Table of Contents

• Gas-detection technology defines oil-gas-water contacts
  Differential total gas (DTG), a mudlogging technology that uses dual gas detectors to compare response profiles, ... oil, and water contacts.
• Oil price stability to revive service sector
  An unprecedented stability in oil prices will trigger a turnaround in the oil field service industry-particularly contract drilling-says Bob Rose, chairman, president, and CEO of Global Marine Inc., Houston.
• Land rig builders expected to see rising orders in 2000
  The international land rig market is showing signs of a recovery from the extended industry downturn of 1998 and early 1999, if newbuild orders and a rising rig count are accurate indicators.

• Successful column revamps require careful design
  Reliable distillation-column revamps in refineries require careful attention to design.
• Mobil Australia copes with avgas crisis
  Mobil Oil Australia Ltd., an affiliate of ExxonMobil Corp., has found itself embroiled in a public relations nightmare as a result of contamination of the aviation gasoline, or "avgas," product stream from its Altona refinery.

• US LNG imports poised to play long-term supply role
  After languishing for nearly 20 years, LNG imports to the US appear ready to play a moderate role in meeting short-term gas demands.

• New Mexico's Orogrande basin merits reconsideration now
  Much of south-central New Mexico hosts a Paleozoic basin that formed concurrently with the Delaware and Midland basins of southeastern New Mexico and West Texas.

• The world needs more oil
  Oil traders face an interesting test.

• Argentina's upstream coming out of its long holding pattern

  Argentina's upstream sector is finally coming out of a lengthy holding pattern.

• El Paso Energy to purchase Coastal Corp. for $16 billion
  El Paso Energy Corp. is acquiring Coastal Corp. for $16 billion, expanding what is already the largest gas pipeline network in the US.
• Oil firms seek more value through mergers, outsourcing
  Oil companies are fighting to increase profitability in an industry characterized by massive consolidations, environmental pressures, and "price whiplash," says Williams Marko, a principal at Navigant Consulting, Houston.
• Indonesia to restructure state oil firm
  Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid has installed a new board of commissioners to oversee the restructuring of state oil company Pertamina and is seeking a new president and board of directors for the company.
• Santa Fe Snyder sues Conoco over agreement
  Santa Fe Snyder Corp. has filed suit against Conoco Inc. alleging that Conoco breached an agreement to share the market for natural gas supplies to be transported to Singapore from Indonesia through planned subsea pipelines.
• Watching Government
  Energy platforms
  None of the leading US presidential candidates seems too concerned about energy development and taxation issues.
• Industry Briefs
  An expansion of the Tarong power plant in Queensland, Australia, was incorrectly described as being natural gas-fired (OGJ, Jan. 3, 2000, Newsletter).

• US crude oil production fell 5.6% during 1999
  The American Petroleum Institute has reported that US oil production slid 5.6% to 5.902 million b/d in 1999, the largest annual decline in a decade.
• MMS expands program testing royalty in-kind
  The US Minerals Management Service plans to expand its Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf royalty in-kind (RIK) pilot program this spring.

• Koch agrees to record $30 million fine
  Koch Industries Inc., Wichita, has agreed to pay a record civil fine for environmental violations, the US Department of Justice and Environmental Protection Agency said.
• Erika spill prompts maritime safety review
  The oil spill resulting from the breakup of the Erika tanker off France has, so far, affected more than 400 km of the country's coastline (OGJ, Dec. 20, 1999, p. 38).

Area Drilling

• Area Drilling
  A bill introduced in mid-January would amend state law to restrict publication by the Arizona Geological Survey of bulletins, circulars, maps, and other accounts of the results of its geological research.

Equip/Software/Lit

• Equipment/Software/Literature
  Here's a sealed bearing composite rigging sheave.

Services/Suppliers

• MOVES AND PROMOTIONS
  ENRAF, Inc, Houston, Tex., has named Chip Steffler western regional sales manager. Steffler will be responsible for the company's product sales in western U.S., supervising the company's manufacturer's representatives in that region.

Journally Speaking

• A nontraditional role
  Tally this oil industry success story to the Phoenix Working Women evening program at Bismarck State College, Bismarck, ND:

OGJ Newsletter

• OGJ Newsletter
  The latest evidence that OPEC not only will hew to its pledged production cuts but even roll them over past their scheduled expiration in March has rocketed oil prices to almost $30/bbl-a level not seen since the Persian Gulf war.

Personals

• PERSONALS
  Carmine Falcone, formerly vice-president of refining for Equilon Enterprises LLC, has been named to the new position of vice-president, refining, of the newly consolidated companies of Equilton and Motiva Enterprises LLC, Houston.