Valaris announces executive leadership appointments

Valaris recently announced the appointment of several executive positions. Chris Weber will join as Senior VP and CFO, and Matt Lyne will start as Senior VP and COO, both in Q3 2022. Davor Vudakin, the company’s Associate General Counsel, has been promoted to Senior VP and General Counsel. Darin Gibbins, who is serving as interim CFO, will continue in his role as VP – Investor Relations and Treasurer after Mr Weber joins.

In addition, Christophe Raimbault, currently VP and interim Head of Marketing, will fill the newly created role of VP — Sustainability and New Energy. The position will drive Valaris’ efforts to reduce emissions and support customers’ ESG efforts.

Caio Mário Paes de Andrade elected as new CEO of Petrobras

In late June, Petrobras’ Board of Directors elected Caio Mário Paes de Andrade as the company’s CEO, succeeding José Mauro Ferreira. Mr Paes de Andrade had previously served as Special Secretary of Debureaucratization, Management and Digital Government for the former Ministry of Planning. He also served as President of SERPRO, Brazil’s state-owned IT company. 

As an entrepreneur with experience in IT, real estate and agribusiness, Mr Paes de Andrade has founded and/or led the construction of several emblematic companies in the Brazilian IT market. He has also led multiple company consolidations and strategic acquisitions.

Matrix to build riser buoyancy system for new floater in Asia

Matrix Composites & Engineering has secured a purchase order from Himile Mechanical Manufacturing worth approximately AUS $14 million for the supply of a deepwater drilling riser buoyancy system. Matrix will develop the system to support a newbuild deepwater floating rig project in Asia. The company expects to complete and ship all modules of the system in Q3 2023, with all equipment to be built at its composites production facility in Henderson, Western Australia. This purchase order is its largest since November 2018, the company said.

Nabors, Hydro Drilling form alliance in Europe, Africa

Hydro Drilling signed a distribution agreement with Nabors to market and deploy Nabors technologies and services in Europe and Africa. The companies will evaluate opportunities to utilize technologies such as Nabors’ drilling process automation suite and its integrated drilling support services.

Odfjell Technology secures wellbore cleanup contract

Odfjell Technology was awarded a three-year contract with Petronas to provide all required tools, chemicals and services for the company’s wellbore cleanup operations in East Malaysia.

Hearne to lead consolidated Chevron E&P business 

Effective 1 October, Chevron will consolidate its upstream, midstream and downstream business segments under a new Executive VP – Oil, Products & Gas, who will oversee the full value chain. The role will be filled by Nigel Hearne, effective 1 October. As part of this change, the company is consolidating into two upstream regions – Americas E&P and International E&P.

Liberty Energy, Seismos partner on real-time stimulation analytics

Seismos announced a partnership with Liberty Energy on real-time quality control of stimulation performance. Seismos will offer its Seismos-MWF QC and analytics system alongside Liberty’s completion services, using active controlled acoustics to directly probe near-wellbore fracture networks.

Kongsberg signs agreement for digital twin solution

Kongsberg announced an agreement with an unnamed oil and gas major to deploy its Kognitwin digital twin solution on four assets. The new contract comes after a successful implementation of the solution on two assets last year. The system enables operators to integrate and contextualize data from their IT and OT systems.

Fishbones takes its stimulation technology into geothermal 

Fishbones announced it will enter the geothermal market, providing an alternative solution for geothermal well enhancement. The company’s technology deploys subs, which are run on a reservoir liner string, to work in partnership with its backbone open-hole anchors and activation shoe.

Keppel O&M, Sembcorp agree on proposed merger

Keppel Corp and Sembcorp Marine entered into definitive agreements for the proposed combination of Keppel Offshore & Marine and Sembcorp. The combination would bring together two leading offshore and marine companies in Singapore and is in line with Keppel’s Vision 2030, which calls for a more focused, disciplined and simplified business.

Alturki Ventures invests in wireless downhole technology  

Acoustic Data, a UK-based wireless downhole technology company, said it has received a “significant” growth capital investment from Saudi-based Alturki Ventures. The investment will be used to scale global deployments of its retrofittable acoustic telemetry solutions.

PRODUCTS

New software optimizes drilling parameters in real time

eDrilling launched wellGuide, a real-time drilling parameter software that automatically optimizes tripping speed, flow, ROP and RPM within the well’s safeguards. The system is designed for rigs where an automated drilling upgrade requires a costly investment, or rigs that need a drilling advisory system for operation optimization. The software will detect all operational statuses to find which parameters to optimize. Auto-configuration and auto-calibration are key elements to deploying software without the need for back-office support, according to eDrilling.

Subsea wellhead technology helps lower installation cost, time

Baker Hughes launched a new subsea wellhead technology, the MS-2 Annulus Seal, to lower overall wellhead installation costs. The MS-2 integrates with Baker Hughes’ existing MS-800 wellhead system. It can be installed in a single trip, with an integrated lock ring that results in improved rig efficiency by providing immediate lockdown of up to 2 million lb force without the need for a second trip, saving rig time.

The MS-2 also provides easier access to wells, with no need for supplemental lockdown devices. The technology is tested to 20,000 psi and to 200 load cycles.

Click here to watch DC’s interview with Baker Hughes on the MS-2 Annulus Seal.

Oil States launches MPD and RGH system, 15K riser for HPHT, sour service

Oil States Industries launched its Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) and Riser Gas Handling (RGH) System, integrating MPD and RGH into a deepwater drilling riser. In conventional designs, the Lower Marine Riser Package (LMRP) must be disconnected to perform maintenance and requires pulling the joint to the surface. The MPD and RGH System features retrievable annular packers, which allow replacement and servicing without disconnecting the LMRP. It is completely serviceable over the well center. 

Separately, Oil States released the Merlin 15K HPHT Riser System, the first riser system ISO13628-7 rated for 126°C, sour service and 15,000 psi. Developed with TotalEnergies, it enables drilling of high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) wells in shallow water from a jackup rig instead of a higher-specification semisubmersible. It also offers simple plug-and-play advantages compared to conventional flanged systems.

Traditional shallow-water risers use numerous nuts and bolts per connection that must be replaced every time a well is drilled. The Merlin system eliminates nuts and bolts, employing just two parts to substantially reduce failure points, fatigue, costs and maintenance.

Click here to watch a video about Oil States’ MPD and RGH System.

Remote well monitoring system leverages satellite connectivity

Europe-based Hiber has released its Hiber-Hilo remote well monitoring technology in the US to help companies monitor remote wells. The system connects sensors on wellheads via a wireless, solar-powered gateway to satellites, and then on to an application programming interface or online dashboard. Multiple wellheads with sensors can be connected to the same gateway within a 5-mile radius. 

DNV offers new tool for safety, sustainability assessments

DNV has launched MyISRS, a digital self-assessment tool based on its International Sustainability Rating System. The service allows organizations to run an online, independent high-level survey in order to self-assess the quality and maturity of their business processes and practices.

Water-based hydraulic fluid designed for offshore rigs  

MacDermid Offshore Solutions released Erifon THF 32, a fire- and explosion-resistant HFC water-based hydraulic fluid. The high-viscosity lubricant and corrosion inhibitor meets all global and environmental compliances, including the US EPA Gulf of Mexico General GMG 290000 Permit requirements for riser tensioner fluids.

Smart valve positioner improves reliability, safety

Emerson’s new TopWorx PD Series smart valve positioner provides 100% control over valve position and integrates communication via a 4-20 mA loop signal and HART protocols. Users can extract valuable feedback through this communication and can monitor for trends that offer predictive maintenance insights.