March/April 2024

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Innovating While Drilling
Innovations allow rotary steerable technologies to push new boundaries Automated well trajectory control, component simplification and knowing when to ease up on ROP are all helping to prolong bit runs By Stephen Whitfield, Senior Editor
Projects in GOM, Mediterranean showcase expanded value of MPD in optimization, efficiency By Ahmed Abuelaish and Carlos Sanguinetti, SLB
Real-time sensor solutions provide greater transparency in fluids, solids management By Stephen Whitfield, Senior Editor
Hydraulic Fracturing
Industry looks beyond higher horsepower to amp up frac performance By Stephen Whitfield, Senior Editor
Health, Safety, Environment & Training
Crews take greater ownership of safety as Noble focuses on learning from successful work By Stephen Whitfield, Senior Editor
Drilling contractors shepherd a rethinking of safety culture through focus on SIF prevention By Stephen Whitfield, Senior Editor
Specialized training comes at a cost, but so does lack of training, especially in the long term By Sean O’Boyle, Gauge Training
Seadrill redefines Safety Officer role to enable greater focus on crew coaching, interactions By Stephen Whitfield, Senior Editor
Drilling in the Caspian
GL, SOCAR AQS push the limits in Caspian through operational, technical and ESG innovations Staff Report
IADC Connection
2024 IADC Chairman Brad James: Putting people first is not only the right thing to do, it’s good business By Stephen Whitfield, Senior Editor
From the Chairman: A ‘people first’ culture leads to better safety, respect, performance, success By Brad James, 2024 IADC Chairman
News Cuttings IADC Accreditation receives 18th straight year of ISO 9001:2015 certification IADC Student Chapter at ULL tours Big E rig in Louisiana Q4 2023 ISP summary shows improvements in safety ADC Accreditation, WCS discuss training on podcast ADC schedules 3-Gun Competition for October
Wirelines Industry criticizes Biden administration decision to pause non-FTA US LNG exports New bills threaten to end oil and gas activity in Colorado UK NSTA offers 24 licenses for North Sea E&P in new round OEUK expresses opposition, holds emergency summits over Labour’s tax proposal
Departments
Drilling Ahead: Ongoing safety initiatives exemplify industry’s spirit of continuous improvement By Linda Hsieh, Editor & Publisher
D&C News Eni confirms extension and well deliverability of Cronos gas discovery offshore Cyprus Equinor finds oil in North Sea exploration well, awarded 39 new production licenses 7 H&P super-spec rigs win 5-year contracts New work confirmed for 3 Borr jackups West Vela and West Capella drillships awarded contract, one-well extension Diamond Offshore announces contract extension in GOM, P&A work in North Sea
D&C Tech Digest Remotely controlled well completion on SNEPCo’s Bonga field offshore Nigeria is a first in African waters Petrobras drills, finds hydrocarbons in first exploratory well in Brazil’s Equatorial Margin Digital solutions combined to drill 99% of section in autonomous control mode
News Briefs: Environmental, Social and Governance Wood Mackenzie report: Asia Pacific to hold nearly half of world’s low-carbon tech opportunities by 2050 Expro to participate in hydrogen demo project in Japan NSTA workshop spotlights need for more electrification to cut North Sea emissions
Oil & Gas Markets US Lower 48 oil production likely to slow considerably after hitting new highs in 2023, new analysis shows UK report gauges workers’ perceptions of oil and gas North Sea’s falling jackup supply drives marketed utilization rate up to 94% Market likely to absorb shift in Saudi Aramco strategy to boost production capacity
People, Companies and Products Integrated BOP maintenance model is a first in Brazil CeraPhi Energy to repurpose shale wells for geothermal Equinor tags Kongsberg to rebuild lifecycle simulators O’Brien to replace Mullen as Shelf Drilling CEO in August Diamondback Energy, Endeavor agree on merger Murphy Oil names Hambly as President and COO, Botner as Executive VP Tenaris opens industrial complex in Abu Dhabi Thomson joins FET to lead energy transition business Rolls-Royce expands remanufacturing capabilities Expro to enhance offerings with Coretrax acquisition AGR confirms multi-year work agreements on NCS with Equinor, Vår Energi Enhanced Drilling to supply entire portfolio to Equinor Datagration, Langan create ESG management alliance Baker Hughes to service Petrobras’ Búzios field Products New cement system ideal for CCUS applications RigGuide digitalizes rig operating procedures Oil States targets Saudi market with new technologies
Perspectives: Tyler Smith, Nabors – IADC provides valuable space to share learnings, spark new ideas By Stephen Whitfield, Senior Editor