March/April 2020

Looking for the Digital Reader version of this issue? Click here!
DC‘s Digital Reader is a faithful recreation of the printed magazine, in digital form! Digital Reader can be viewed on an iPad or Android tablet, and/or your Windows or Mac OSX computer.

Regional Focus
After slow period, South America now brims with potential *With exploration activity picking up in key areas, drilling contractors position themselves to take advantage of operator demand* By Stephen Whitfield, Associate Editor
Upbeat outlook for Africa’s offshore rig market as utilization stabilizes By Jessica Whiteside, Contributor
Innovating While Drilling
A novel approach of analyzing well sections as MPD candidates By Hasan Malik, UPDC-Aramco KSA
In evaluating the business case for implementing MPD, well design optimization is too often overlooked By Oscar Gabaldon, Romar Gonzalez Luis, Patrick Brand, Sherif Saber, Anton Kozlov and William Bacon, Blade Energy Partners; Catherine Sugden, Sugden Consulting
At-bit steerable system enables single-trip vertical, curve and lateral drilling in North American shales By Gilles Vié, Schlumberger
Wellbore-shielding fluid additive during drilling, completions can help to boost potential production rates By Rodney Uchytil, Paul Craddock and Justin Mclellan, Impact Fluid Solutions
Gyro-while-drilling technology enables wellbore collision risk management in ERD application By Manchukarn Naknaka and Praisont Prasertamporn, Mubadala Petroleum; Adrián Ledroz and Jayaneethe Naranasamy, Gyrodata; and Kesavan Ramasamy, Baker Hughes
Statistical analysis helps to quantify benefits of new bit technology By Chris Gooch, Ulterra
Stena Drilling: A journey from zero MPD capability to fully integrated, ‘owned and operated’ MPD service By Nick Ward and Stuart WYSE, Stena Drilling
Electrically powered, open-platform wired drill pipe technology headed for commercial launch this year By Ian Silvester, Reelwell
Surge and swab during drill pipe connections on floaters may affect pressure windows in calm weather By John-Morten Godhavn and Banzi Olorunju, Equinor; Dmitri Gorski, Martin Kvernland, and Mateus Sant’Ana, Heavelock Solutions; Ole Morten Aamo and Sigbjørn Sangesland, NTNU
IADC Connection
From the President: Safety, training and youth engagement highlight areas of focus for IADC in 2020 By Jason McFarland, IADC President
News Cuttings IADC meets with house members at oil and gas caucus event UL Lafayette Student Chapter tours Coastal Drilling rig IADC ART Drilling Control Systems Subcommittee adopts new name as Data, Controls and Sensors Subcommittee IADC student chapter established at University of North Dakota Submissions for IADC Chairman’s anniversary award now being accepted
Wirelines Industry provides information to NOGEPA as nitrogen emissions policy causes delays Oil production from DOI-managed lands tops 1 billion barrels in 2019 OSHA revises national program for respirable crystalline silica IADC supports USMCA CSB approves final rule requiring prompt reporting of accidental releases
Departments
Drilling Ahead: Novel coronavirus likely to hit oilfield budgets, supply chains By Linda Hsieh, Editor & Publisher
D&C News Noble, ExxonMobil execute agreement for drilling services in Guyana-Suriname Talos hires Transocean drillship for US GOM program ADES jackups win additional work in Saudi Arabia Keppel delivers Heimdal jackup rig to Borr Drilling Simmons Edeco wins onshore drilling contract in Mexico Equinor and Shell jointly acquire Schlumberger’s 49% interest in Vaca Muerta’s Bandurria Sur block Eni: Discovery offshore Mexico may hold 200-300 million barrels of oil in place Maersk Integrator to drill 2 wells on Ivar Aasen field Disappointing results at Marina-1 well offshore Peru CNOOC’s Bozhong 34-9 oilfield starts production Gas module boosts Fram field production BP, Equinor outline carbon reduction roadmaps Equinor to discontinue Stromlo-1 exploration plan offshore south Australia Energean: Karish Main-02 production results prove successful Kosmos: Valaris 8503 to plug and abandon Oldfield well, move to new infill well on Kodiak field
D&C Tech Digest Siemens to modernize drilling-drives package for jackup Collaboration aims to accelerate subsea digitalization Sealant helps to repair cement packer design
HSE&T Corner: NIOSH – Implementation of engineering controls may help reduce worker exposure to drill site hazards, long-term risks By Stephen Whitfield, Associate Editor
People, Companies and Products Eifler to succeed Robertson as Noble President, CEO Inmarsat to launch connectivity services in Saudi Arabia Borr enters new financing arrangement for Tivar rig IFR, Simmons Edeco to collaborate in Mexico Deep casing tools forms new African partnerships Well-Sense hires Stuart Black as director BP awards Oceaneering contract for riserless light well intervention Halliburton nets seven contracts for Ichthys OSRL signs strategic cooperation agreement Lloyd’s Register appoints global business director Hunting buys Enpro RMEC adds second test bay SES and Optimum form RiGUARD joint venture Tendeka hires manager for South America Products Halliburton introduces intelligent data retriever GeoDynamics develops motorless wireline release tool Tendeka and Wellvene partner on sealing solution Wellhead Saver System to address drift-offs Work management software targets talent challenges
Perspectives: Brian Piccolo, AFGlobal – Vision for safer, more autonomous drilling guides his work as Chairman of IADC UBO/MPD Committee By Jay Stracke, Editorial Assistant