People, Companies and Products
Weatherford, Maersk Training to improve well control through scenario-based training
Weatherford Secure Drilling Services and Maersk Training have entered a strategic partnership to enhance scenario-based training and competency for critical wells. The training will provide Weatherford, operator and rig-crew personnel with improved preparation to help prevent well control events and nonproductive time.
Weatherford recently introduced the OneSync software platform, which enhances planning, simulation and control during managed pressure drilling (MPD), early kick detection and other drilling and completions scenarios.
Maersk Training will fully integrate the MPD simulator application of the OneSync platform into its drilling simulators to enable comprehensive MPD and well control planning and scenario-based training. The advanced simulations will enable entire rig crews – including the drilling contractor, operator, service provider and third parties – to receive hands-on rig and well-specific training in a realistic simulated environment. The Maersk Training drilling simulators will be available in multiple locations, including Houston, Rio de Janeiro, Dubai and Aberdeen.
As a part of this agreement, Maersk Training will serve as Weatherford’s preferred provider of well-control training for all MPD personnel worldwide.
Odfjell Drilling names head of Business Development
Michael Boysen-Nielsen has been appointed head of Business Development at Odfjell Drilling.
Mr Boysen-Nielsen has 22 years of experience at Maersk Drilling, where he was responsible for marketing and business development of the company’s business segment for floating drilling units. In 2012, he moved to Ocean Rig, where he was responsible for marketing and business development.
Wood Group wins new global subsea contract with BP
Wood Group has secured a new multimillion dollar contract to provide engineering services to BP’s existing subsea infrastructure in the Gulf of Mexico, UK and Norwegian continental shelves and offshore Azerbaijan.
Wood Group Kenny (WGK) will deliver program, project and integrity management and operational support for subsea projects under the five-year contract, which is effective immediately.
WGK continues to perform work under a contract held since March 2007 to provide engineering and project management services to BP’s portfolio of future subsea projects.
Tendeka to supply its Autonomous ICD technology in Malaysia for SKE
Tendeka has signed a two-year agreement with SapuraKencana Energy Peninsula Malaysia (SKE) for the exclusive application of Tendeka’s FloSure Autonomous Inflow Control Device (AICD) valves. The contract was awarded through Tendeka’s partner in Malaysia, Aemos.
The work will include modifying existing ICD screens to incorporate Tendeka’s AICD valves on the SKE-operated East Belumut oil field. The field is located approximately 160 miles offshore peninsula Malaysia.
More than 10,000 FloSure valves have been installed to date globally.
Wintershall, Vallourec ink strategic partnership deal
Vallourec has signed a global contract with Wintershall Holding for a strategic partnership. The three-year contract covers the main countries in which Wintershall operates: Germany, the Netherlands, Libya, Abu Dhabi and Norway.
The agreement concerns the entire range of Vallourec’s most advanced tubular solutions for casing and tubing, as well as related accessories. It also includes a range of services, such as 24/7 on-site running assistance and the implementation of extensive supply chain solutions.
Ziebel appoints Francis Neill as new CEO
Ziebel has announced that Francis Neill has been appointed to the position of CEO. In this capacity, Mr Neill is responsible for the strategic direction and operating performance of the company.
With 32 years in the oil and gas industry, Mr Neill has in-depth experience and industry knowledge, particularly in the well intervention and subsea sectors. Before joining Ziebel, he served for five years as CEO of EV. He has also served in a variety of executive management and engineering roles.
Gardner Denver opens new repair center in Odessa
Gardner Denver’s Petroleum & Industrial Pumps Division recently opened a 70,000-sq-ft regional repair center in Odessa, Texas. This adds to Gardner Denver’s four existing facilities for repair, testing and manufacturing in Quincy, Ill.; Tulsa, Okla.; Altoona, Pa.; and Fort Worth, Texas.
Forth appointed Northern Offshore SVP and CFO
R. Bradley Forth has joined Northern Offshore as Senior Vice President and CFO.
Mr Forth previously served as Executive Vice President, CFO and Corporate Secretary for HF2 Financial Management and for Highbury Financial, two publicly traded investment companies that he co-founded.
