Recent company scholarship system in Japanese oil industry has been started in mid-1970s after the First Oil Shock, because oil companies were gaining better economic situation in terms of crude oil price that was getting increase from $3/bbl to $12/bbl in 1974. During this time Japex set up systematic approach to study abroad, one of which opportunity was directed to the author as being a student in graduate study at University in USA for 2 years. It has been forty years since then. Going abroad is no longer special just same as domestic trip in these days. It might be important at this timing that we would reconsider the meaning of studying abroad as a part of career paths in industrial education of human resource development.

In this paper, the author, as a first generation with such career of studying abroad, reconstructs the meaning of experience that he has obtained during his stay abroad. His global academic career has been started from his primitive basin model, which expands into a usable 1D expulsion model and 2D fluid flow system, and his idea of simulation is further directed to modeling on sedimentology, geochemistry and finally on sealing mechanism. There are 3 aspects for going abroad; to develop self-assertion (self-improvement), to expand global networking, and to find the importance of self-responsibility (can be seen in ‘delegation of authority’). Based on these 3 aspects, the necessary future system for scholarship is discussed. The most important aspect for going abroad is to find out one's life rather than obtaining technical knowledge.

The Ph.D. program at the Geophysics Department, Colorado School of Mines is designed to cultivate independent, internationally-competitive researchers and engineers. The experience at the Ph.D. program is valuable not only to catch-up state-of-the-art research and to complete a quality thesis, but also to get familiar with philosophy and sense of values at academia and industry in U.S. The Ph.D. education has contributed since then at JOGMEC to make strong proposals and presentations and build solid relationship with international partners. I believe that the academia and industry in Japan will gain significant achievements if many Japanese scientists/engineers will participate and share experiences at Ph.D. programs in U.S and get familiar with the “world standard” in the oil/gas related disciplines.

INPEX Corporation established the employee study abroad program in 2010 with the aim for its employees to gain advanced technical expertise in the oil and gas exploration and exploitation industry and to be core persons demonstrating their leadership for promoting the company's technical skills and capabilities. The author studied in Geophysics Department at Stanford University from 2011 to 2015, by taking the advantage of the program.

In order to complete the Ph.D. program in the department, graduate students must satisfy the following requirements to: 1) complete required course works, 2) pass a qualification examination to be a Ph.D. candidate, 3) conduct a 2nd research project, 4) serve as teaching assistant for classes, and 5) contribute for academia through a main research project, which is evaluated through Ph.D. dissertation and an oral examination. As the main research project, the author studied on the effect of mesoscopic-scale heterogeneity on wave propagation in porous media. I found the importance of considering dry-rock heterogeneity scale, average porosity, and permeability of rocks under investigation, which determine characteristics of frequency-dependent velocity and attenuation.

It is certainly not an easy task to fulfill these requirements and to complete Ph.D. program; however, that will be an unequaled experience for future development of the careers as a geoscientist in the industry, not only by the deep understanding on topics studied during the research projects, but by other tasks required in the program. There are several choices for studying abroad such as a M.Sc. degree program or a visiting researcher as well as a Ph.D. program, each of which has advantages and disadvantages. Companies and candidates should discuss with each other deeply and frequently to make objectives of studying abroad clear and to set the most valuable study program both for companies and for employees.

A wide variety of human resources training programs have been designed to promote globalizations in oil and gas industry. Among them, studying abroad has improved technical and professional skills, international communication skills and understanding of cultural diversity with strong leadership. It also plays an important role for both employees and organizations especially in developing global networks with multinational major and independent operating companies. It can be said that the global networks would promote competitiveness in international projects.

This article introduces my own experiences when joining the Ph.D. program in reservoir geophysics at the University of Calgary, from the viewpoint of international student research associate. The graduate study was completely involved with seamless relationships between university and industry. The associated research consortium has been dedicated to providing integrated solutions derived from geophysics, geology, and engineering. For instance, one of the integrated solutions is aimed at production and reservoir monitoring of foamy oil solution gas drive, which is referred to as cold production. Time-lapse seismic monitoring of high-porosity channels called wormholes is a key problem for drilling optimization in cold production process especially for CHOPS.

In general, it is difficult to monitor the development of wormholes by using time-lapse seismic data, due to differences in resolution. A new approach in seismic monitoring finally yielded porosity maps of wormholes including interpretations of fluid flow orientation in the Plover Lake field, which had been operated by Nexen in Saskatchewan, Canada. Rock physics modeling successfully converted geophysical elastic parameters into porosity which is one of the key parameters in reservoir engineering.

I had an opportunity to meet the members of the research consortium for business in Calgary within five years after graduation. It worked for successfully sharing the global network with my co-workers in Japan.

Although the Late Oligocene - Early Miocene Kujung Formation is one of the important exploration targets in the Kangean PSC Block where JAPEX share the interest with Mitsubishi Corporation and Energi Mega Persada, no commercial hydrocarbon accumulation from this formation have been discovered yet in the block. In the Kangean area, the relationship between facies and reservoir quality in the Kujung Formation carbonates are not well understood. In this study, geological survey in Kangean Island and petrological analysis using outcrop samples (totally 88 samples) were conducted to evaluate reservoir qualities of the Kujung Formation carbonates.

