| In the 1950s, drilling for hydrocarbons using | | | | horizontal drilling, are penetrating zones |
| traditional methods carried a 50/50 risk, and | | | | that were previously considered unreachable. |
| even "successful" wells (oil or gas found) | | | | For example, EnerMax is scheduled to drill a |
| were often commercially impractical. That | | | | well this summer in a suburban neighborhood |
| reality has changed over the past twenty | | | | in Tarrant County, Texas, where they plan to |
| years. Advancements in technology and | | | | drill in the prolific Barnett Shale to a |
| geophysical studies have transformed soft | | | | depth of 6,500 vertical feet and 2,400 |
| speculation into real, hard science. The U.S. | | | | horizontal feet. The 2,400' horizontal leg |
| Department of Energy describes the recent | | | | will extend underneath nearby homes, allowing |
| triumphs of the oil and gas industry as | | | | EnerMax to penetrate their target zone while |
| "logic defying".It's not just about drilling | | | | leaving the neighborhood undisturbed. EnerMax |
| fewer dry holes. New methods are extending | | | | will apply advanced frac and completion |
| the life of wells, allowing more reserves to | | | | procedures to ensure the maximum recovery of |
| be extracted and boosting economic returns. | | | | hydrocarbons.Technological advantages require |
| As a result, much broader group of investors | | | | significant financial resources. In 2004, |
| now has access to oil and gas as a viable | | | | EnerMax entered into an agreement with |
| investment option. I asked Bret L. Boteler, | | | | American Energy Partners, Inc. (AEPI) to join |
| President of EnerMax Inc., to help me | | | | them in their efforts to reprocess 3-D data |
| understand some of the principal changes in | | | | concentrated primarily along the Texas and |
| today's oil and gas industry.Since many of us | | | | Louisiana Gulf Coast. Because unprocessed 3-D |
| know very little about the industry, I asked | | | | seismic information can contain shadows and |
| him to start simple and work towards the more | | | | misleading images caused by equipment during |
| complex. Bret Boteler began by defining his | | | | the original recording, it is necessary to |
| company's business for me in layman's terms: | | | | filter the data for clearer results. Geotrace |
| "If someone asked me what we do, I'd say | | | | Technologies, Inc., an industry leader in |
| we're a joint venture manager. We put | | | | imaging and analyzing subsurface data, has |
| together joint ventures that develop, drill, | | | | been selected to reprocess the data using |
| and manage oil and gas drilling | | | | advanced analysis techniques such as High |
| programs."Bret Boteler began EnerMax out of | | | | Frequency Imaging (TM) (HFI(R)), Frequency |
| his home office in 2001. Five years later, | | | | Absorption Response (FAR), and Amplitude |
| Mr. Boteler and EnerMax occupy over 3,400 | | | | versus Offset Analysis (AVO). Even though the |
| square feet of office space where he enjoys | | | | reprocessing carries a significant price tag, |
| the company of seven employees. Last year | | | | it is well worth the price when you consider |
| marked the fourth straight year that Bret L. | | | | the 20-30% increased success rate.When I |
| Boteler's company has earned 50+% annual | | | | asked Mr. Boteler about difficulties facing |
| gains. Mr. Boteler attributes EnerMax's | | | | the industry today, he told me that one of |
| substantial growth and success to two things: | | | | the main issues is rig availability. Recent |
| his talented, reliable staff and their use of | | | | hurricanes and tropical storms damaged |
| modern technology.Mr. Boteler described for | | | | drilling rigs and oil refineries along the |
| me the significant role that today's | | | | southern coast. The resulting reduction of |
| technology plays and the advantages won over | | | | oil and gas production in the United States |
| methods twenty years ago. EnerMax Inc. | | | | heightened the disparity between supply and |
| participates in drilling wells discovered by | | | | demand. Oil and gas companies are pushing to |
| reprocessed 3-D seismic data - a revolution | | | | drill more wells while commodities are high, |
| in the drilling business. Companies that | | | | so there are times when a few months pass |
| choose drill sites based on reprocessed 3-D | | | | while waiting for a rig to drill your well. |
| seismic data are 75-80% accurate on average, | | | | Yet in the light of the uncertainties oilmen |
| as opposed to the 50-55% accuracy rate of | | | | faced in decades past, Bret Boteler counts |
| older, two-dimensional data that has not been | | | | himself and his company very blessed.Daniel |
| reprocessed. And according to Boteler, the | | | | Dessinger is a writer in the Dallas / Fort |
| majority of small, independent oil and | | | | Worth area. He holds a Bachelor of Arts |
| natural gas companies still use the old-style | | | | Degree in English from Dallas Baptist |
| data, thus falling under the 55% shadow.These | | | | University. In addition to his CultureFeast |
| technologies also allow exploration companies | | | | blog, he writes for various marketing firms, |
| to more accurately assess potential reserves, | | | | corporations, and small businesses. Daniel's |
| helping them select projects that fit a | | | | writing services include SEO friendly |
| favorable risk/reward profile. Some of the | | | | interactive press releases, search optimized |
| best projects identified would have been | | | | website copy, industry-specific articles, |
| condemned only a few years ago due to | | | | creative ads, copy editing, and online public |
| accessibility barriers. However, advanced | | | | relations consulting. |
| drilling techniques in use today, such as | | | | |