DoE's Windberg: US shale to benefit from AI
Using artificial intelligence to analyse what is happening subsurface could have a huge impact on fracking's productivity
While no one would question the phenomenal success of US shale in terms of volume, making the country the world’s biggest producer, it has not been a great year for producers. Suffering under a relatively low oil price, rig counts have been falling for some time, and some suggest it has been a net consumer of capital since it exploded on the scene. “What the shale revolution has done—and is not clearly understood—is that the cycle times are much shorter now,” US assistant secretary for fossil energy Steven Winberg tells Petroleum Economist, noting that 40 years ago it took three to five years to put a platform in the Gulf of Mexico and start producing. “Now, a year is probably reasonable for
Also in this section
10 May 2024
The US’ contentious LNG permitting pause has prompted criticism from CEOs and wildly differing interpretations from politicians
9 May 2024
Pipeline boosts Canada’s oil industry by widening its export options, making it less reliant on US market and bringing Asia into the mix
8 May 2024
Despite Australia’s first import terminal nearing completion, the prospect of additional regasification projects is far from certain