FMC to supply Petrobras with subsea equipment
FMC Technologies recently signed a four-year agreement with Petrobras for the supply of pre-salt subsea equipment.
FMC’s total scope of supply could include the delivery of up to 130 subsea trees, subsea multiplex controls and related tools and equipment.
The tree systems are for use offshore Brazil in water depths up to 8,200 ft (2,500 meters). The equipment will be engineered at FMC’s South American Technology Center and manufactured at the company’s subsea facility, both located in Rio de Janeiro.
The subsea trees will achieve 70% Brazilian local content, and deliveries are scheduled to commence in 2014.
Gazprom awards Expro three PVT contracts in Iraq
Expro has secured three contracts in Iraq. The trio of contract awards adds to a recent contract with Eni.
Expro will undertake analysis of more than 100 pressure, volume and temperature (PVT) studies in a contract award with Gazprom in the Badra field close to the Iranian border. Two further contract awards with large operators in the south of Iraq involve further PVT sampling studies and laboratory work.
Expro will utilize its Iraqi capabilities, as well as its fluids analysis center and analytical data services teams in the UK, to conduct more than 200 PVT studies.
Baker Hughes facility targets unconventional resources
The Baker Hughes Dhahran Research and Technology Center recently opened in Saudi Arabia with a focus on research and development of new technologies to unlock the potential of unconventional resources.
The technology and research center is a partnership between Baker Hughes and Saudi Aramco.
The center brings together the competencies of Baker Hughes engineers and scientists of Saudi Arabia and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals to develop application-specific solutions. With rock and fluids laboratories, the center provides equipment to understand the science and technology in developing unconventional resources.
Transocean’s global training center in Macaé opens
Transocean’s training center has opened in Macaé, Brazil, in the city’s busiest industrial center. The facility provides the latest in technology and teachings. The company plans to install a cyber-based drilling simulator to train drillers who work on the latest-generations of offshore rigs.
Estimated demand this year is more than 200 classes for personnel from Brazil and other Transocean locations worldwide. For the first time in Brazil, Transocean personnel can take drilling and crane operations competency assessment classes, D-CAP and C-CAP, using simulators onshore, in addition to offshore assessments.
Murchison Drilling Schools expands in Houston
Murchison Drilling Schools (MDS) has opened a Houston training center (HTC). MDS offers weekly IADC and IWCF well control courses, a five-day practical drilling technology course, a five-day advanced drilling technology course and a floater operation transitions course.
Additionally, Willie Lyon has been promoted to vice president and manager of the HTC. E.B. Clapp has joined MDS as manager of well control at the HTC.
Tim Arnold has been promoted to manager of training at the Albuquerque training center, and Bill Murchison Jr. has been promoted to president of MDS.
Andy Hendricks joins Patterson-UTI as COO
William Andrew “Andy” Hendricks Jr joined Patterson-UTI Energy as chief operating officer in April. Mr Hendricks served since 2010 as president of Schlumberger, drilling and measurements division.
It is expected that Mr Hendricks will assume the position of president and CEO upon Doug Wall’s retirement this year.
Stephen Oswald joins Capital Safety as CEO
Stephen Oswald joined Capital Safety in March as its new CEO.
For the last 15 years, Mr Oswald had held various executive roles at United Technologies Corp (UTC), most recently serving as the integration leader for UTC’s acquisition of GE Security.
Burleson appointed director at Cudd Energy Services
Larry Burleson has been appointed director of business development for corporate services at Cudd Energy Services. Mr Burleson will provide leadership in building a global clientele for the company’s integrated solutions. He joins Cudd Energy from Weir Seaboard, where he was vice president of sales.
Dokubo to lead GL Noble Denton’s new Nigerian base
GL Noble Denton has opened its first base in West Africa with operations in Lagos, Nigeria. The company’s Nigerian operations will provide services and software solutions to aid international and local oil companies in developing and operating safer and more efficient assets in West Africa.
Tekena Dokubo has joined the company to lead GL Noble Denton’s presence in Nigeria. Mr Dokubo brings experience in business development in West Africa’s oil and gas sector.
Vantage Drilling acquires Dragonquest drillship
Vantage Drilling has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the rights and obligations under the construction contract for the ultra-deepwater drillship Dragonquest from Valencia Drilling.
Dragonquest was constructed at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co in Okpo, South Korea.
Schlumberger to acquire modeling software company
Schlumberger has entered an agreement with Altor Fund II to acquire SPT Group, which specializes in dynamic modeling. The company provides software and consulting services for multiphase flow and reservoir engineering.
“The dynamic modeling and reservoir optimization software of SPT Group will complement the existing Schlumberger production software portfolio,” Tony Bowman, president, Schlumberger Information Solutions, said.
PRODUCTS
Exxon MZST licensed to Weatherford subsidiary
ExxonMobil Upstream Research Co (URC) has licensed its Multi-Zone Stimulation Technology (MZST) well treatment process to a subsidiary of Weatherford International. The MZST process can be used to stimulate multiple zones in a single operation, yielding improved well economics.
The MZST process can be beneficial for hydraulic fracturing operations in tight gas, shale gas and coal bed methane wells that target multiple reservoir zones, thick reservoir sections or long reservoir intervals where multiple stimulation treatments are required.
“The MZST process is a proven technology for rapidly completing wells in tight reservoirs such as shale gas,” URC president Sara Ortwein said. “This technology will play a key role in improving the economics of developing this unconventional resource.”
The MZST process will enable Weatherford to optimize its stimulation operations by combining the deployment of perforating and hydraulic fracturing equipment simultaneously in the wellbore to enable “single-trip” multi-zone stimulations. The technology increases the number of zones that can be fractured per day compared to traditional fracturing and stimulation operations.
Halliburton’s Q10 pump meets shale fracturing demands
Halliburton has rolled out the first production unit of its new Q10 pumping trailer. The redesigned Q10 pump enhances performance while reducing pumping assets at the well site.
The Q10 units target shale fracturing applications. Performance specifications include a maximum pressure rating of 20,000 lbs/sq in., a range of rates between 2.7 and 18.9 bbl/min, and a power rating of 2,000 hydraulic horsepower.
ConocoPhillips’ Wireline Lubricant designed for HPHT
ConocoPhillips recently launched a new wireline lubricant designed to maintain a seal and prevent the escape of wellbore fluids during wireline operations. Wireline Lubricant is a specialized, clear formulation designed specifically for high-pressure, high-temperature environments.
The lubricant was developed for wireline operations, including cased-hole logging, pipe recovery service, production loggings and reservoir analysis.
Schlumberger’s LWD service supports formation evaluation
Schlumberger recently introduced the MicroScope high-resolution resistivity and imaging-while-drilling service. On a single collar, the logging-while-drilling service provides high-resolution laterolog resistivity and full borehole images in conductive mud environments.
The service has been successful in more than 150 jobs and addresses challenges in unconventional shale plays, carbonate and clastic reservoirs.
Gloves reduce hand fatigue, enable safer work
To safeguard often-forgotten impact and pinch points in high-impact situations, Mechanix Wear’s M-Pact EXP-2, being released in May, has an extended, embossed vinyl cuff designed to dull potential impact to the outer wrist.
The anatomically designed palm pads reduce hand fatigue when the grip is engaged, enabling faster, safer and cleaner work with more power and control.
Mud mixers feature high-efficiency gearboxes
Chemineer mixers offer performance, efficiency and reliability in mud-mixer applications. The Chemineer mixers feature high-efficiency gearboxes designed for agitator service and have configurations to meet application requirements that are unique to mud-mixing applications.