Shale gas development is characterized by a composite of several experience curves in terms of operations, resource assessment, and infrastructure development. More specifically, the learning curve for the operator grows as operational characteristics are fine-tuned, such as experience ramp-up, logistics and supply chain optimization, and factory-style operations. Technical understanding of the basin then grows as operators learn how to design and execute the most suitable horizontal well trajectory; how best to land the lateral section in the pay zone; where to perforate the formation; how to optimize perforated sections, number and size of frac stages; and where the sweet spot is located relative to asset sections with marginal economics. Supporting infrastructure must grow in pace with development growth, which is also influenced by the fine tuning of supporting policy and regulations, resulting wellhead costs, and market factors. Each phase is characterized by associated costs and uncertainties.A field-wide shale gas economic model has been created as an extension of our original single-well economic model, which captures the various phases of unconventional resource development. We tested the base model against North American shale basins; fundamentals of the same model have then been adjusted to assess unconventional development in the Middle East, and then specifically calibrated to analyze the Qusaiba shale in Saudi Arabia.Model results for Saudi Arabia shed light on the commercial feasibility of shale gas development in the country, along with operational constraints and limitations. While broad findings apply to the Middle East as a whole, country-specific modeling will reveal specific operational issues that must be addressed in the course of development of unconventional resources in the region. Advent of Unconventional Oil and Gas in North AmericaStarting with Drake Well #1 drilled in Titusville, Pennsylvania (USA) in 1859, the oil and gas industry has been well over 150 years in the making. The advent of commercial, cost-effective extraction of hydrocarbons from unconventional source rocks is simply the latest chapter in that story. Along the way, numerous revolutionary advancements in technology and operations have been adopted through experience and learning. In the case of unconventional oil and gas developments, the key elements that enabled economic development were the combination and fine-tuning of existing technologies that had been previously utilized in the oilfield.
Estimates place unconventional natural gas reserves in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at over 600 trillion cubic feet, more than double its proven conventional gas reserves. Domestic consumption fuels the economy as well as social spending, and the leadership is heavily invested in global research and development centers to become leading innovators in the industry. There is evidence of current commitment to develop natural gas projects in 3 offshore fields and construction of a 1, 000 MW gas-fired power plant. Despite political will for resource diversification in Saudi Arabia, there are hurdles in the form of processing capacity, logistics, water supplies and desert terrain, which could adversely affect project economics. Lifecycle economic analysis indicates that under current market conditions, development of unconventional gas projects could be challenging. A breakeven economic analysis of the country's gas supply sources tests this supposition by assessing unconventional field development lifecycle costs and off-take pipeline infrastructure costs. Our analysis reveals that a breakeven price for domestic unconventional gas in Saudi Arabia ranges from roughly $5/Mcf to $8/Mcf depending on a range of pipeline scenarios. The study further explores several gas supply scenarios incorporating the commercialization of Saudi Arabia's unconventional resource assets, LNG imports, and pipeline imports from Qatar. In lieu of short-term unconventional gas supply, overall findings suggest pipeline gas from Qatar offers the lowest cost option, although LNG from Yemen or Nigeria ranks as a competitive resource alternative for additional near-term supply.
case challenge T he patient, Mrs. M, is a 48-year-old, white female with a history of anxiety disorder not otherwise specified and alcohol dependence with physiologic dependence in sustained full remission for 20 years.Mrs. M had previously followed up with a psychiatrist with partial compliance, only attending two sessions. She was prescribed quetiapine 100 mg orally at bedtime for insomnia and maintained compliance despite neglecting further follow-up with her psychiatrist.Mrs. M presented to the emergency department (ED) with anxiety as well as worsening persecutory delusions that reportedly began 6 months earlier, coinciding with a formal diagnosis of a prolactinoma and subsequent treatment with the dopamine agonist cabergoline. The content of these delusions included a belief that her husband was bugging her room
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.