Our study reveals that the Kujung Formation in the island is divided into 10 facies (F0 - F9) based on lithology, texture, sedimentary structures and bioclastic content. These facies are grouped into 3 facies associations (FA1-FA3) based on large scales depositional environments. Reservoir qualities of the Kujung Formation are generally controlled by pore system related with the facies associations and diagenesis. Since mechanical/chemical compaction during burial diagenesis is the most common effect on shelf slope and outer shelf facies, these sediments have micro porosities or are tight carbonates. These show permeability lower than 2 mD regardless of porosity values. In contrast, moldic/vuggy porosity is abundant in shallow marine facies by calcite cementation in interparticle porosity and dissolution of carbonate grains. These facies show fair to excellent reservoir qualities. Furthermore, results of core plugs and thin-sections analysis and observation indicate that connectivity of secondary pores is critical for enhanced permeability commonly by solution-enlargement. Our study also implies that shallow marine facies are likely to undergo multi-phase subaerial exposure events causing improvement of reservoir quality rather than outer shelf slope and outer shelf facies.

Oil companies adopt their own system to provide educational opportunities for studying advanced knowledge at overseas research institutions and sponsor study-abroad programs. This system might be an effective approach for companies to obtain cutting-edge researches and technologies. From August 2012 to January 2015, the author experienced a graduate study (Master of Science) program, which was fully sponsored by INPEX Corporation, at the Department of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Utah. This paper introduces; a) the context of this author's study-abroad program at the University of Utah, b) the graduate research project, and c) overall outcomes of this study-abroad experience.

The graduate research project titled “Fluvial Sequence Stratigraphy, Provenance, Ichnology and Reservoir Modeling of the Eocene Uinta and Duchesne River Formations, Uinta Basin, Utah” focuses on continental deposits widely exposed in the Uinta intermontane lacustrine basin. This project consists of four different topics, covering the basin-scale sequence stratigraphic framework and sedimentary system to oil field-scale reservoir characterization. The University of Utah Geology and Geophysics Department has a great advantage in this type of field-based geological researches, in terms of convenient access to many excellent outcrops and oil-prolific basins, and a variety of researchers working on nearby outcrop-based projects.

The benefits and achievements from this author's study-abroad experience are divided into following aspects; 1) succeed in geological analog studies applicable to subsurface exploration and development projects, 2) accomplish a variety of course works useful for educating young geoscientists, 3) establish good relationships with researchers, and 4) understand local and specific knowledge about various onshore projects in the U.S.A. In addition, the author emphasizes that cultural interactions were also important for the author's career and communication skill enrichment. This paper would hopefully be a good reference for young professionals who consider a study-abroad opportunity in the future.

This paper introduces analytical solutions of stress fields in mechanical layers which consist of stiff and soft layers. The paper examines possible geological conditions of mode I (extension) fracture development with various Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio, layer thickness, external stress fields and pore-fluid pressure. Linear elastic model with two different mechanical layers is assumed for the calculations. Layer-parallel stresses caused by the given external stresses and pore-fluid pressure are mathematically calculated in both stiff and soft layers. Relative Young's modulus and relative thickness between the two types of layers are applied to simplify the associated equations. Poisson's ratio ν is assumed to be same between the two. This is because the possible range of Poisson's ratio between rocks is much smaller than that of Young's modulus. The calculated ratio of minimum to maximum principal stresses within each layer is used to estimate fracture type which can develop under the geological conditions. The results indicate extension fracture preferably develop in stiff layers in mechanical layers when vertical compression stress increases (during basin burial). The ratio of minimum to maximum principal stresses is primarily controlled by relationship among external horizontal stress σ_XX, vertical stress σ_ZZ and pore-fluid pressure P_f : no tensile fracture forms when σ_XX>P_f+ν(σ_ZZ-P_f)/(1-ν); tensile fractures can form only in stiff layers in soft-layer-dominant formation when P_f+ν(σ_ZZ-P_f)/(1-ν)>σ_XX>P_f ; tensile fractures form in stiff layers in both stiff-layer-dominant and soft-layer-dominant formations when P_f>σ_XX>4P_f/3-σ_ZZ/3 ; tensile fracture can form in both stiff and soft layers in soft-layer-dominant formation with small relative Young's modulus when 4P_f/3-σ_ZZ/3>σ_XX. Only shear fractures can form in soft layers, except the rare geological condition of 4P_f/3-σ_ZZ/3>σ_XX with very small relative Young's modulus. The results provide potential criterion to estimate when and where layer-scale extension fracture network develops in relation with geological history. An implication of the results is that extension fracture formation is not necessarily related with regional horizontal tensile stress field but ratio among horizontal stress, vertical stress and pore-fluid pressure. This implies that extension fracture network can form in mechanical layers not only during crustal uplift/exhumation but also during basin-burial in which horizontal stresses, vertical stress and pore-fluid pressure are increasing.

The method incorporating fault properties into petroleum migration models, which employs shale gouge ratio (SGR) as the fault sealing capacity indicator and ray-tracing as the migration algorithm, has provided a means to quantify the role of faults in petroleum migration. Recent applications of the method, however, reveal extremely large uncertainties in fault properties and difficulty in predicting petroleum migration across or through faults. More robust approaches are needed to make reliable predictions.

The limitations of the SGR ray-tracing method, of which the author was involved in the development as part of an overseas education program more than a decade ago, demonstrate that any new findings or developments inevitably lose strength with time. It is, therefore, essential to consistently study and improve the technical expertise after returning home. Real value of overseas education should lie in motivating us to study further.

Steam or hot water injection into the bitumen reservoir leads to the formation of water-in-bitumen emulsions which exhibit higher viscosity compared to the original bitumen; and thereby affects production flow. The understanding of the effect of formation process conditions on the nature of this emulsion could assist in production improvement, design and simulation of post-production separation system. In this work, water was dispersed in bitumen phase at different temperatures (50-180°C) and mixing speeds (11.7-23.3s^-1). Emulsification properties such as percentage emulsification (extent of water dispersion into the bitumen), and the particle size of emulsion were analyzed to evaluate the effects of the process conditions. Ultimately, correlations have been presented to predict emulsion properties from the process conditions.