Technology Focus: Wellbore Tubulars (July 2026)
Aman Srivastava_
A quick search on OnePetro shows that, in the past year, almost 200 papers have been published or presented related to “circular economy.” This count has been increasing over the past several years, highlighting the growing importance of this concept in oil and gas. A circular economy emphasizes reducing, reusing, recycling, and removing parts of existing systems to optimize them with respect to resource utilization. The following papers demonstrate how these pillars of a circular economy are enabling operators all over the world.
Paper OTC 36492 presents an innovative solution to scanning and inspection of oil-country tubular goods (OCTG) that helps in gathering high-resolution data of the pipe’s condition. This high-resolution scanning can help in optimal packer placement and leak detection and reduce the waste of steel and corrective operations.
Paper SPE 230417 presents a case study of 15 years toward the use of glass-reinforced-epoxy-lined carbon-steel tubing in offshore injection wells. The wells that used this economical solution showed no internal corrosion and passed all tests. This shows how economic solutions can also help in increasing the life of a well, enabling its reuse over extended periods.
The third paper, SPE 228583, presents
a fascinating case study of repurposing decommissioned OCTG to revitalize a reef. The team used surplus tubulars to build reef structures that help the growth of natural ecosystems and sustain marine life. The project was a success and showed improvement in biodiversity and fish biomass in and around installed structures. This shows how oil and gas can contribute to environmental benefits through recycling.
Collectively, these papers present an indirect circular-economy theme that should encourage operators and service providers to think toward new advances. A longer sustainable solution might be just around the corner.
Summarized Papers in This July 2026 Issue
OTC 36492 - In-Pipe Inspection Technologies Enable High-Resolution Downhole Data Acquisition by Sebastien Petit and Jonathan Bibby, SPE, Vallourec
SPE 230417 - GRE-Lined Tubulars in Caspian Wells Prove Integrity, ESG Benefits by Bahram Novruzaliyev, SPE, BP; Agshin Mammadov, SPE, Maxtube; and Fady El-Daby, BP
SPE 228583 - 2-Year Review of Project To Repurpose Steel Tubulars To Create Marine Havens by Sogo Kuroiwa, SPE, Teck Hua Goh, and Wayne F.H. Foo, Sumitomo, et al.