November/December 2022

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Drilling Outlook
Buoyed by strong oil prices and rig demand, offshore drilling to see continued comeback in 2023 By Stephen Whitfield, Associate Editor
Analysts maintain optimistic outlook for onshore drilling market, but uncertainties remain By Stephen Whitfield, Associate Editor
Oil and gas projects draw renewed interest from investors amid energy supply shortfall By Stephen Whitfield, Associate Editor
Drilling contractors can play important roles in supporting scale-up of geothermal energy By Stephen Whitfield, Associate Editor
Well Control & Pressure Control Equipment
Saudi Aramco applies 4IR technologies to improve safety, well control readiness at rig site By Michael Affleck, Aramco Overseas Company; Richard Pye, Bodong Li and Guodong (David) Zhan, Saudi Aramco
NOV Annual Rig Census
2022 NOV rig census shows a welcome recovery period, but challenges loom ahead By Tarjei “TJ” Myklebust, Karl Appleton and Kevin Scherm, NOV
Automation & Safety
Uptake of automation, remote operations enhances need for systematic alarm management By Jessica Whiteside, Contributor
IADC Connection
From the Chairman: To help the public understand essential role oil and gas plays, we must each become advocates By Jeremy Thigpen, 2022 IADC Chairman
IADC spearheads efforts to communicate the value of our industry By Jason McFarland, IADC President, and Katie Carr, IADC Senior Coordinator – External Communications
News Cuttings IADC DEC forum tackles industry’s ‘brain drain’ challenge, explores actionable steps IADC South Central Asia Chapter hosts technology meet IADC’s Warren honored with OEC Hall of Fame induction Ohio’s Marietta College forms IADC student chapter
Wirelines ExxonMobil, Oceaneering recognized with Safety Leadership Awards from COS US Interior Department to update Well Control Rule BOEM reinstates top bids from 2021 GOM lease sale API comments on proposed US offshore leasing program
Departments
Drilling Ahead: Technical innovations, sensible policies vital to energy security By Linda Hsieh, Editor & Publisher
D&C News Valaris announces multiple contracts, extensions in Mexico, UK North Sea, Australia ADNOC Drilling wins new contracts covering 14 jackups KCA Deutag announces $112 million in contracts New discovery for APA at Baja-1 offshore Suriname Blackford Dolphin awarded new work offshore Nigeria
D&C Tech Digest Curve and lateral sections of Middle East well drilled autonomously using Schlumberger’s Neuro solution OPC Foundation, FieldComm join forces on interoperability of instrumentation devices
News Briefs: Environmental, Social and Governance US DOE aims to cut geothermal costs by 90% by 2035, make enhanced geothermal systems widespread Equinor report calls for more burden sharing in sustainability North Sea emissions down nearly 22% since 2018 Chevron, MOECO to explore geothermal in Japan
Oil & Gas Markets ADNOC Group CEO Al Jaber: All progress starts and ends with energy security Report: American LNG can support Europe’s long-term energy security DNV outlook report: Europe likely to double down on renewables amid energy crisis OEUK survey of students shows 54% would consider starting career in energy industry
HSE&T Corner: Safety-critical task analysis is not a silver bullet, but it can help improve procedural integrity By Varun Sarpangal, Marex
People, Companies and Products Noble Corp completes merger with Maersk Drilling Salunda, Transocean agree to licensing deal for safety system Baker Hughes streamlines 4 product companies into 2 segments New Welltec test flow loop facility to focus on CCS projects Schlumberger to partner with Aramco, Wintershall Vallourec wins inaugural NOIA ESG Excellence Award Cole Ramsey named API Vice President of Upstream Policy Shane McArdle named Kongsberg Digital CEO Wael Sawan to succeed Ben van Beurden as Shell CEO Matt Lyne assumes role as Senior VP, COO at Valaris Bishop Lifting Products acquires Westech Rigging Talos expands in deepwater GOM with EnVen acquisition BSEE names Paul Huang as Deputy Director Salunda, Transocean agree to licensing deal for safety system ADC Energy wins contract to assess semi, drillships Products Automated tubular makeup reduces personnel needs Halliburton expands data visualization platform Austenitic stainless steels offer improved OCTG durability New thermoplastic composite bearing reduces friction Real-time comms system designed for RSS and MWD
Perspectives: Martyn Parker, Pruitt – Technical safety, working to industry’s recommended practices are both non-negotiable By Linda Hsieh, Editor & Publisher