The oil and gas market has seen many fluctuations over the past three years, from $24 a barrel to now bouncing between $45 and $55 a barrel, OPEC issuing various reports of its intention to stabilize the market, several large shale plays exchanging hands in the hot Delaware Basin, and major oil companies and SMBs wading through a crippling downturn to a brighter future.
Because of the downturn many companies had to produce revenue with less resources and innovate to increase production. The bright spot in all of this has been technology. The past year has brought the oil and gas market several innovative products, procedures and services that have enhanced the recovery of oil, and new technology that has allowed companies to increase employee productivity.
Several technology buzzwords that have floated around significantly just in the past six months are Internet of Things (IoT), Blockchain, Wearable Technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI). However, there are several key questions forming around this relatively new technology. How will it be used in the industry? Who will use it? What are the costs and benefits? OILMAN’s editorial team will explore the technology and attempt to answer these questions and more in several issues next year.
In this issue we dive into the hot debate of protecting the environment and balancing the interest of the oil and gas market to operate successfully against federal and local regulations.
The team at OILMAN would like to thank you, our readers, advertisers and contributors, for your continued support and we look forward to bringing you insightful oil and gas features in 2018.
The CEO of U.S. Energy Media, Emmanuel Sullivan is a technical writer who has built up his profile in the oil and gas industry. He lives and works in Houston, where he publishes Oilman and Oilwoman on a bimonthly basis, and Energies quarterly, distributing the magazine to energy thought leaders and professionals throughout the United States and around the world. At a time when technology is rapidly changing, he provides an invaluable service to oil & gas, and renewable energy executives, engineers, and managers, offering them both broad and specific looks at the topics that affect their livelihoods. Sullivan earned his BA in Communications at Thomas Edison State University and his MA in Professional Writing at Chatham University.
- Emmanuel Sullivanhttps://energiesmedia.com/author/emmanuel-sullivan/
- Emmanuel Sullivanhttps://energiesmedia.com/author/emmanuel-sullivan/
- Emmanuel Sullivanhttps://energiesmedia.com/author/emmanuel-sullivan/
- Emmanuel Sullivanhttps://energiesmedia.com/author/emmanuel-sullivan/
- Emmanuel Sullivanhttps://energiesmedia.com/author/emmanuel-sullivan/
- Emmanuel Sullivanhttps://energiesmedia.com/author/emmanuel-sullivan/
Oil and gas operations are commonly found in remote locations far from company headquarters. Now, it's possible to monitor pump operations, collate and analyze seismic data, and track employees around the world from almost anywhere. Whether employees are in the office or in the field, the internet and related applications enable a greater multidirectional flow of information – and control – than ever before.