What is your name, affiliation, and current role?
Don Fry, Retired, Consulting Geophysicist. I am working on New Concepts for Drilling and Completion, Leading to Substantial Cost Savings
What is your background?
I began with Amoco in Denver in 1980, continuing with BP through 2005. I also worked with Ward Petroleum for four years, Sandridge Energy for three years, and finally with Devon Energy for three years. I have three degrees, including a MS in Geoscience. I have lived in Denver three times, Houston three times, Amarillo three times, Tulsa, Enid, and Oklahoma City. I have worked major oil and gas basins throughout the US as well as an assignment in Cairo Egypt. I currently reside in Grand Junction, CO.
How did you become interested in innovation and new directions in the industry?
Background of interpretation and prospect development in multiple basins within the US and abroad.
Roles in research facilities and continual demands to reduce cost have allowed/forced me to search for new methods and ideas.
Please describe your new technology.
My current 'innovative' project involves drilling wells in a different way, a way that generates effective porosity, that maximizes reservoir impact, and that saves significantly over conventional drilling. These new techniques should benefit virtually anyone who currently drills in multiple settings, particularly the major shale plays. There is no reason why this technology should not provide immediate benefit and continue to benefit for decades to come.
Who would benefit from the new methods you're working on?
Any conventional drilling/completing group could benefit from this new technology.
A detailed patent exists, so extensive development potential should be available for many years to come.
What makes you optimistic about the future?
My optimism exists in the hope that our industry will be able to work under 'normal market forces', which in turn will allow an extended period of sensible energy use and transition. I am optimistic about our industry primarily because I do not believe the transition to renewables should be hurried, but rather addressed in sensible and realistic ways. With that in mind I believe we have still several decades of necessary provision of conventional energy.
Please recommend a book or two that you found insightful.
In general, I tend to read for fun. Thus, I have no significant book recommendations. I do recommend that we find the time to read the tougher energy articles, particularly the ones that suggest things are not as rosy as we would wish. They often provide impetus for new and better methods.