With an increasing percentage of future subsea production expected to occur in ultra-deep water, suppliers to the world’s oil and gas operators continue to push development of technology to make ultra-deepwater production more economic with less risk.

Shipyards are busier than ever, and record order books list deliveries to 2012 and beyond. With yards at capacity, the time is ripe for new ideas and innovative approaches to construction.

A look at the big picture is driving some operators to improve their predictive ability to enhance sand management as a whole.

Unconsolidated sands are among the most difficult type of reservoirs in which to obtain core and to analyze in the laboratory. With the value of a proper core analysis typically exceeding 10 times the cost, it pays to get it right.

An all-metal insulated pipeline can guard against flow assurance problems in harsh subsea environments.

The closing ceremony in Beijing, with the Olympic torch being passed from China to Great Britain, was ironic. In truth, Asia forcefully grabbed the economic initiative some time ago. If global business were a decathlon, it would be the Asian countries that would be tipped to run fastest, jump highest, and throw farthest in the years ahead.