American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2022 - 25

Lively 2022 SPE-HFTC
Highlights Trends,
Technology, Optimism
February kicked off to a strong start at the Society of
Petroleum Engineers Hydraulic Fracturing Technology Conference
(HFTC) in The Woodlands, Tx. Not only is this annual tradition
one of the oil and gas industry's most well attended and
technically sound events, but it also demonstrates the return of
industry tradeshow and technology conventions.
While many similar events have served as a post-COVID reunion
of sorts, the sheer turnout of both attendees and service
providers felt larger and stronger than I have seen in several
years. Furthermore, people seemed hungry for information and
engaged in the new technologies and best practices both during
the technical sessions and on the floor.
Of course, strong oil prices do not hurt when you suddenly
find yourself in search of new technology or operational efficiencies.
Meanwhile, optimization technology companies found
this show was the place to be. Thematically, exhibitors seemed
to showcase data-driven tools, environmental solutions and optimization
processes. Chemical companies seemed to be better
represented than in previous years, while sand and proppant
companies seemed scarce.
A couple of data-driven solution providers really stood out.
Enverus was well represented, with attendees not only talking
about its data resources, but also its environmental, social and
governance initiative that promotes insights and analytics for
oil, gas and renewables investing, as well as operating or service
companies. Enverus touts ways to transform decision-making,
from valuations to mergers and acquisitions to optimization.
Another strong presence at this year's event was DarkVision.
The company is demonstrating the power of its collaboration
with Ovintiv, which has used machine learning to identify and
quantify plug-related casing damage. A recent article from JPT
highlights how Ovintiv's completion engineers rely on DarkVision's
high-resolution 3-D data to accurately identify and
measure casing damage and optimize completion designs.
As ESG initiatives take the industry by storm and intensify
the opposition's nonstop criticism of hydraulic fracturing,
Liberty Oilfield Services Chief Executive Officer Chris Wright
made a key point as moderator of the opening session's panel
discussion. Wright highlighted how environmentalists continued
to target hydraulic fracturing as part of an effort to ultimately
phase out oil and gas. The panelists spent much of their
discussion offering electric-powered pressure pumping as an
example of how the industry can lower emissions while still
generating strong economic benefits.
Also highlighting ESG was longtime green chemistry company
Flotek, which talked about its ESG commitments while elevating
sustainability across the asset lifecycle. According to Flotek
representatives, the company's suite of sustainable solutions in
both the conventional and unconventional spaces enables
customers to maximize the value of their hydrocarbon streams
throughout the asset lifecycle. In the areas of drilling, cementing,
stimulation and production, Flotek is helping to solve challenges
with ESG, safety and economics in mind.
" This was my tenth SPE-HFTC and easily
one of my favorites. The hydraulic fracturing
community remains small compared with the
rest of the industry, but it is a critically
important small community that can impact
each operation's success dramatically.
"
Companies out in full force in the area of frac optimization
included Sun Specialty Products, which showcased its OmniProp
neutrally buoyant proppant technology that is designed to prop
the portions of a reservoir that sand simply cannot reach. NSI
Technologies, creators of StimPlan Hydraulic Fracturing Software,
offered a trade show floor demonstration of its StimPlan Version
8, which relies on cloud-based processing to rapidly model
complex stratigraphic sequences present in unconventional
reservoirs. Meanwhile, folks from Resfrac presented multiple
papers and were out in force to present software coupling
fracturing and reservoir simulation that simulates multiphase
flow, 3-D fracture mechanics, proppant transport, poroelastic
stresses, wellbore dynamics and thermal effects.
Finally, the number of retired experts who appeared at the
event as consultants constituted another intriguing phenomenon.
Likely a result of recent years' massive reorganization, many
longtime frac experts have entered the consulting space and
seem to be getting a decent amount of work. This is interesting
at a time in which oil field expertise is especially needed.
This was my tenth SPE-HFTC and easily one of my favorites.
The hydraulic fracturing community remains small compared
with the rest of the industry, but it is a critically important
small community that can impact each operation's success
dramatically. This annual tradition definitely has become a
reunion of sorts, albeit one that provides the industry with
great information and technology.
Thanks to the organizers at SPE for putting on a great event
and providing the opportunity to catch up with colleagues who
have changed jobs since we last met, catch up on technology
critical to the frac industry's continued success, and relight that
fire for which the oil industry is known, all in a post-COVID
environment. I am excited to see the rest of 2022 play out and
look forward to seeing everyone again at next year's event. r
JEREMY VISCOMI is a strategic
marketing expert for the oil and
gas industry. Among his many
roles, he serves as the MidContinent
regional lead for the
Petroleum Technology Transfer
Council, providing independent
operators with access to emerging
technology aimed at reducing
risk and growing profits.
MARCH 2022 25
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2022
