People, Companies & Products

Williams to retire from Noble, succeeded by Robertson

Noble Corp has announced the retirement of Chairman, President and CEO David W. Williams and the election by the board of directors of Julie J. Robertson to succeed Mr Williams in such roles. The leadership succession plan calls for Mr Williams to remain with the company through February 2018, serving in an advisory capacity.

During the 10 years of Mr Williams’ leadership, he guided the company through extreme volatility. He also executed the newbuild program that has positioned Noble as one of the leading high-specification drilling companies in the industry.

Ms Robertson has served as the company’s Executive Vice President since 2006. In this role, she has had direct oversight for human resources, procurement and supply chain, learning and development, health, safety environmental functions and information technology. From July 2001, she served as Senior Vice President – Administration and has served continuously as Corporate Secretary since December 1993. Throughout her tenure, she has played an important role in the company’s leadership and in September 2017, was named to the company’s board of directors.

Lacy joins proactive real time solutions as CEO

Effective 18 December 2017, Kevin Lacy was formally endorsed as the CEO of Proactive Real Time Solutions (PRTS). Mr Lacy previously served as Chevron Global D&C Manager, BP Drilling Head of Discipline, and then Talisman Energy SVP of Global Drilling and Completions.

In February, PRTS will launch a new software, Real Time Advisory System (RTAS), to offer a scalable solution for utilization of WITSML data from any source involved in measuring and monitoring wellsite operations.  In addition to state-of-the-art IT architecture and security, RTAS offers a unique physics-based analysis of well conditions. This analysis results in timely predictive “watches” that avoid the problem of many existing real-time systems.

ADES, Vantage drilling form long-term Joint Venture 

ADES International Holding’s subsidiary ADES has entered into a long-term joint venture (JV) agreement with a subsidiary of Vantage Drilling International. As part of the JV, Vantage will gain access to the Mediterranean basin. The JV will operate Vantage’s deepwater drilling units in Egyptian waters on a bareboat charter agreement basis. It will operate on a profit-sharing basis, and ADES will have exclusive marketing rights within Egypt.

AFGlobal to provide IFPEN lifecycle riser services

AFGlobal has entered into an agreement with IFP Energies Nouvelles (IFPEN), the developer of the Clip-Riser technology, to provide inspection, maintenance and repair of IFPEN drilling risers. The Clip-Riser is a quick and boltless connector technology. AFGlobal will provide inspection, maintenance and repair of drilling risers in Brazil according to IFPEN’s specifications. AFGlobal has also signed a licensing agreement for the worldwide provision of spare parts conforming to the technology’s original specifications.

Dynacon, Scantrol partner to offer AHC functionality

Forum Energy Technologies announced that its Dynacon business line is joining forces with Scantrol, a supplier of active heave compensation (AHC) control systems, to offer AHC functionality. Dynacon manufactures handling systems for remote operational vehicles and has supplied more than 250 ROV launch and recovery systems and almost 500 ROV winch systems.

Oil states international to acquire Geodynamics

Oil States International has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire GEODynamics, a provider of oil and gas perforation systems and downhole tools in support of completion, intervention, wireline and well abandonment operations.

Bentec contracted to deliver 5 rigs to UGV

Bentec has been awarded a contract by Ukraine-based UkrGasVydobuvannya (UGV) to supply five drilling rigs for delivery over the next 18 months. The total value of the contract is approximately $110 million.

Niels Versfeld named AS CEO of Simmons Edeco

SIMMONS EDECO has appointed Niels Versfeld as CEO. Mr Versfeld brings in-depth management experience in the oil and gas industry, with particular emphasis on building and leading growth initiatives.

Vorenkamp forms Well Control Training company

Matt Vorenkamp has formed Vorenkamp Well Control Training to service land-based drilling contractors and associated service companies with IADC WellSHARP certifications. Mr Vorenkamp, who serves as CEO of the new company, has been associated with well control training and support services for more than 22 years.

H&P acquires directional drilling services company

Helmerich & Payne (H&P) has acquired Magnetic Variation Services (MagVAR), a provider of directional drilling and wellbore optimization services. Through  3D geomagnetic reference modeling, MagVAR provides measurement while drilling (MWD) survey corrections by identifying and quantifying MWD tool measurement errors in real time.

