Cactus Drilling, SLB to collaborate on automation

Cactus Drilling is entering into a strategic collaboration agreement with SLB to expand Cactus’ adoption of automated and autonomous drilling solutions. Under the agreement, Cactus will build on its use of SLB’s Precise automated drilling control systems by integrating DrillSync, SLB’s automated controls platform and software suite.

3t to provide training simulator technology to Oil India

UK-based 3t Drilling Systems was awarded a contract by Oil India to provide advanced simulator technology to enhance the operator’s workforce training. Alongside a five-year partnership agreement, 3t will deliver its DrillSIM:5000 Classic with enhanced capabilities for well intervention and Cyber Models to Oil India in the state of Assam, in partnership with 3t’s  in-country partner, Siam Services India.

The DrillSIM:5000 Classic, featuring cyber controls and 3D quad-screen graphics, provides hands-on experience in a realistic rig floor setting, from handling well control situations to dealing with equipment malfunction. Both simple and highly complex tasks and scenarios can be re-created to verify skills and competency in real-world situations.

The simulators are set for installation in Q3 2025.

ADNOC Drilling appoints Al Messabi as new CEO

ADNOC Drilling named Abdulla Ateya Al Messabi as its new CEO. Mr Al Messabi previously served as CEO of ADNOC Sour Gas and, prior to that, CEO of ADNOC Refining. Abdulrahman Abdulla Al Seiari, ADNOC Drilling’s current CEO, will retire at the end of the year.

Weatherford signs digital collaboration deal with AWS

Weatherford has selected Amazon Web Services (AWS) as its preferred cloud provider. Weatherford technologies such as the Modern Edge Platform and CygNet  will be migrated to AWS. Further, AWS will support the enhancement of Weatherford’s Unified Data Model and the WFRD Software Launchpad.

Expro secures multi-year tubular-running contracts

Expro has been awarded multi-year tubular-running services contracts by two major operators in the US Gulf, covering both deepwater drillships and platform rigs.

These awards integrate Expro’s technologies such as the Centri-FI platform. Expro will also deploy its Rig Integration Driller’s Control Package, iTONG and completions technologies.

IFS taps Juister to lead Energy & Resources team

IFS, a provider of enterprise cloud and industrial AI software, has appointed Shawn Juister as President, Energy & Resources. Mr Juister previously held global leadership positions across software, energy and asset-intensive industries, including senior roles at Hitachi Energy and RPM Global.

eDrilling renamed to Pions

eDrilling has changed its name to Pions to reflect efforts in “reimagining and advancing engineering through a new paradigm that integrates physics-based modeling with agentic and generative AI.”

Shipbroker SSY announces plans for rig business

Shipbroker SSY announced it plans to launch a dedicated offshore rig business later this year. Nicholas Wagner-Larsen, who has worked for Arctic Offshore Rig for the past decade, will join SSY in September to head up the new rig division.

SSY noted that it has been monitoring the rig business “for some time now,” and although the business has historically seen “a significant degree of volatility,” the broker now sees the market entering “a new and exciting phase of activity. So the timing feels right to launch a dedicated rig business,” said SSY Managing Partner Stanko Jekov.

Vertice Oil Tools expands with Greenwell acquisition 

Vertice Oil Tools, a provider of completions technology, announced the acquisition of Greenwell Engineering. Greenwell specializes in completion and production solutions for unconventional oil and gas applications.

HMH, JSA Loadmaster sign cooperation agreement

JSA Loadmaster Arabia and HMH have entered into a strategic cooperation agreement to deliver joint solutions to shipyards, as well as onshore and offshore rig operators, in Saudi Arabia.

Established in 2019, JSA Loadmaster was formed by bringing together the product lines and service offerings of Loadmaster Industries and Jackup Structures Alliance, in combination with a Saudi joint venture partner, Saudi Drill.

TWMA secures contract with BP in UK North Sea

Drilling waste management specialist TWMA has been awarded a contract with BP to provide drilling waste management services in the UK North Sea. The three-year agreement, which commenced in October 2024, includes the deployment of the RotoMill technology.

PRODUCTS

Intelligent frac pushed to new level in Colorado

Chevron and Halliburton have developed a new process that enables closed-loop, feedback-driven completions in Colorado. It combines automated stage execution with subsurface feedback to optimize delivery of energy into the wellbore without relying on human intervention. The capability enhances the previous implementation of autonomous hydraulic fracturing technology.

A combination of technologies from the wellsite to the cloud was required to enable this new approach. Halliburton’s ZEUS IQ intelligent fracturing platform, comprised of OCTIV auto frac and Sensori monitoring, provided the necessary closed feedback loop and control capability. Additionally, Chevron’s hydraulic fracturing and subsurface knowledge was built into an algorithm.

With this work, operations can now react to a localized environment through real-time adaptation rather than performance forecasting. Chevron expects this real-time adaptive feedback loop will help further drive efficiencies and improve overall asset performance.

Software aims to optimize battery system usage

Emerson, a developer of advanced automation solutions, released a line of battery energy storage system (BESS) solutions featuring energy and asset management software for its Ovation Green portfolio of renewable energy solutions.

The BESS connects devices and systems across manufacturers, aggregating and contextualizing battery storage data into actionable insights to help optimize battery usage and extend battery life.

Ovation Green BESS solutions include a specialized battery algorithm suite that streamlines battery control through customizable function blocks that distribute proportioned setpoints to individual components, such as inverters and battery management systems. The resulting control strategy automatically optimizes charge and discharge cycles and grid interactions.

Emerson collaborated with Zitara Technologies to integrate battery management with the Ovation Automation Platform, providing increased visibility and more granular control of all batteries.

AI powers autonomous methane emission detector

Percepto, a provider of autonomous inspection and monitoring solutions for critical infrastructure, released an AI-powered emission detector that enables remote methane detection and compliance reporting at scale. The AI Emission Detector flags emissions in real time, allowing operators to sidestep big data challenges when conducting high-frequency optical gas imaging (OGI) inspections with drones.

Percepto’s fully autonomous drones capture OGI video on scheduled missions, while AI analyzes the footage to identify and flag potential methane emissions. Verified alerts are sent to stakeholders with precise geolocation, timestamps, environmental data and dwell time, enabling more focused response efforts.

The system detects emissions down to the component level.

Honeywell cybersecurity solutions backed by AI power

Honeywell introduced a suite of AI-enabled cybersecurity solutions designed to bolster the defenses of operational technology (OT) environments:

• Honeywell Cyber Proactive Defense, which utilizes AI and behavioral-based analytics to detect anomalies in OT cyber behavior; also includes deception technology, which uses decoys within the network to help divert attackers.
• Honeywell OT Security Operations Center, a vendor-agnostic and agentless service designed to provide industrials with advanced capabilities tailored to OT environments to monitor for early signs of a cyberattack.
• Honeywell Digital Prime Ecosystem, features the Solution Enhancement Support Program, Enabled Services and Assurance 360 in one platform.

3D resistivity service targets horizontal wells

Halliburton’s EarthStar 3DX horizontal look-ahead resistivity service provides operators with geological insights into horizontal wells up to 50 ft before penetration by the bit. Unlike conventional mapping technology, the service helps operators anticipate formation changes, optimize reservoir contact and hydrocarbon recovery.