News Cuttings
ULL Student Chapter members complete training
In August, members of the University of Louisiana-Lafayette (ULL) IADC Student Chapter completed the IADC WellSharp well control level 3 (Driller) course after an extensive four-day training, held 6-10 August.
The following month, 28 members of the chapter toured Parker Drilling’s 2,000-hp Rig 55B in Amelia, La. The students had an opportunity to witness first hand drilling equipment discussed in the classroom, including accumulators, BOPs, top drives, pumps and solids control. Representatives from Parker Drilling were on hand to guide the students on their tour, including Perry Landry, Operations Manager; Ronal Savoie, Rig Manager (Pusher); Roger Wellbrock, Maintenance Manager; Rick Henley, Special Projects Manager; and Kent Gerdsen, US Sales Manager.
Drilling Matters Module Encourages Careers in Oil & Gas
The latest DrillingMatters.org video encourages young people to seek careers in oil and gas. The “Live an Adventure: Make Your Career in Oil and Gas” video points out that nearly 1.9 million job opportunities are forecast through 2035.
DDR Plus project moves forward with code development
The IADC DDR Plus project is moving to the next level, with development of granular subcodes and sub-subcodes. Most of these additions were contributed by IADC member drilling contractors, with others adopted from those used by the Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors (CAODC).
The CAODC system uses the original 23 codes on the DDR. CAODC subcodes apply only to onshore operations, which constitutes the vast majority of drilling in Western Canada.
The proposed revision maintains the original 23 codes and adds six new codes.
The proposal includes the 36 main codes (including Code 36, which is blank and reserved for the future), 180 primarily equipment-related subcodes, and 270 sub-subcodes primarily related to activities, for a total of 486 codes. Only a few sub-sub-subcodes were proposed.
The subcodes will represent activities, while the sub-subcodes will represent equipment.
IADC has contracted Integrated Data Services to develop a schema for the new electronic DDR Plus and to redesign the print version.
None of the IADC codes, subcodes or sub-subcodes will be mandatory. Further, IADC will phase out the existing paper DDR form over the course of several months.
IADC Discusses Technology Development on ATCE Panel
Is the industry on the brink of a step-change in technology development, featuring digital solutions? Do downturns truly drive innovation? Why is our industry slow to adopt new methods and technologies?
These were some of the topics explored by a panel held at Weatherford’s booth during the 2018 SPE Annual Technology Conference and Exhibition, held in Dallas in late September. IADC Group VP/Publisher Mike Killalea was interviewed by two co-hosts from the Oil & Gas Global Network, Patrick Pistor and Collin Mclelland, on the topic “Innovating While Drilling.” Innovating While Drilling is an IADC trademark used in conferences and in IADC’s Drilling Contractor magazine as an umbrella for advances in drilling technology.
“Innovating While Drilling is a term we came up with at Drilling Contractor several years ago … to capture the essence of new and novel techniques and technologies, primarily downhole but also on the surface,” Mr Killalea said.
He noted a recent shift in attention away from traditional “big iron” equipment to digital solutions.
The panel also discussed industry’s slow pace of adopting new technology. Mr Killalea cited several reasons:
• Industry’s rural roots that produced an “oilfield solutions only” culture;
• A fractured business model sustaining an adversarial relationship among operators, drilling contractors and service/manufacturing firms that frustrates true goal alignment;
• High consequences of failure, not only in terms of money but also for safety of workers and the environment; and
• The large number of downturns.
Mr Killalea disputed the conventional wisdom that downturns drive innovation. “I think it’s just because we have a lot of downturns.”
He pointed to a strong positive correlation of patents vs oil price. Mr Killalea also noted that three new entrants into the rotary steerable market were unveiled this year, two at ATCE, largely in response to the continuing prosperity of Permian Basin and other unconventional drilling.
IADC SAP Chapter donates water well in Africa
The IADC Southern Arabian Peninsula Chapter recently completed its first charity project. The chapter donated the funds for a manual water well in Niger. More than 250 people are expected to benefit from Lori Water Well No. 1.
DCS subcommittee to Tackle minimum rig safety features
The Drilling Controls Subcommittee (DCS) of the IADC Advanced Rig Technology (ART) Committee will pursue development of guidelines covering the minimum requirements for drilling rig safety features. This effort was prompted by member comments to the DCS Chairman and to other committee officers.
The effort could cover anti-collision systems and machine-machine interlocks. This project differs from the work performed by the IADC HSE Committee, which focuses on personal occupational safety, as well as the IADC Incident Statistics Program, IADC Safety Alert Program and coordination with the DROPS Network.
Craddock participates in NOIA Future Leaders Seminar
On 3 October, IADC Vice President, Government and Industry Affairs Liz Craddock was invited to participate on a Legislative Affairs Panel during the National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA) Future Leaders Seminar in San Antonio, Texas. Ms Craddock was joined by Lynn Hackedorn, Marubeni Oil & Gas; Michael Whatley, Consumer Energy Alliance; and Jon Hrobsky, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck.
RAPID-S53 report findings Presented at COS Forum
Steve Kropla, IADC Special Projects and Member Initiatives, participated in a panel discussion at the 6th Annual Safety Forum held by the Center for Offshore Safety (COS). He discussed the IOGP/IADC BOP Reliability JIP, known as RAPID-S53. He also showed key findings from the JIP’s 2017 annual report. One key finding was that more than 72% of all events involving well control equipment had been detected while the equipment was being inspected, maintained or tested and before it was placed in operation. IADC functions as project coordinator for the JIP, which has 14 drilling contractors, 12 operators and three equipment manufacturers participating. Mr Kropla noted that “information bulletins” designed to convey lessons learned, previously available only to JIP participants, would soon be available on the RAPID-S53 website.
DrillPad strives to help build well control proficiency
The Useful Resources webpage on the IADC website now offers the DrillPad Deployment Well Control Drill Trainer Training Template and the companion DrillGuide Example.
The DrillPad Trainer Training file assists trainers in developing an effective program of well control drills.
The Well Control Drill Guide provides lists of drills, questions and attributes within DrillPad. The guide is meant to be used in conjunction with rig-specific well control procedures to conduct and assess performance during well control drills. The objective is to ensure that all members of the rig team with well control responsibilities are aware of their responsibilities and can confidently execute their duties when required.
