People, Companies & Products
FMC to acquire Control Systems International
FMC Technologies has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Control Systems International (CSI), which supplies control and automation system solutions.
“The addition of CSI enhances FMC’s automation and controls technologies and supports our long-term strategy to expand our subsea production and processing systems,” Robert Potter, FMC’s executive vice president of energy systems, said.
Wärtsilä to supply power, positioning systems for Songa rigs
Wärtsilä Corp will supply the power and positioning system for two new drilling rigs ordered by Songa Offshore. The semisubmersibles are tailored for use by Statoil in mid-water segments.
The contract calls for a total of six 12-cylinder Wärtsilä 32 engines in V-configuration with ancillaries, and six Wärtsilä FS3500 main steerable thrusters, as well as the integration of the entire system for each rig. Additionally, the engines and thrusters will be equipped with Wärtsilä’s condition monitoring system.
Delivery will begin in 2012, and the first rig is scheduled to be operational in 2014. Wärtsilä has an option for two additional rigs.
IADC accredits Baker Hughes’ competence program
Baker Hughes became the first integrated oilfield service company to receive full accreditation of its competence management program from IADC. The Baker Hughes Competence Management Program, based on compliance, reliability and performance, gives employees training and tools necessary to meet and exceed current and upcoming operating requirements and government regulations.
TAM International to add new manufacturing facility
TAM International will build a manufacturing facility in the Houston area to support increased capacity for existing products and large offshore products for oil and gas production. The facility will house up to 300 employees.
Cactus Wellhead expands in Haynesville/Bossier
Cactus Wellhead opened a new facility in January in Center, Texas. It will provide wellheads, christmas trees and ancillary surface control equipment used during fracturing operations, plus customary field services required throughout the Haynesville/Bossier shale area.
Anadarko joins GOM-based spill-response group
Anadarko Petroleum has signed agreements with the Marine Preservation Association (MPA) and the Marine Spill Response Corp (MSRC) to access MSRC’s national and Gulf of Mexico (GOM)-based spill response resources for plan citation and spill response services.
Anadarko joins other MPA founding members BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, Murphy and Shell; and newer members Nexen, Noble and Statoil, in funding extensive surface spill response capability in the GOM.
Sioux equipment certified to meet UL508A requirements
Sioux Corp’s non-explosion-proof equipment operating at 600 volts AC or lower has become third-party approved to UL508A and CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 14-10, which ensures that the entire control panel assembly meets these safety requirements.
Although control panels are not required to be certified to UL508A or CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 14-10, manufacturing to its requirements ensures acceptance by inspection authorities in the US and Canada.
James Tuppen joins Wild Well Control
Wild Well Control has hired James Tuppen as manager of international well control operations to be based in Dubai. Mr Tuppen has more than 30 years of experience in the oil and gas industry.
“With his strong pressure and well control experience, James will be a great asset to our Middle East/North Africa region,” Freddy Gebhardt, president of Wild Well Control, said.
EDS hires Joseph Devoltz as HSE/QA manager
Environmental Drilling Solutions (EDS) has named Joseph E. Devoltz manager of health, safety and environment/quality assurance. Mr Devoltz previously worked for MI-SWACO, where he provided support to operations and management.
Apache promotes Harris to executive vice president HR
Apache Corp’s board of directors has elected Margery M. Harris as executive vice president of human resources. She joined Apache in 2007 as vice president of human resources and was promoted to senior vice president in 2011.
Ms Harris began her professional career as a land woman at Shell.
Statoil awards AGR a well management agreement
AGR has been awarded a frame agreement, which includes the possibility for total well management services with Statoil. The contract period is for two years with the option for an additional two, plus two extensions.
The contract includes the possibility of executing, planning, operations and post-well activity out of Stavanger, Stjørdal and northern Norway.
PRODUCTS
RFID Pipe Tracker tested in harsh-environment applications
Holland1916 has introduced a RFID tag solution, Pipe Tracker, for use in harsh oil and gas field applications. For the past six months, customers have piloted the reusable Pipe Tracker for well completions, including fracturing operations. The tool can automatically identify that the correct item is loaded for transport, provides immediate access to inspection records, monitors check-in and check-out actions, and improves efficiencies in maintenance operations.
The stainless steel design allows the RFID tag to meet IP69 IK-10 standards.
Duraband NC fit for wells in harsh environments
Hardbanding Solutions released Duraband NC for high-pressure/high-temperature, sour gas, highly deviated and geothermal wells. Non-cracking Duraband NC is applied 100% crack-free so that high temperatures, steam, abrasives and drilling fluids cannot penetrate into and underneath the hardband. It also offers superior wear resistance and longer downhole life, thereby reducing drilling costs.
Quadraplex mud pump built with clean-sheet design
Drilling Contractor visited the manufacturing facility of White Star Pump Co in Waller, Texas, to view a demonstration of the company’s quadraplex mud pump. Click to read more about the pump and watch an exclusive video interview.
Ghost Reamer developed for horizontal shale drilling
Stabil Drill has introduced the Stabil Drill Ghost Reamer for horizontal shale drilling.
Ghost Reamer, an eight-bladed polycrystalline diamond compact reamer, allows the wellbore to be cleaned and cleared on rigs with a top drive by backreaming and on rigs without a top drive by pulling out to the top of the curve and then rotating forward until reaching total depth, which eliminates wiper trips.
Preferred Sands debuts resin-coated product
Preferred Sands has debuted its first environmentally sustainable resin-coated sand product to service the frac sand industry. The resin-coated products do not leach any chemicals, do not create dust, have no VOCs and are manufactured at lower process temperatures, requiring less energy and reducing the transmissions found in traditional coating operations.
SandHog hopper tee designed for wear resistance
Bulk Tank Inc (BTI) is developing a new hopper tee for extreme wear resistance in highly abrasive situations. The SandHog Hopper Tee is projected to last twice as long as conventional abrasion resistant tees due to a combination of patented design features and a special iron alloy.
AutoTrak Curve RSS can achieve 15°/100 ft build rate
Baker Hughes’ AutoTrak Curve Rotary Steerable System is designed to drill vertical, curve and horizontal sections in one run to maximize available pay zones and reduce the number of trips.
The system achieves high build rates of more than 15°/100 ft, and a gamma ray detector is integrated near the bit to allow precise geosteering. The rotary steerable is a closed-loop system that takes commands from the surface to place the wellbore in the desired direction and inclination.
Baker Hughes will launch it at the IADC/SPE Drilling Conference and Exhibition in San Diego this March.
Click here to read more about the AutoTrak Curve Rotary Steerable System.
Weatherford awarded license for ExxonMobil’s MazeFlo
Weatherford International recently secured ExxonMobil Upstream Research Co’s first global license for MazeFlo sand control screens for oil wells.
MazeFlo is a patented technology developed by ExxonMobil to improve the reliability of wells completed in sand-prone reservoirs. MazeFlo technology uses redundant screens and a maze of compartments to provide a self-healing capability against sand entering the producing section of a well.
