Dr. Craig W. Van Kirk, head of the Petroleum Engineering Department at the Colorado School of Mines and a member of the board of directors of the ELP testified before the House Committee on Energy.  His testimony was directed at the technology issues facing oil and gas discovery and production.  This included 3D and 3D seismic, subsalt imaging, remote sensing, advanced offshore platforms, deepwater/subsea completions, dynamic positions systems, synthetic-based drilling fluids, unconventional gas recovery, ice roads and drilling pads, horizontal and directional drilling, improved completion technologies, enhanced oil recovery technologies, more efficient drill techniques and environmental improvements.  Dr. Van Kirk also looked into the future toward the use of lasers for drilling, smart wells with downhole sensors and downhole processing of fluids. He concludes his remarks with a discussion of ways to bring these technologies to reality.

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