on unconventional oil and gas extraction hard. This paper combines the energy return ratio with the financial return ratio through a comprehensive analysis model, which is more parsimonious and more objective than other comprehensive analysis models. The model was applied to analyze the comprehensive energy/financial efficiency of seven sample unconventional petroleum (oil and gas) companies in North America. Among them, four are oil sands operating companies with the largest oil sands production and three are shale oil and shale gas operating companies with the largest number of drilled but uncompleted shale wells, and complete available data. Results of our analysis indicate that during the most recent seven years the selected companies' energy return ratio and financial return ratio of unconventional oil and gas extraction operations show obviously different tendencies as a result of oil price fluctuations. However, their comprehensive energy/financial efficiency indicators show no significant trend, which was different from the cases for either one of the individual indicators. We demonstrated that a comprehensive indicator combining both energy and financial efficiency indicators could be more accurate than either one of them individually, to measure the sustainability and the true value of a company or business unit, recognizing both economic and biophysical value. We concluded by suggesting that the energy return on investment indicator and the comprehensive efficiency indicator both be disclosed and audited along with financial and commodity reserves metrics. Such a summary statistic will be more useful for investors and public policy analysts than the various energy efficiency statistics buried in the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) reports voluntarily produced by various companies. We argue that this summary statistic would provide incentives for companies to innovate and to improve efficiency as well as meet public policy objectives in energy and environment even when the commodity price makes it easier to meet financial objectives. Image 1021 • Energy return metric is affected less than financial one by price volatility. • Tendencies for energy return ratio and financial return ratio diverge. • Combined financial and energy ratio provides more accurate information. • Formal audited report of energy and financial efficiency indicators is recommended. • Energy and financial efficiency reporting improves fossil fuel company performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Oil and gas activity is increasing in the western boreal forest of North America. To manage cumulative effects of this industry, a better quantification of footprint effects on wildlife is needed. Objectives: We used point-count surveys to evaluate how well footprint amounts within 150 m, and proximity to seismic lines, pipelines, well sites, roads, and energy facilities predicted the abundance of 48 bird species. Methods: We developed models for each species, evaluating the best functional forms for different footprint effects, then predicted how different model structures influenced estimates of regional population size. Results: Most species exhibited at least one nonlinear response to footprint amount (79% of species) or distance (88%). Species associated with older coniferous forests decreased more often with increased footprint amount and closer proximity to footprint, while species associated with open lands and young forests increased with greater footprint and closer proximity. In one-third of species, bird abundance versus distance changed from a positive to negative relationship (or reverse) at a threshold distance from at least one footprint. Models based on footprint proximity had better fit than those based on footprint amount for 29 of 48 species, but both model types produced similar population estimates. Conclusions: Both footprint amount and proximity models were useful for assessing cumulative effects on wildlife and mechanisms causing change. Models of distance to footprint can provide evidence of positive or negative edge effects for developing management buffers. Models of footprint amount provide important information on functional changes in habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rangelands of the American West host over 600,000 oil and gas production sites. Domestic oil and gas extraction expanded during the last two decades, creating restoration needs. This review article synthesizes the growing body of literature on restoring arid and semi-arid rangelands of the U.S. and Canada following oil and gas production, including restoring soils, re-establishing vegetation, and preventing or mitigating any surface or water contamination. Existing studies reveal that even soils on treated sites are permanently changed by oil and gas production. However, certain in situ treatment techniques result in less bare ground and increased site revegetation on contaminated sites. Various reseeding techniques are effective, and research results promote the use of diverse, native, locally adapted seed, including plant species known to be better suited to specific post-production conditions. Research suggests that less grazing at restoration sites might generate better restoration outcomes than prolonged moderate or heavy grazing during the full season. Open questions remain regarding: 1) techniques for successfully remediating soil after oil and brine spills; 2) the use of cover crops to accelerate recovery of a perennial plant community suitable to the site; and 3) the effects of cattle grazing on restoration outcomes. Resources needed to complete restoration on an extensive scale are also discussed, including economic and labor requirements, as well as potential ecosystem service benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explore the role of demand from emerging and developed economies as drivers of the real price of oil. Using a FAVAR model that identifies shocks from different regions of the world, we find that demand from emerging economies (most notably from Asian countries) is more than twice as important as demand from developed countries in accounting for the fluctuations in the real oil price and in oil production. Furthermore, geographical regions respond differently to adverse oil market shocks that drive up oil prices, with Europe and North America being more negatively affected than countries in Asia and South America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We adopt a physics-guided, data-driven method to predict the most likely future production from the largest tight oil and gas deposits in North America, the Permian Basin. We first divide the existing 53,708 horizontal hydrofractured wells into 36 spatiotemporal well cohorts based on different reservoir qualities and completion date intervals. For each cohort, we fit the Generalized Extreme Value (GEV) statistics to the annual production and calculate the means to construct historical well prototypes. Using the physical scaling method, we extrapolate these well prototypes for several more decades. Our hybrid, physico-statistical prototypes are robust enough to history-match the entire production of the Permian mudstone formations. Next, we calculate the infill potential of each sub-region of the Permian and schedule the likely future drilling programs. To evaluate the profitability of each infill scenario, we conduct a robust economic analysis. We estimate that the Permian tight reservoirs contain 54–62 billion bbl of oil and 246–285 trillion scf of natural gas. With time, Permian is poised to be not only the most important tight oil producer in the U.S., but also the most important tight gas producer, surpassing the giant Marcellus shale play. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past five years there has been a remarkable resurgence in oil and gas exploration in the North American Arctic. From completed disinterest only a half a decade ago the region has attracted billions of dollars in new investments from a host of different international oil companies. Unlike the past booms in the region, which inevitably ended in busts, this new wave of development is different. This article examines the changes in both the Arctic itself as well as the global energy environment and concludes that the North American Arctic will see slow bust sustained development over the coming decades, ultimately becoming one of the last great oil producing regions in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article reports that increase in the supply of liquefied natural gas could affect prices in North America. The demand and supply of natural gas varies significantly throughout the year, with major regional differences. In North America, gas prices depict gas-on-gas competition within diverse, active liquid commodity markets at hubs with prices in long-term contracts essentially indexed to gas spot markets.

The environmental management and policy literature presents competing arguments for and against different styles of environmental regulations – command-and-control versus flexible regulations that enable voluntary actions. On the one hand, it is argued that firms will not adopt minimum environmental standards without command-and-control regulations and that such regulations may actually result in competitive benefits for first movers. On the other hand, the literature argues that command-and-control regulations stifle innovation and that flexible regulations encourage proactive environmental strategies that lead to competitive benefits for organizations. This study compared the environmental strategies and competitiveness of oil and gas firms in two different regulatory contexts – the command-and-control based US environmental regulations and the flexible collaborative Canadian context. The study found no significant differences in the degree to which firms within the two contexts were more or less proactive in their environmental strategies or in the extent of competitiveness associated with corporate environmental strategies. Follow-up interviews with 12 Canadian and US companies indicated that regulations appeared to be more important drivers of corporate environmental practices at initial stages and eventually other external and internal drivers became more important influences on corporate environmental strategies. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon dioxide (CO2) geological storage traditionally involves capturing a CO2 stream from a point source such as a power station or from cement, steel, or natural gas processing plant, transporting it and compressing it, prior to injection as a supercritical phase into a suitable geological reservoir overlain by a cap-rock or seal. One of the main perceived risks in CO2 geological storage is migration or leakage of the buoyant CO2 stream through the seal, via faults or fractures, or other migration out of the storage complex. Injection of CO2 dissolved in water may be one solution to mitigate the leakage risk. This approach could take advantage of large volumes of wastewater already being reinjected into saline aquifers worldwide but particularly in North America, thus reducing costs. This study examines the potential to "piggyback" off the existing wastewater injection industry as a novel carbon storage option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents developments in Latin America's oil industry. Impact of the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the United States and the North American Free Trade Agreement; Shifts toward liberal and privatized trade investment; Factors contributing to substantial restructuring and downsizing in major companies.

Focuses on the volatility of the price of natural gas in North America. Assertion that last winter's fluctuation is unprecedented; Liberalization and restructuring of gas markets; Patterns of gas price movements.