WCS moves to larger facility in Lafayette
Well Control School (WCS) has relocated its Lafayette, La., training center to a new and larger location within the city. The facility provides classroom space, state-of-the-art simulators and computer stations for its System 21 e-Learning programs.
“This new ultra-modern training center elevates our commitment to providing the best learning environment for adult learners,” WCS President Ed Geissler said.
Products
DNV GL tool supports BOP retrieval decision making
DNV GL has launched the BOP-RDT, a real-time risk-informed BOP retrieval decision support tool to enable operators to determine when to retrieve the BOP for repair after detecting a component failure.
The tool transforms complex information, obtained by numerical computational algorithms, into a graphic visualization user interface. Users are presented with color-coded indicators of the reliability degradation of each BOP safety function due to any detected component or subsystem failure in the BOP.
R4 grade subsea connectors available from Delmar
Delmar Systems has introduced the Delmar Subsea Connector (DSC), which features new R4 grade metals that increase load capacity by up to 2,400 kips from the former R3 version. The new R4 DSCs are scalable based on mooring load and range in size from 1,510 kips to 6,920 kips (6,717 kN to 30,782 kN). This compares with the old R3 range of 1,000 kips to 4,500 kips (4,448 kN to 20,017 kN).
The DSC is paired with traditional mooring components such as chain, wire, or synthetic rope. It can be used with any type of anchor or subsea foundation, including suction piles, vertically loaded anchors, OMNI-Max anchors, driven piles, drag embedment anchors and plates in any water depth.
New sizes added to Timken Sheave Pac bearings line
Timken has expanded its Sheave Pac bearings line to include 8-in. and 14-in sizes. The assembly easily interchanges with current industry standard bearing assemblies and seals. The bearing assemblies are designed to run an entire operating cycle between rebuild without the need for relubrication of the crown or traveling blocks, or additional maintenance. The sealed-for-life sheave bearing assembly increases safety and reduces expensive downtime previously required to re-grease these positions.
GE’s Waukesha VGF gas engine offers advanced controls
GE’s Distributed Power business has introduced its new Waukesha VGF high-speed gas engine models that combine the company’s compact gas engine design with advanced controls normally used in GE’s larger Waukesha units.
Offering advanced controls and after-treatment capabilities as standard features, the VGF units give operators greater flexibility for on-site power, air/gas compression and drilling applications for oil and gas production compared with other engines available in the 300-600-hp high-speed range.
HeatWave LWD withstands ultra-high temperatures in Gulf of Thailand
Weatherford recently announced the development of the HeatWave Extreme service for commercial use by Chevron Thailand. The service includes an enhanced LWD tool string capable of withstanding temperatures of up to 410˚F (210˚C). The high temperature rating enables drillers to log to TD in conditions that exceed the current barriers of 347˚F (175˚C) and avoids the need to pull out of the hole, drill blindly or land the well above the planned TD.
The first phase of component development and field testing for the new tool began in May 2014 as a project between Weatherford and Chevron Thailand for offshore gas wells in the Gulf of Thailand. To date, the technology has saved approximately $4 million in rig time and expenses related to temperature mitigation over the course of the 22-well program.
New inhibitor helps control asphaltene deposition in deepwater wells
Baker Hughes has commercially released its high-performance, low-dosage FATHOM XT SUBSEA525 inhibitor that helps control asphaltene deposition in deepwater wells, providing better flow assurance and reducing remediation costs by minimizing the risk of blockages in production lines and equipment.
To lessen the risk of asphaltene deposition and enhance flow, the FATHOM XT inhibitor can be applied at low treatment levels during initial production and throughout the life of the well. The low dosage rate simplifies supply logistics, reduces onsite storage and lowers handling risk.
LOC introduces UAV surveys and inspections
LOC has introduced Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV or drone) surveys and inspections. The service will provide highly experienced operators to conduct safe, cost-effective UAV surveys. LOC provides high-definition video and still imaging with live streaming capabilities. “This new offering has been planned for a long time, and we are now able to offer a fully risk-assessed and planned service to enhance our inspections and surveys to all our clients,” said Stuart Duffield, LOC Vice President for Marine Assurance.
