A graphic picture of Cantarell's performance

[GliderGuider]

No words needed.

[phantom power]

1. That is the invisible hand, so stop saying that.

:rofl:

[joshcryer]

2. Got similar graphs for many other oil deposits?

[GliderGuider]

3. Some.

[joshcryer]

4. Very cool, thanks.

:D

[bhikkhu]

5. A little detail you can see in that -

There was a drop-off in production in 1999, at which point Pemex began a nitrogen injection program to pressurize the field for more rapid extraction. The net effect of that was both a much more rapid peak and a much more rapid drop-off. Had they adopted a longer view they could have stretched out a stable 1.2 mbpd extraction rate for many more years and avoided the sudden drop-off.

[pscot]

6. Somewhat faster than expected

if I recall earlier projections.

[joshcryer]

7. They knew they were going to drop production around 2004.

It was only a matter of time. As a poster above you stated, it was mainly due to exploiting the reserves with new technology, allowed them to tap it quicker.

[IrateCitizen]

8. Which is why we need to pay EXTRA attention when people like Yergin, et. al.....

... say that our problems will be solved by better drilling and extraction technology that will increase production.

In many cases (such as these), these methods for increased production end up making things WORSE in the long run, because they eliminate the long plateau in favor of a sharp peak and decline (as in Cantarell).

Hey, imagine that. An application of new technology making things worse in the long run.... :shrug:

:evilgrin: