NOV 2014
H
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“We’re really a centre of excellence for downhole technologies.”
Industry pushing for innovative
solutions
Another challenge is the fact that downhole
technology in the oil field is still in its infancy
stage, and that creates a new level of complex-
ity. Specialized tools and skills are needed to
work in the environments, and technology can
barely keep up as operators drill deeper and
work harder to force the reservoir to produce
more quickly. There is an increasing amount of
pressure on companies like Northstar to come
up with innovative ways to get the most out of
the reservoir, as fast as possible.
“Operators go to a bank and they get funding,
or they go to their investors and get funding
and they’re expected to make a return and the
faster you get a return, the better,” Marshall ex-
plained. “They’reworking for the banks, they’re
working for speed. That’s really changed in the
last 10 years, so they’re looking for any advan-
tage they can get (and) that forces it down the
line through the service companies.”
