November/December 2017

2018 Global Drilling Outlook
No quick recovery in the cards for 2018 Most forecasts call for oil prices to stay within the $45 to $55 range next year as global oil production stays high despite OPEC’s agreed cuts by Linda Hsieh, Managing Editor
Workforce outlook: Industry must consider new strategies to attract, retain next-generation employees by Kelli Ainsworth, Associate Editor
Deepwater drilling segment reaches nadir in 2017, may see beginnings of a steady recovery in 2018 by Kelli Ainsworth, Associate Editor
Operators double down on Permian, seek solutions to operational, downhole and reliability challenges by Kelli Ainsworth, Associate Editor
Virtual, augmented reality adoption on the horizon for drilling industry by Jeff Sattler, Contributor
National Oilwell Varco 64th Annual Rig Census
Global land rig demand recovers, offshore still seeking inflection point Onshore North America leads drilling activity gains, with international land drilling following modestly; global offshore utilization is still under pressure, with rig demand stabilizing and new supply coming to market by Carlos Huerta, National Oilwell Varco
Regional Focus: Middle East
Resilient Middle East holds its ground in face of low oil prices New Saudi Aramco/Rowan JV plans to order first of 20 newbuild jackups in 2018, while PDO focuses on accelerated monetization and Lebanon pushes forward with its first offshore licensing round by Linda Hsieh, Managing Editor
Completions: Cementing
LWD sonic sensor technology can complement wireline CBL evaluation to validate top of cement by Franck Michel, Ben Robbins, Steven Kizziar and Nasreddine Laroussi, Halliburton; Michael Ehiwario, Rivers Fike, Jonathan Garrett, George A. Fuller and Glenn Donovan, Shell Offshore
Drilling Rigs and Technologies
Caspian Drilling, Keppel overcome myriad challenges to construct Heydar Aliyev semi in Azerbaijan by Kelli Ainsworth, Associate Editor
Unsynced time measurements can lead to data aggregation challenges by Matt Isbell, Hess Corp
Asset Integrity
Failure analysis provides critical input for thorough root cause analysis by Sri Chimbli and Scott Harding, Stress Engineering Services
IADC Connection
IADC: Collaborating to make us all stronger by Jason McFarland, IADC President
2017 in review: IADC advances member interests through worldwide advocacy and engagement, accreditation programs, technical resources by Amy Rose, IADC Director of External Relations
DrillingMatters.org expands with games, interactivity
Despite difficult downturn, IADC members, staff find ways to go above and beyond by Andy Hendricks, 2017 IADC Chairman
Guest Editorial: Texas oil, gas production disrupting global energy landscape, requires new mindset by Texas Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton
News Cuttings US BTS publishes 2016 BOP events, failures report Patterson-UTI hosts rig tour for Missouri S&T students IADC accreditation group, competence SME auditors working to enhance handbook for building competence program nov-iron-roughneck-studentKnight Oil Tools, NOV host tours for ULL students IADC President visits Japan Drilling, Mantle Quest Japan
Wirelines US House hosts onshore act hearing US house passes interior appropriations bill that advances US energy production IADC participates in Canada-US energy services association meeting US court of appeals for the fifth circuit upholds district court decision in favor of Latshaw Drilling in warn act lawsuit Fifth circuit court rules in favor of offshore contractors on liability under outer continental Shelf Lands Act
Departments
Drilling Ahead: In planning for the future, don’t overlook human capital by Linda Hsieh, Managing Editor
D&C News Transocean to retire 6 floaters, wins contract for deepwater invictus drillship BP begins production from Khazzan gas field in Oman Maersk Drilling secures two contracts in Southeast Asia Ensco DS-7 drillship awarded contract by Noble Energy TOTAL joins Chevron in deepwater GOM exploration
D&C Tech Digest New system automates pipe makeup, evaluation of connection quality Vallourec launches innovation challenge on intelligent tubes Wood Group launches Sureflex JIP report following industrywide project on flexible pipe integrity management
HSE&T Corner: Supervisors should seek to understand internal, external factors that influence employee behaviors affecting safety by Kelli Ainsworth, Associate Editor
People, Companies and Products Shell, Petrobras sign long-term technical agreement to strengthen deepwater partnership in Brazil Ensco Completes Acquisition of Atwood Oceanics Tenaris acquires pipe services, trucking company CEFC China to acquire 14.16% stake in Rosneft Patterson-UTI Energy to Acquire MS Energy Services Petrofac sells Pánuco stake contract to Schlumberger Nabors acquires Robotic Drilling Systems Weatherford appoints Karl Blanchard as COO Noble names Robertson to Board of Directors Hunting appoints Johnson as Chief Executive Microsoft, Halliburton to form strategic alliance Maersk Culzean contract secured for UK north sea eDrilling to support drilling digitization in Vietnam Gardner Denver launches pod program in Middle East SDI transitions to paperless operations at 4 facilities Products Caterpillar to develop new propulsion system Halliburton releases high-energy drilling bit Thyssenkrupp introduces toii digital platform Schlumberger introduces new ball valve technology New jacketed service loops with longer life launched Probe Technologies launches iQ inspection tool
Perspectives: Roy Mills, Noble Drilling – Training now ensures drilling contractors will have skilled personnel ready when the next upturn comes by Kelli Ainsworth, Associate editor