[en] Energy analysts have used the reserves/production ratios for oil and natural gas for decades as indicators of the ability of countries to maintain or increase their production of those fuels. The global community is now faced with the challenge of reducing carbon dioxide emissions from a variety of sources, with the energy sector being the largest contributor to the anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases. Natural gas has emerged as a highly desirable fuel, since it produces lower emissions of carbon dioxide than coal or oil for equivalent amounts of energy supplied. The ratio of a country's proven natural gas reserves to its total energy consumption is a good indicator of its ability to improve its air quality situation or address greenhouse gas reduction targets from domestic natural gas sources. This paper provides the ratio for several countries at different stages of development, and discusses some of the implications. In countries where exploration for natural gas has been limited, the estimated resources in place may sometimes be a more useful indicator than proven reserves, and could be used instead. (author)

[en] Notwithstanding the advances made in 3-D seismic, horizontal drilling, and completion techniques, as well as in computer applications, all of which have improved our ability to find and produce new reserves, associated risks, both technical and economic, have also increased. Various efforts to standardize reserve evaluation, and to deal with the growing uncertainty, were discussed. Most of these efforts have failed in the face of great reluctance to change. The objective of this paper was to emphasize the need to incorporate and standardize the application of risk, to propose a revised 'expected value concept' for the economic evaluations of reserves, and to dispel the myth that statistical procedures are difficult, time consuming and expensive to apply. Essential characteristics of the various statistical procedures used in risk assessment, such as the Monte Carlo Simulation, Expected Value Determination and Decision Tree Analysis, were summarized. 8 refs., 9 tabs., 11 figs

[en] The conference paper deals with the Petrobase 2000 system designed for forecasting and analysis of offshore activities covering files of exploration, field development and operations. The electronic tool system forecasts offshore activities in a total of 90 countries around the world. Exploration activities are analysed on the basis of prospectivity of basin geology, availability of exploration acreage, terms of conditions applying as well as availability exploration services, regionally or nationally. The field development file contains data on all known discoveries offshore and announced plans for development. For discoveries where no plans for development exist, the tool system allows for a probability analysis to identify the most likely scheme and scheduling. 10 figs

[en] Nigeria produces almost two million barrels of oil a day from its oil fields in the Niger Delta area. Most of the oil comes from reservoirs containing gas, which is produced with the oil. This associated gas is separated from the oil at flow stations and more than 95 per cent of it is flared-currently a total of some two billion standard cubic feet per day (scf/d), which is estimated to be about a quarter of the gas the world flares and vents. The energy available from Nigeria's flared gas is prodigious, equivalent to one quarter of France's gas requirements. The company recognises that flaring wastes a valuable resource and is environmentally damaging. It aims to stop necessary flaring as soon as possible through a series of projects to harness or conserve this gas. Several gas gathering and conservation projects are already underway in response to emerging markets while other plans await new markets. The company is committed to reduce gas flaring as soon as is feasible to the minimum needed to maintain safe operations. But why are solutions being found only now? why has Nigeria been flaring gas for so long? These question lie at the crux of the debate about Nigeria and gas flaring and the answers, which continue to have a major impact on associated gas development today, are rooted in history, economics and geography

[en] This application for approval to develop the Terra Nova Field off the coast Newfoundland was prepared by Petro-Canada on behalf of and with the cooperation of it co-proponents of the project, i.e. Mobil Oil Canada, Husky Oil, Murphy Oil and Mosbacher Operating Limited. The Development Plan, Part 1, contains the details of the engineering, reservoir, and economic plans for the Terra Nova Field. Among the many topics discussed are the following: a description of the geology, geophysics and petrophysics of the area, details of drilling and completion plans, production and transport systems, construction and installation, operations and maintenance, safety plans, decommissioning and abandonment plans, and development and operating cost data. 115 refs., 1 glossary

[en] Supplement B to the Terra Nova Development Application provides a description of the floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel system selected for the development, a summary of the reasons for selecting the system, and the impact of this selection on the Development Plan, the Benefits Plan, the Environmental Impact Statement and the Socio-Economic Impact Statement. There is also a description of the contractor alliance approach to be used in the Terra Nova Development. Refs., tabs., figs

[en] This document provides responses to the questions addressed to the proponents of the Terra Nova Development by the Environmental Assessment Panel. The questions and the responses concern hiring practices, labour relations, environmental and wildlife protection, impacts to the Grand Banks fishing industry, operating practices and the effects on offshore installations should extreme conditions of ice, weather, sea and wind occur simultaneously. References cited in response to individual questions are included following each response. Tabs., figs

[en] Through additional exploration, the spacial distribution rules of the ore bodies at Gaoxi uranium deposit were found out. Taking into account the characteristics of ore bodies with complex shapes and changeable occurrences, different mining method were selected, that is, upward horizontal cut-and-dry filling method, short-hole shrinkage stoping method and benching long-hole caving method. The application of the three methods to this uranium deposit was introduced, their application effects were evaluacted, and the measures of improvement were put forward aimed at existing problems. (authors)

[en] The technical characteristics and application conditions of multi slicing-and-caving method are introduced. Based on application of mining practice in a uranium deposit, the advantages, disadvantages,and main technical and economic indicators of multi slicing-and-caving method are analyzed. Some corresponding improvement measures are suggested simultaneously. Furthermore, the technical feasibility, safe reliability and economic rationality of the improved mining method are illustrated consequently. (authors)

[en] The analysis of up-to-date situation in development of deposit is spent. It is shown that use the constantly working models allows to adequately describe a real condition of research objects, to reflect its geological and physical peculiarities, to take into account vast variety of the initial information with various degree of detail, to adequately describe a wide range of systems under development, boundary conditions in wells, modern technologies, to carry out the detailed all-round analysis of calculation results and choose optimum variant of development. (author)