Pete Miller to lead Baker Hughes, MHWirth joint venture

Baker Hughes and Akastor have announced an agreement to create a joint venture company that will bring together Baker Hughes’ Subsea Drilling Systems (SDS) business with Akastor’s wholly owned subsidiary, MHWirth. The new company will be owned 50-50 by Baker Hughes and Akastor.

Following the closing of the transaction, the company’s operations will be managed from current offices in Houston and Kristiansand, Norway. Merrill A. “Pete” Miller will serve as Chairman and CEO. Mr Miller has been in the oil and gas industry over 40 years, holding various leadership roles, including Chairman, President and CEO of NOV.

The closing of the transaction is subject to customary conditions and is expected to occur in the second half of 2021. 

IDS to supply online reporting, analytics services to Stena

Independent Data Services (IDS) has been awarded a six-figure fleetwide deal with Stena Drilling for fully integrated online reporting and analytics services. 

Following successful six-month operational trials on the Stena Spey and Stena Carron rigs, IDS will deploy its data-driven TourNet Pro drilling contractor reporting service and drilling performance monitoring service, Anova DPM, across Stena Drilling’s fleet in Q1 2021. The integrated solution will deliver automated near-real-time rig and fleetwide performance benchmarks, KPIs and core analytics in one platform, offering Stena Drilling productivity optimization and significant OPEX and time savings versus manual aggregation.

Cudd announces alliance with Worldwide Facilities

Cudd Well Control has entered an alliance agreement with Worldwide Facilities, a national wholesale insurance broker, managing general agent and program underwriter. Through this alliance and the insurance product administered by Worldwide Facilities, Cudd will be the preferred well control provider to the global oil and gas industry. The alliance will actively support traditional energy insurance products, in addition to the recently launched “Increased Costs of Drilling and/or Completion Insurance” Program.

Green joins Aberdeen-based Well-SENSE as new CEO

Well-SENSE has appointed Annabel Green as its new CEO. Ms Green joins the business from Tendeka, where she held senior strategic and product line management roles for the last nine years, most recently as Chief Technology Officer. Well-SENSE is seeking to drive further adoption of its downhole sensing technology, FiberLine Intervention.

Deep Casing Tools announces new appointments, funding 

Deep Casing Tools has made several key personnel appointments: Edward Kerr as Global Sales Manager, Kevin Robertson as Middle East Regional Manager, and David Charles as Well Engineer. In January, the company announced it had secured a £1.6 million investment from Scottish Enterprise and EV Private Equity. In early 2020, the company received a UK patent for its MechLOK Drill Pipe Swivel.

Vysus to aid PSA Norway in risk analysis, investigations

Vysus Group has secured a framework agreement with the Petroleum Safety Authority Norway (PSA) to support continuous improvement related to safety and provide advice in risk analysis and emergency preparedness. Vysus will help the PSA to investigate incidents over a two-year period, with the option to extend the agreement for two years into 2024.

Tenaris to supply coated pipes for Bacalhau project  

Tenaris and Subsea 7 have signed an agreement for the supply of pipes and coating services for the Bacalhau project, operated by Equinor and located in the pre-salt area of Brazil’s Santos Basin.

The agreement includes the provision of 75 km of seamless pipes for risers and flowlines. After production, the tubes will be mechanically lined with CRA material to improve corrosion resistance. The agreement also includes anticorrosive and thermal insulation coating for 151 km of pipe.

New managing director at Maersk Training UK

Maersk Training UK has appointed Leonardo Machado as its new Managing Director. He was previously Managing Director of the company’s operations in Brazil for six years. Maersk Training UK recently upgraded its Training Management Service and reintroduced its modular training units, offering an effective and safer solution for delegate training.

Kongsberg, Nautilus partner on digital tools

Kongsberg Digital and Nautilus Labs are partnering to place the Nautilus Platform fleet and voyage optimization tool in the Kognifai open ecosystem. Joining the Nautilus Platform with Kongsberg’s Vessel Insight service will enable seamless extraction, contextualization and analysis of quality vessel data for use in AI-driven performance tools.

The Nautilus Platform recommends optimal vessel and voyage operating configurations, automatically generating insights in the form of recommendations that increase a vessel’s financial returns and improve environmental sustainability.

PRODUCTS

ReedHycalog launches new ION+ PDC cutter technology

NOV’s ReedHycalog business unit has launched the ION+ polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) cutter technology, refining the ION cutter platform’s record of high-quality performance in tough drilling applications. The new cutters feature a wide range of application-specific cutter grades, incorporating refined diamond feeds, higher manufacturing pressures, new nonplanar interfaces, and thicker diamond tables with enhanced thermal stability. They are engineered to stay sharper for longer, delivering superior drilling performance in challenging formations.

CORTEC rolls out Hydra-Balance Choke and Panel System 

CORTEC has launched its new CX-HB3.0 Hydra-Balance Choke and Panel System, which offers drilling operations an increased level of value and functionality within managed pressure drilling, underbalanced drilling and other drilling set point applications. 

The system, which is API 6A and NACE MR0175 compliant, is a hydraulic dual choke unit and can be controlled via a compact remote panel that can be installed in close proximity to the driller. 

CORTEC has concluded an extensive round of both in-house validation and in-field operational trials. The initial run of production units will be available in Q1 2021. 

Dropsafe launches new helideck perimeter safety net

Dropsafe has launched a new perimeter safety net system to protect personnel and assets in offshore industries. The system attaches to the perimeter frames of helidecks to protect personnel from falling and prevent loose objects from becoming dynamic drops hazards.

The system is made from marine-grade stainless steel designed for harsh offshore environments. It is also modular to allow for easy replacement of components.

Blockchain-based system targets automated ESG reporting

Data Gumbo has launched GumboNet ESG, an automated sustainability measurement solution that ties a company’s operational data to ESG standards reporting. The result is real-time verifiable environmental performance monitoring. 

The system utilizes the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) framework with a specific smart contract to create automated ESG reports. The aim is to enable accurate measurements from the field, simplifying self-reporting practices and supporting standardization in accordance with SASB standards. 

The company already offers GumboNet, an interconnected industrial smart contract network secured and powered by blockchain.

Gardner Denver offers new quintuplex pump

Gardner Denver High Pressure Solutions has announced the new GD 2500Q Heavy Duty Frame quintuplex pump. The frame upgrade was developed to increase component thickness and allow for larger, stronger welds, to boost structural integrity. Updates include:

• Top and bottom skin plates increased in thickness, offering more structural support for nose plate loads;

• Main bearing plates have increased in thickness and protrude between skin plates with larger, stronger welds, reducing overall frame and weld stress;

• Stronger support structure for nose plate to reduce deflection around nose place welds;

• Significant increase in nose plate weld size, reducing stress in critical nose plate joint by more than 20%;

• Deep bevelling around outer main bearing plates, giving much deeper weld throat; and

• Eliminated snap ring bearing retainer and replaced with stronger, bolt-on outer main bearing retainer, giving improved axial tolerances for improved gear timing.