September/October 2024

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Automation and Drilling Rig Advances
Automation, robotics and sustainability shaping visions for the rig of the future While no newbuild cycle is on the horizon, hardware and software advances offer clues to how future rig designs, functions will evolve By Stephen Whitfield, Senior Editor
Full-scale BOP electrification test rig shows benefits of electrified BOP, enables design optimization By Brian Piccolo, Amine Abou-Assaad, Vijay Chatufale, Jeff Fisher, Viral Shah and Bob Judge, HMH; Magne Rød and John Dale, ESD
Drilling Safety & Human Performance
Industry hones in on human element to push rigsite safety to next level Organizations are bolstering training initiatives by addressing communication skills, company cultures and cognitive biases By Stephen Whitfield, Senior Editor
Designing for human performance is key to ensure AI deployments are safe, secure and trustworthy By Kristian S. Teigen and Frederik S. Dørum, Norwegian Ocean Industry Authority – Havtil
Eye-tracking study shows trends in drillers’ task engagement and loads, interaction with HMIs By David Lobdell, BP, and Diana Khatun, IOGP
Offshore Advances
Proven 20K technologies set to help BP advance long-held opportunities in the Paleogene By Jessica Whiteside, Contributor
Standardization of reliability processes benefits decision support for subsea technology By Jessica Whiteside, Contributor
IADC Connection
From the President: To fully protect our people, mental health must be a safety essential By Jason McFarland, IADC President
News Cuttings IADC Northern Arabian Gulf Chapter hosts quarterly technical meeting, elections UTP Student Chapter holds hands-on learning sessions IADC handbook aims to help industry address mental health at work PDEU Student Chapter holds campus visit for IADC reps Liberian Registry joins IADC as newest flag state member
Wirelines Proposed US Senate bill seeks to streamline permitting process for energy projects US federal district judge overturns LNG export pause US BLM proposes changes to oil and gas operator land use in Colorado BSEE letter underscores decommissioning obligations
Departments
Drilling Ahead: Market fundamentals shifting, but massive need for more oil remains By Linda Hsieh, Editor & Publisher
D&C News GOM’s Kaskida gets greenlight from BP, with production startup expected in 2029 Borr jackups awarded work in Brazil, Asia, Africa First oil achieved on Winterfell in Green Canyon area Block 9 offshore Mexico yields new discovery for Eni Ocean BlackRhino awarded new contract in US Gulf Transocean adds more than $650 million to backlog TotalEnergies extends contract with Northern Ocean’s Deepsea Mira 2nd rig from Abraj Energy Services begins operations on Wafra field in Kuwait LLOG adds 41 new blocks to deepwater GOM portfolio
D&C Tech Digest Field tests completed on Haynesville well pads using MQTT protocol for better fracking data management SLB inks long-term agreements with TotalEnergies, Aker BP to advance digital capabilities, workflows 20k technologies enabling first oil at Anchor could also unlock 2 billion bbl in GOM Petrobras partners with GA Drilling on autonomous reeled drilling system Network upgrades set to enhance connectivity across Shelf Drilling fleet Autonomous well control solution deployed on 10 wells
News Briefs: Environmental, Social and Governance Analysis: CCS-EOR may better support energy transition than CCS-Storage NSTA reports improvement in licensee ESG disclosure CO₂ capture technology for hard-to-abate industries validated by DNV
Oil & Gas Markets Wood Mackenzie: Lower 48 well costs set to fall by 10% in 2024, but future cost reductions will have to come from efficiency gains, not oilfield service pricing International M&A spend by NOCs falls to 20-year low, but trend is set to shift under current market drivers Energy supply chain looks to client-facing services for growth, EIC report shows
HSE&T Corner: Field experience, connecting with rig crews critical for young engineers to develop careers By Stephen Whitfield, Senior Editor
People, Companies and Products H&P set to expand footprint with KCA Deutag deal Chevron announces HQ move, leadership changes Devon nabs Grayson Mill’s Williston Basin business ATPI names Angelina Bunting to new post in UAE ABL wins work in Indonesia, adds US country manager SLB wins EPCI contract for Murlach in UK North Sea Serica looks to power offshore assets with wind Spirit Energy appoints Nick Harrison as new CFO BP to add Crew Hawk across North Sea assets Geothermal power set to be added to US grid SandRidge to acquire Western Anadarko assets Radix, Cognite partner on industrial AI applications utilizing hybrid intelligence Odfjell wins well services contract from HEYCO for Spain’s Viura field DNV approves Digitising Reality for remote inspection techniques Products New technical service from Halliburton aims to enhance fracture monitoring
Perspectives: Wayne Bauer, Vantage Drilling – Investments in AI poised to drive safety innovations By Stephen Whitfield, Senior Editor