People, Companies & Products

Kongsberg, Siemens ink partnership deal on variable frequency drives for offshore and maritime vessels

Kongsberg Maritime and Siemens have signed a partnership agreement based on delivery of components on variable frequency drive systems for offshore and maritime vessels.

The agreement will strengthen the partnership between the two companies, enabling them to develop a larger footprint in the marine markets. The partnership with Siemens helps Kongsberg to provide a wider scope of supply to its owner and yard customers through development of “K-Power” products for variable frequency drives. As part of the proposed partnership, Kongsberg will use its own design for variable frequency drives and Siemens components as part of the total energy solution.

Cordax, GR Energy services partner to provide logging-while-tripping in US

Cordax Evaluation Technologies has engaged GR Energy Services as a preferred partner to offer logging-while-tripping (LWT) services in the United States.

Proven with more than 600 logging runs to date, the patented formation evaluation technique allows wireline-quality open-hole logs to be recorded immediately after drilling has been completed while the drill pipe is being tripped to surface. LWT measurements include gamma ray, spectral gamma ray, compensated neutron, compensated density and dual induction logs.

Rosneft, BP, Schlumberger agree to collaborate on seismic R&D

Rosneft, BP and Schlumberger have announced agreements for collaboration on seismic research and development. The agreements were signed at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia, by Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin and President of BP Russia David Campbell. Schlumberger was represented by President for Russia and Central Asia Gokhan Saygi. Under the terms of the agreements, Rosneft will join as an equal partner in BP’s ongoing project with Schlumberger’s seismic business, WesternGeco, to develop innovative cableless onshore seismic acquisition technology. The technology aims to revolutionize the design and acquisition of 2D and 3D seismic surveys, which in turn will improve subsurface imaging and the efficiency of exploration, appraisal and field development.

Weatherford to supply sand screens, upper completions products for sakhalin

Weatherford International has won two large contracts with a supermajor operator for sand screens and for upper completions products, including gas-lift equipment, chemical-injection equipment, subsurface safety valves and downhole measurement tools.

Under these two multiyear contracts, Weatherford will supply the equipment to multiple rig lines drilling extended-reach wells on Sakhalin Island.

Patterson-UTI energy to acquire Warrior Rig

Patterson-UTI Energy has entered into an agreement to acquire Warrior Rig and certain related entities. Based in Calgary, Warrior designs, manufactures and services high-spec rig components with a focus on top drive technology for improved drilling performance. The pending transaction is subject to customary closing conditions.

McNeel to succeed Lieungh as Sevan Marine CEO

Carl Lieungh will step down as CEO of Sevan Marine, effective 1 January 2017, the company announced. The Board of Directors has appointed the current CFO, Reese McNeel, as the new CEO. Mr Lieungh will continue as an adviser to the Board until the end of 2017.

“We are very pleased that Reese McNeel has accepted to lead the company,” said Erling Øverland, Chairman of the Board. “Reese is already a key member of Sevan Marine’s management team and has been instrumental for the company in its current phase of development and in managing the challenges Sevan Marine faces.”

Vallourec finalizes merger in Brazil

Vallourec has finalized the merger of Vallourec Tubos do Brasil (VBR) and Vallourec & Sumitomo Tubos do Brasil (VSB). Vallourec holds a majority stake in the new entity, called Vallourec Soluções Tubulares do Brasil. “The successful merger of VBR and VSB is an important step in the development of a highly competitive production hub in Brazil,” Philippe Crouzet, Chairman of the Management Board, commented.

Sparrows, SapuraKencana form partnership

Sparrows Offshore Services and SapuraKencana Technology are forming a partnership to provide offshore and onshore crane services. This will include manufacturing, supply, operations, maintenance and overhaul of offshore and onshore cranes for the oil and gas industry in Malaysia.

New company established to provide water solutions

A new oilfield services company called Gradiant Energy Services (GES) has been established. Founded by engineers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, GES provides solutions and services for treatment, reuse and recycling of water in the oil and gas industry.