TAM opens manufacturing facility in Obninsk, Russia

TAM International has opened a new manufacturing facility in Obninsk, located in the Kaluga region, southwest of Moscow, Russia. The facility includes more than 11,000 sq ft of manufacturing space and more than 4,000 sq ft of office space on two acres of land.

Products

Weir launches wellhead system with one-piece design

Weir Oil & Gas has launched the Seaboard Unitized Lock-Ring Wellhead (ULR), a field-proven wellhead system with improvements based on customer input. Enhancements that have been made include a Seaboard two-stage, single-bore wellhead system, mandrel casing hangers, quick connect hub, and thru-BOP installed lockdown seal assemblies that eliminate lock-down screws and potential leak paths.

The quick connect hub lets operators align, land and secure the BOP on the wellhead faster than a conventional flange connection, reducing rig up time from two hours to less than 30 minutes.

In addition, the Seaboard ULR features a nested system within a single-piece housing, which results in a shorter stack-up height and reduced weight. A threaded flange on top of the wellhead provides a faster, more secure switchover to an API-threaded hub. Combined, these improvements limit exposure to a hazardous environment, eliminating the need for multiple assemblies and wellhead preparations. This design also eliminates the need for operators to wait for cement to cure before resuming operations.

Companies partner to offer pump rate monitoring

WellAware and CheckPoint Pumps & Systems have announced a product partnership to offer complete pump rate monitoring and control for CheckPoint’s full line of pumps. Through this Industrial Internet of Things solution, CheckPoint customers can remotely monitor tank levels and pump rates from their web browser or WellAware’s native iOS and Android application.

GE launches optimizing standalone controller

GE Power’s Automation & Controls business has announced the release of dual redundancy capability on its PACSystems RX3i CPE400 outcome-optimizing controller. The CPE400, designed to function in rugged, high-temperature environments, is powered by the PACSystems High Availability solution over PROFINET. CPE400 utilizes embedded Ethernet technology in a standalone controller, leading to up to 60% smaller footprint.

Halliburton Launches high-speed Telemetry service, 4D shaped cutters

Sperry Drilling, a Halliburton business,  has released its JetPulse high-speed telemetry service, which provides consistent, high-data rate transmission of drilling and formation evaluation measurements. The telemetry system helps operators make faster decisions to optimize well placement and improve well control while increasing drilling efficiency

Halliburton has also released the Geometrix 4D Shaped Cutters, a line of four distinct geometric profiles to help improve cutting efficiency and increase control to reduce drilling costs.

GeoMetrix cutters expand the capabilities of traditional polycrystalline diamond materials (PDC) by shaping the cutting structure to optimize drilling performance for specific applications. Traditional flat cutters generate heat and wear, which slows drilling progress as operators must frequently check or replace damaged bits.

Emerson launches compact multiphase meter

Emerson has launched a smaller version of its Roxar Multiphase Meter (MPFM) 2600 – a cost-effective and modular flow meter designed to address the flow profiles of North American shale fields.

Tube-weld 110 designed to rebuild outside diameter

Hardbanding Solutions by Postle Industries has developed a patent-pending product and procedure to restore work string tubulars that have worn below the minimum allowable connection diameter. Postalloy Tube-Weld 110 was designed to be welded to the upset area for the purpose of rebuilding the outside diameter. After the rebuilt area is machined and the threads recut, the connection is ready to return to service.

Sensors aid fluid analysis, sampling service

Baker Hughes, a GE company, has announced its FASTrak Prism fluid analysis and sampling while drilling service. The service uses advanced sensors and proven technology to collect and deliver reliable volumes of high-quality fluid samples and comprehensive, real-time reservoir characterization. FASTrak offers a capacity of 16 discrete single-phase samples per run and up to 13.4 liters of total fluid volume, providing operators with the representative fluids required for their development and appraisal decisions in one drilling run, resulting in significant rig time and cost savings.

Aluminum alloy pipe proves efficiency in niobrara

OTTO FUCHS Drilling Solutions (OFDS) has introduced the FuchsRohr AluDrill aluminum alloy pipe. In drilling operations in Colorado’s Niobrara formation, the pipe’s material properties have shown improved drilling efficiency, with up to a 30% ROP increase in sliding mode possible. Comprised of aluminum, as well as alloying elements copper and silicon, the alloy employed in the FuchsRohr AluDrill pipe had already demonstrated its lightweight and robust qualities in the aerospace industry.