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Vol. 231 No. 11 |
Laser welding system
CRC-Evans Automatic Welding has introduced the Vision welding system, incorporating laser vision welding and inspection technology. Engineered to reduce total welding time on the pipeline while increasing quality, the system provides flexibility in the field. Components include the V Weld, an external welding machine with adaptive weld technology; the V Bevel for bevel inspection at the beveling station; the V Root for root inspection at the welding station; and the V Purge, a fully automatic purge control system to control and monitor the purge chamber parameters. The technology allows real-time tracking at higher speeds; real-time closed loop control; adjustment to travel speed, wire feed speed, and oscillation width to achieve adaptive fill around the pipe; and inspection and reporting of the bevel and root bead in the critical path for immediate corrections. A computer report of all welds and inspections is available as a permanent record.
Cooling brakes with seawater Wichita Clutch has developed the AquaMaKKs composite water jackets, which use seawater for heat dissipation on clutches and brakes offshore. In a tensioning brake, alternating friction discs and water jackets are used to transmit torque by applying axial force from the pneumatic, hydraulic or spring set actuator. Industry standard has been to use cast iron water jackets, alternated with copper wear plates, to dissipate the high heat generated. Offshore, salt corrosion creates maintenance issues that required frequent repair or replacement of the cast iron water jackets. The composite material in the new water jackets, a polymer blend that is as strong as the original iron parts, was developed by Wichita working with a partner firm. Structural testing did not cause a failure in the AquaMaKKs 36-in.-diameter composite water jacket even when the part was stressed to more than four times maximum design load. The system also prevents corrosion from any water source with a high PH value. The composite jackets also offer weight reduction, with some units less than half the weight of similar-sized iron jackets. This is significant in the multi-plate (friction disc) design in which each of the copper friction discs requires two water jackets.
Wellbore cleaning agent
FORTA Corp. has introduced Super-Sweep Fiber, a hole-cleaning agent for the drilling industry. The product mechanically increases the carrying capacity of drilling fluids without affecting viscosity, and provides a cost-effective method of sweeping for all types of drilling operations. Super-Sweep is a specially treated synthetic fiber made from 100% virgin materials in a monofilament form. It is produced in uniform lengths to allow for rapid dispersion and uniform flowability in a wide range of fluids, is also chemically inert and non-toxic, and is compatible with all water, oil, and synthetic fluids. It avoids mud-ups when using water or brines, removes metal fragments and helps prevent tight connections while drilling or on trips. It is stable to 300°F.
PDC bits with improved ROP The SideWinder series, introduced by Encore Bits, is a PDC bit design that can produce rock-bit build rates and controllability along with PDC life and improved ROP. The bits’ continuous cutting structure wraps around the sides of each bit and up-hole. This eliminates gage pads and significantly increases the lateral cutting ability of the bits while reducing friction and drag on directional tools. SideWinder bits are available in most traditional bit design layouts, including twin cutters. The technology has been field-proven on rotary steerable systems (RSS) and steerable motors offshore and on land in the US. Offshore, SideWinder was successfully demonstrated for RSS in 121/4-, 105/8-, 97/8- and 81/2-in. holes sizes. They can get off a cement plug without time spent drilling at a sustained high ROP, eliminating slow, non-productive time when sidetracking. The bits drill slightly oversized holes, which helps in getting casing to the bottom on steerable motors, particularly in higher dogleg sidetracks or bypass operations. On land, they produce 8–100°/100-ft build rates in 83/4-in. hole on 1.830 bent angle motors. On a 2.120 motor, they can deliver 11–150°/100-ft build rates with controllable toolface in 83/4-in. hole. SideWinder bits have been used to produce build rates as high as 280°/100-ft on a 2.120 offset steerable motor, and smaller bit sizes can produce higher build rates on reduced motor offset angles. They have multiple directional uses and can be tuned to fit RSS-push or RSS-orient on any type of steerable motor. For fast-drilling marine sediments and well avoidance, the bits deliver angle change reliability. In harder formations, they provide the dogleg security and toughness the formation requires.
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