New products
New product and service offerings from company press releases.
Rotary-shouldered connections Grant Prideco has introduced TurboTorque rotary-shouldered connections for the most extreme drilling environments. The connections are designed specifically to deliver superior performance in deepwater, ultra-deep, extended reach, HPHT and horizontal wells. Rather than designing one thread form and extrapolating upwards and downwards throughout the product line, the company engineered multiple connection designs to meet the different needs of each pipe size. The TurboTorque family of connections features a double-start thread form that reduces revolutions from stab to makeup by at least 50%. The connections were engineered and tested to validate design and performance across all sizes. Tests included finite element analysis, stress concentration factor determination, torque to yield, multiple make-and-break, comparative fatigue testing and multiple field trials.
Pipeline CO2 detector
Well analysis while drilling INTEQ and Knowledge Systems have introduced the BEACON Remote Pressure Management (RPM) service. Based on while-drilling analysis of wellbore pressure and stability factors, the service is designed to help operators reduce costs, lower non-productive time (NPT) and optimize casing programs. Downhole drilling and evaluation measurements are transferred from the well via the RigLink real-time data distribution system for while-drilling analysis by INTEQ's data monitoring and data management engineers and Knowledge Systems' pressure management engineers. The BEACON RPM service may be combined with INTEQ's full line of LWD tools, including the TesTrak service for real-time formation pressure and mobility data while drilling.
Laser moisture analysis A tunable diode laser (TDL) is a type of semiconductor-based laser that can be tuned to a very specific wavelength (or color) of light. SpectraSensors, a spinoff of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, developed long-wavelength (near infrared) tunable lasers and processor controls that enable users to precisely target specific molecules and detect small traces of gas. This enabled the company to offer a highly accurate moisture analyzer for natural gas producers and pipeline operators that requires virtually no maintenance. Conventional electrochemical or quartz crystal sensors start out accurate, but are exposed to corrosive contaminants in natural gas, so the probes become coated and clog up, and can provide false readings, resulting in wet gas. Conversely, the TDL-based moisture analyzers use ultra-precise laser spectroscopy to perform measurements in a sample cell. Because they are not exposed to corrosive contaminants, these analyzers perform within 2% accuracy over very long periods, do not drift, and can be used in a closed loop to control the blending of dry and wet gas. Moisture problems are detected in measurement intervals as frequent as 1 second, enabling practically instantaneous response, and thereby eliminating the chance that wet gas will get through between reading times.
Geological interpretation software Fugro-Jason announced the availability of PowerBench Geology for geological interpretation. This addition to the PowerBench suite was acquired from a large independent oil company that had invested more than 20 years in developing the underlying technology. PowerBench is a Windows-based application suite for geology, geophysics, petrophysics and engineering. PowerBench Geology enables unified handling of subsurface geology, wellbore equipment and production data. It features an integrated base map and interpretation canvas that handles tens of thousands of wells quickly and efficiently, and a geologic cross section builder that features structural and stratigraphic cross section interpretation. The suite encompasses the E&P workflow and includes petrophysical interpretation, seismic and rock property volume interpretation, geologic interpretation, mapping, framework and 3D property modeling, and streamline simulation.
Multi-layer graphite gaskets Garlock Sealing Technologies has introduced GRAPH-LOCK 3128 Hochdruck gaskets. These gaskets offer better handling and safety than other metal-inserted graphite sheet products, and also handle high pressure better than standard graphite gaskets, because of reduced load loss and better torque retention. Hochdruck gaskets cut more easily than other graphite sheets and eject from gasket cutting dies more easily. They resist being drawn out by the gasket cutting die, so they are not as hazardous as standard stainless steel foil reinforced graphite gaskets. The gasket's bonding agent reduces leaks by 2.5 times compared to other gaskets, increases the graphite-to-graphite strength ratio and greatly improves sealability, maintaining tight seal even during pressure fluctuations.
Portable 3-D visualization Fakespace Systems Inc. announced that its Rapidly Operational Virtual Reality (ROVR) visualization system is now available. ROVR is a transportable, cost-efficient, large-scale visualization system that offers rapid set-up and immaculate image quality, the system features a large 6-ft. × 8-ft. rear projection screen. A tent-like enclosure encompasses the entire system, blocking overhead light and creating a cohesive, stand-alone unit. No tools are required for setup, which takes as little as 15 minutes, and all components are stored and shipped in custom-built ATA 300 Category 1. At the system's core is the Beacon DMSX+, a stereoscopic projection device that utilizes two light engines, each generating 1,400 × 1,050 resolution and 3,500 lumens of brightness for a sharp, crisp display under normal indoor lighting conditions. It can be switched between passive stereo only or simultaneous active and passive stereo modes. To enhance immersive viewing experiences, a variety of wired or wireless motion tracking systems and interaction devices are available. Audio equipment and two PC workstations can be built into the projector enclosure to create a truly self-contained, portable visualization system.
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Floating Roof Tank (FRT) shunts are used to conduct stray electrical energy, but in fact they can trigger tank fires, according to tests conducted for the American Petroleum Institute. A bulletin from API RP 545 task group "Lightning Protection for Above Ground Storage Tanks" concludes that shunts can generate showers of sparks during lightning strikes. "If there is a gap between the seal and the tank wall during a lightning strike, and if a flammable mixture is present, a tank fire may result." Floating installations are more susceptible to unintended sparking and fire than other oil and gas facilities, due to their flash points being reached more easily. A new grounding technology called Retractable Grounding Assembly (RGA), developed by Lightning Eliminators & Consultants, Inc., provides increased protection from lightning and static discharge-related FRT fires while minimizing the need for traditional grounding maintenance. The RGA provides a very low impedance, direct connection between the tank roof and shell, using a wide thick-braided wire cable, spring-loaded on a heavy stainless steel reel. With impedance of 1 ohm or less – compared to shunts with impedance as high as 500 ohms – this method offers a reliable, full-time grounding connection that can help prevent lightning or static discharge-related petroleum fires. It is easy to install on new and existing tanks, as well as easy to inspect, test and maintain. The RGA cable, constructed from 864 strands of #30 AWG copper wire, is tinned for extra corrosion protection and braided together to form a strap 1.625-in. wide by 0.11-in. thick. Its path of impedance is kept to a practical minimum by a combination of the shortest path, wide braid and constant spring tension. Its spring-loaded reel extends cable as the roof descends, and retracts it as the roof rises, so the line remains taut at the minimal distance needed for grounding, assuring minimal impedance and faster, more reliable grounding.
The new full-flow gas detector from Sensor Electronics plugs directly into a pipeline, measuring actual CO2 levels in the natural gas stream, rather than simply sampling a by-pass portion. A self-contained detector requires no venting or flaring of waste gas. The detector is unaffected by dirt, corrosion, contaminants or extremes of temperature and humidity. It sends a 4/20-mA signal showing actual CO2 values at any gas flow, regardless of velocity, pressure or concentration. The detector measures 4.5 in. long by 3 in. wide by 5.5 in. high (including 1-in. boss). Operating temperature range is 0 – 150°F, and humidity range is 0 – 99% RH.
