– eliminating human error and speeding up the drilling process. This is much like the auto-manufacturing robots in use today.
We’ll also see automated rigs and production platforms.
Due to increasing environmental awareness, limits have been placed upon offshore drilling rigs and their surface footprint. So companies are seeking ways to mitigate the ecological effects of drill rigs, to protect the environment without abandoning their offshore wells. Their solution: systems that do away with the need for above-surface rigs and production platforms. Engineers are working on automated rigs and systems that will be linked to the shore.
Water Treatment
Water is a major byproduct of the exploration and production of oil and gas. Millions of gallons of fracking wastewater will be cleaned and recycled for reuse in the process. And scientists are working on ways to treat the waste water so it’s suitable to drink. Truck-mounted water-purification units are already in use today in U.S. shale and tight-sand oilfields.
Bacteria
There are naturally occurring bacteria that live in the ocean and “eat” the long carbon chains of oil. Biologists are working on ways to adapt the bacteria for oil-spill remediation and cleanup. The proposed use is for both onshore and offshore operations. This will dramatically limit the ecological impact of spills like 2010’s Deepwater Horizon. Companies are already using bacteria to save time and money by eliminating expensive cleanout operations… Crude oil is composed of three major hydrocarbon classes, the first of which is “paraffinic.” In cold weather, oil with high paraffin content thickens and “stops up the pipes.” This typically requires expensive workovers and cleanout operations. Bacteria is used to prevent these clogs.
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