Products

Baker Hughes introduces Kymera Xtreme hybrid drill bits

Baker Hughes has announced the commercial release of its Kymera XTreme (XT) hybrid drill bits. The bits, which combine the strengths of PDC and tricone bit technology, offer the smooth and consistent performance of previous generations of hybrid bits while significantly improving penetration rates and run life.

Kymera XT drill bits are available in a variety of designs, each capable of addressing specific challenges in numerous applications, formation types and hole sizes.

RWIS can pump up to 200 bbl/min of kill mud through single relief well

Trendsetter Engineering and Add Energy have combined their expertise in well control engineering and equipment design to develop the Relief Well Injection Spool (RWIS).

The RWIS is designed to pump up to 200 bbl/min of kill mud through a single relief well utilizing multiple vessels as opposed to the conventional method of multiple relief wells. In regions such as Norway, where the governing regulatory agency only grants permits to drill wells that can be killed with a single relief well, the RWIS can provide a strategic solution that will enable drilling of both shallow and deep prolific reservoirs. In some cases, the RWIS may provide a tangible cost reduction in the range of $2 million by omitting a casing string to reduce dynamic kill requirements in the event of a blowout.

Sandvik inaugurates fully automated OCTG ultrasonic testing facility

Sandvik has inaugurated a fully automated ultrasonic testing facility for pipes. Ultrasonic testing was the limiting factor in achieving maximum output with the existing facility. To solve this, Sandvik has invested not only in capacity but also state-of-the-art technology to meet the industry’s toughest requirements for defect detection. Work commenced on the project in August last year, with commissioning and site acceptance testing taking place prior to the test facility’s inauguration.

CubeLink improves drilling waste transportation

Cubility has launched CubeLink, which safely and cost effectively transports drilling waste directly from shale shakers or Cubility’s MudCube solids control system to a storage unit or final processing unit on a drilling rig. The system is targeted at onshore and offshore drilling contractors and oil companies that are looking to make their rigs more efficient in handling cuttings, facilitate the transportation of cuttings from their drilling facilities, improve HSE, and reduce waste handling and drilling fluid costs.

New-generation MWD shock absorber deployed for field testing

LORD Corp has deployed the Generation 3.0 prototypes of the SoftShoe product line for field testing. It was developed to protect probe-style MWD tool strings from high-energy axial shock. Specifically, this new generation is designed with a dual compression compliance element, compared with single compression in previous versions, to provide additional longevity. The improved design ensures that whether a net compressive or a net tensile load is applied, the proprietary-working elastomer section is put into compression.

Lightweight, dual-barrier HPHT riser system can be deployed by jackup

Aquaterra Energy and Plexus Holdings have developed a lightweight, dual-barrier HPHT riser system that can be deployed by a jackup to enable a viable and cost-efficient alternative to semisubmersible installation for HPHT well operations. The technology is suitable for shallow water depths up to 150 m.

By uniting Aquaterra Energy’s HPHT riser system and Plexus’ POS-GRIP wellhead engineering technology, an inner riser string is installed inside a conventional high-pressure riser to span the gap between a dry surface BOP and a wet subsea tree. It provides full 20,000-psi capability and utilizes all metal-to-metal gas-tight seals on both the external and internal riser string.

New Halliburton drilling motors focus on overcoming ‘chunking’

Sperry Drilling, a Halliburton business, has announced the release of GeoForce Endure and StrataForce Endure motors, the latest additions to the drilling motor product line focused on increasing reliability in harsh drilling environments. Challenging drilling operations can cause motors to degrade, resulting in nonproductive time due to “chunking.”

This common failure occurs when the elastomer across the motor’s power section, especially at the lower end of the stator, breaks down. Chunking limits the life and performance of motors, leading to premature product replacement and nonproductive time.

The Endure motor technology is designed to overcome this issue with a proprietary metal helix that controls vibration and prevents overloading the stator elastomer.