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Vol. 230 No. 7 |
Tube stub pressure gauge
The PTS series pressure gauge from Winters Instruments is specifically designed to be used with tube fitting applications. The gauge is available in high pressure ranges from full vacuum to 5,000 psi, in both bottom and back connections. It can be used with most double ferrule tube fittings, such as Parker ALok, and can be installed where space is limited or where a teflon-free connection is required. Due to its ¼-in. tube stub connection, the gauge allows for 360° orientation so the pressure reading can be more easily accessible. For applications with vibration, it is liquid-filled to aid in stabilizing the pointer. The PTS series is constructed from stainless steel.
Pumps for FPSO applicationsProgressing cavity pumps from Moyno Inc. provide enhanced performance in upper- and lower-deck FPSO applications in the oil and gas industry. The pumps provide the versatility of positive-displacement pumps, handling clean and oily liquids, but also handle corrosive fluids and thick, abrasive slurries and sludges with viscosities over 1 million cycles per second. The product line includes models capable of generating flowrates up to 2,500 gpm and pressures to 2,100 psi. The pumps are low maintenance, with long service life in both topside and hull-side applications. The progressing-cavity design results in a gentle, low-shear, pulsation-free discharge. A variety of Ultra-Flex stator elastomers and Ultra-Shield rotor coatings sustain peak pumping efficiencies, minimize maintenance and extend useful service life in extremely corrosive and/or abrasive service environments. Typical applications include desalters, LP and HP flares, closed drain, sludge drain, oily bilge water, diesel fuel generator feed and drilling mud transfer.
Portable inspection probe
GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies has announced the release of XL Vu, a portable video probe designed for basic inspection where operators need a quick view of hard-to-access areas. The probe gives inspectors access to everything required to conduct accurate inspections. Features include: intuitive controls, servo motor probe articulation, standard AC corded or upgraded battery-powered options, custom shipping and storage case, 1 GB of internal flash memory, one USB 2.0 port, VGA video out and full tip optic interchangeability with secure double threads.
Integrated petroleum software
Paradigm has introduced the Paradigm Rock & Fluid Canvas 2009/Epos 4.0 integrated software suite. The software is a complete geophysics, geology, petrophysics and drilling engineering suite for hydrocarbon detection, development and exploitation. Based on customer and industry input, Rock & Fluid Canvas 2009/Epos 4.0 provides an open and scalable framework to support a continuum of multidisciplinary solutions that transform field data to high-quality subsurface images and earth models. Paradigm has also released Higher Order Workflows (HOW), a subsurface knowledge-building process that allows geoscientists and engineers to concurrently apply these integrated solutions to a range of exploration and development objectives for improved confidence in prospecting and reserves estimation.
Power module for offshore drillingCummins Inc. has launched the QSK60 offshore drilling power module. Rated at 1,855 hp (1,383 kW) at 1,200 rpm with a 10% overload capability, the power module is integrated with a Cummins-manufactured AvK DSG99 alternator at 2,150 kV-A and 690 volts. It is specifically designed for offshore oil and gas drilling applications, with the requirements of high-hour, hard-duty-cycle applications without the need for a major midlife top-end overhaul. The Cummins Modular Common Rail (MCR) fuel system enables full-authority electronic control over fuel timing, quantity, pressure and delivery rate shape. Precision control over the number of injection events enables optimum performance, fuel
economy, smooth power delivery, improved idle stability and significantly reduced engine noise. The MCR fuel system allows the power module to achieve a 4–9% fuel economy advantage over other Tier 1 and Tier 2 products of similar speeds and ratings, and also gives the power module a fine-tuned fuel calibration to meet EPA Marine Tier 2, IMO Tier 1 and EC Directive regulations. The QSK60 offers an electronic information system with a C-Command Elite and Elite Plus panel designed to protect and enhance engine performance. The information system and special panels provide controls that are able to withstand marine environments and use flexible presentations of engine parameters, multilingual touch screens with full-color text and graphics, and remote panel options to simultaneously monitor up to eight engines. The engine can also accept speed signals in 0–10 VDC, 0-200 mA, or Modbus protocols.
PDC bit for directional control
The new SideWinder PDC drillbit from Encore Bits LLC is designed to provide improved directional performance on both steerable motors and rotary steerable applications. The design of the bit eliminates the gauge pads in favor of making the cutting structure as active in the lateral aspect as it is in the vertical. Additionally, the cutting structure blends smoothly and uninterruptedly into the flank of the bit and upwards into the relief back to the shank. This upwards component allows the bit to be pulled while rotating through the tight curves, similar to a keyseat mill, and to ream the upper side of the curve to enlarge the radius as much as possible for casing clearance. For rotary steerable systems, especially pusher-type tools, the bit can drill laterally reliably. For steerable motors, this allows it to make rapid and significant course corrections in a very short slide. It can eliminate BHA trips when drilling horizontal curves, reduces sliding time by 40–70% in the lateral, improves ROP during high-angle directional drilling and exhibits minimal vibration for longer LWD life.
SideWinder bits can be made more or less aggressive as required. In jobs requiring improved side loading but not excessively high build rates, the side loading can be muted by changes in cutter density, rake angles and the addition of shock arrestors behind the cutter structure. In similar fashion, if a very high lateral aggressiveness is required, rake angles can be decreased, loading increased by lowering cutter density and shock arrestors removed to maximize lateral depth of cut.
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