March/April 2023

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Innovating While Drilling
Going the distance: Drillers push innovations to drill extended laterals Extreme depths necessitate solutions to handle high torques and lateral vibrations, ensure accurate horizontal wellbore placement By Stephen Whitfield, Associate Editor
Preventing lost circulation, instability offshore Malaysia By Stephen Whitfield, Associate Editor
Combination of extended-reach drilling, maximum reservoir contact wells and artificial islands helps ADNOC access offshore reserves with land rig By Stephen Whitfield, Associate Editor
Drill pipes, BHAs evolve as wellbore geometries push existing boundaries Industry steps up downhole performance by giving connections greater fatigue resistance and enhancing BHA steering capabilities By Stephen Forrester, Contributor
Case study: Laser measurements, machine learning help operator improve its motor performance By Lonnie Smith, Turnco
Digital tools streamline design, testing process during drill bit selection Digital twins, in-bit sensors among innovations shortening the iteration cycle to help operators get bits into the field faster By Stephen Whitfield, Associate Editor
Hydraulic Fracturing Advances
Sensor-based system allows real-time detection, monitoring of emissions in frac operations By Stephen Whitfield, Associate Editor
Centralized start-stop system helps reduce fuel consumption, emissions from idling engines in hydraulic fracturing operations By Stephen Whitfield, Associate Editor
Metal-seal dissolvable frac plugs use simplified design to improve reliability during plug and perf By Jinlu Wang, Vertechs Group
Global Workforce Development
ExxonMobil’s Guyana project provides blueprint for building local workforce, infrastructure in emerging E&P markets By Stephen Whitfield, Associate Editor
Gender equality study explores barriers women in Persian Gulf still face in oilfield careers By Stephen Whitfield, Associate Editor
IADC Connection
News Cuttings ART Committee names new Co-Chairs, recognizes service of previous Chairman New officers elected to lead IADC UW student chapter IADC ISP releases Q4 2022 report, announces project to develop online portal
From the President: Next-gen engagement and enthusiasm continue to flourish By Jason McFarland, IADC President
Wirelines NOIA ESG report highlights emissions reduction case studies by member companies US Labor Department updates OSHA penalties, enforcement guidelines API urges EPA to adopt modifications to methane rule UH signs MoU with India to establish energy data center
Departments
Drilling Ahead: Talent report: Industry will need to compete on more than salary By Linda Hsieh, Editor & Publisher
D&C News New discovery near Troll field in North Sea marks Equinor’s 7th in the area since 2019 Neptune spuds 4th well in Adorf gas field, expects to reach final depth in June Shelf Drilling jackups working offshore Egypt win 1-year contract extensions Vito begins production in deepwater GOM Drillship nets 910-day contract in Brazil
D&C Tech Digest Simulations demonstrate how HFTO suppressor tool can reduce shock amplitude in Permian wells LWD ultrasonic imager identifies fractures in Turkey well RSS sets record, saves 7 days of drilling time offshore UK
News Briefs: Environmental, Social and Governance ADNOC begins work on injection well as part of fully sequestered CO2 injection project in carbonate rock Denbury to develop CO₂ sequestration in Wyoming GECF commentary: Natural gas-based blue hydrogen with CCS will be a key player in the energy transition Nabors affiliate to merge with solar power company Cross-border CO₂ storage being studied in Europe Report shows geothermal industry in Texas may be poised to make a breakthrough
Oil & Gas Markets Westwood forecasts marketed utilization of offshore rigs will average 95% this year Longer-term contracts may offer more stability as Europe grows LNG imports More than 65% of UK project starts from 2023-2027 expected to be in upstream High cash flows among North American E&Ps likely to drive new consolidation wave, McKinsey report shows 2022 discoveries drive value creation of exploration projects to record levels
People, Companies and Products Nabors acquires digital twin developer MindMesh Baker Hughes nets greenfield project contract offshore Angola Wild Well, Endeavor partner on well control training simulators Cudd Well Control launches new global headquarters ABS names Ryan as CTO Hopkins promoted to VP of Upstream Policy at API GD Energy Products upgrades Texas facility Shell merges Integrated Gas, Upstream businesses TWMA reaches 4.5 million LTI-free work hours in the Middle East Logan Industries achieves API 8C monogram license for hoisting equipment DNV to advise Ocyan on hydrogen conversion process for rigs Products Industrial-grade sealing device ideal for leak stoppage Baker Hughes solution targets asset management Halliburton partnership to provide digital emissions management
Perspectives: Richard Grayson, Nabors – Being flexible is critical to a long career in an industry of constant change By Stephen Whitfield, Associate Editor