New products

Vol. 232 No. 10

Software platform helps derisk exploration prospects

Schlumberger has released the Play-to-Prospect Risk plug-in for the Petrel E&P software platform. This technology offers an integrated petroleum-system-based assessment to consistently evaluate key risk elements from play to prospect. The software takes geological elements—trap, reservoir, charge and seal—and converts them into chance maps through a suite of transform methods. Scenarios are compared to determine play limits and identify areas for high-grading to support rapid ranking of opportunities. The process seamlessly migrates from play-scale to prospect-level assessment, all within Petrel.

HPHT tubing rotator for harsh conditions

R&M Energy Systems offers the Rodec High Temperature, High Pressure Tubing Rotator, a cost-effective solution for evenly distributing wear about the internal circumference of production tubing. Field usage shows that Rodec Tubing Rotators extend tubing life by six to 10 times, resulting in reduced operating costs and less downtime for maintenance. Capable of operating in temperatures up to 650°F  and pressures to 5,000 psi, the rotator easily adapts to severe application conditions. It is compatible with any wellhead configuration that complies with API 6A specifications. Additionally, the unit can rotate any size of production tubing with any API thread configuration.

Monitoring system for mooring chains

Remote Ocean Systems (ROS) has introduced an advanced Anchor Bolster Video Monitoring System that provides high performance video of mooring chains, wires and anchors and is easily controlled by one person from the winch cabin. This system incorporates high resolution video inspection equipment mounted on a compact carbon-steel deployment frame that is raised and lowered by a pneumatic winch on stainless steel wires to the four anchor bolster mounts. The system includes a sophisticated image-stabilized camera, pan and tilt, dual high intensity dimmable LED lights, an integrated controller and console and stainless steel deployment wires.

4-C seabed imaging and analysis system

Sercel has launched a new generation of its SeaRay system, SeaRay 428, which is designed to deliver redeployable 4-C seabed seismic acquisition. The SeaRay 428 offers enhanced productivity and data quality for ocean bottom cable surveys and addresses demands for larger channel accounts and greater layout flexibility. The system has three new modular functionalities, which include an in-sea module, the 37-km cable length capability SBLU (seabed line unit), and a two-fold increase in line data rate to 16Mb/s. The SeaRay 428 can now also integrate unmanned satellite recorders, which offers greater flexibility during deployment and roll-out with real-time quality control of all system parameters and seismic data.

Wireless corrosion monitoring system

Emerson Process Management launched its Roxar CorrLog & SandLog Wireless transmitters, which combine Emerson’s Smart Wireless technology with Roxar corrosion and sand monitoring instrumentation to provide a wireless integrity management solution for protecting downstream and upstream assets. The wireless transmitters provide a  reduction in installation costs compared to wired online systems and will also allow for monitoring in previously inaccessible areas. All probe functions Electrical Resistance (ER), Linear Polarization Resistance (LPR) and Galvanic are integrated within the Roxar CorrLog transmitter and multi-element sand/erosion probes are incorporated within the Roxar SandLog transmitter to provide increased accuracy.

High speed, large memory allow for continuous mud log printing

Imaging Systems group iSys has introduced the 4th generation well and mud logging printer, the iTerra Elite II 8.5” Color LED, developed specifically for the oil & gas market. Printing full color with speeds up to 6 in. per second, the printer’s advance features allow for unattended, continuous printing with resolutions of 300 or 600 dpi. The automatic top of form consistently starts on the correct fanfold sheet and the automatic cutter eliminates labor. The printer is powered by single pass color LED digital print technology, enabling faster document through put, delivering exceptional image quality and enhanced detail. Enabled by a 532MHz, 64 bit PowerPC RIP and 768MB of RAM, the large hard drive allows incoming plot data storage for multi-copy printing.

Variable-bore rams

Variable Bore Rams, in conjunction with Cameron, will begin offering 11 in. and 31/2—51/2-in. variable-bore rams. The new variable-bore ram closes on 31/2—51/2-in. casings, allowing customers to catch most pipe sizes without changing rams. The new variable bore rams will be available internationally in October and include types U, UL and UM 3/10M.

Largest synchronized release of E&P software

Paradigm has introduced the Paradigm 2011 release, which is the largest synchronized release of exploration, development, and production technology in the company’s history. In addition to the introduction of a rich set of geoscience and engineering applications, this release enhances multi-disciplinary processes, enabled and strengthened by expanded data integration, an intuitive user interface, ergonomic design, and performance enhancements enabled by the increased use of multiple cores (CPU and GPU). The release also expands Windows 7 platform support to Paradigm’s full interpretation suite.

New mid-sized engines meet EPA Tier 4 Final standards

Caterpillar has introduced  Cat C27 ACERT and C32 ACERT petroleum engines that meet U.S. EPA Tier 4 Final emissions standards. Suitablefor OEMs who manufacture mid-sized equipment for pressure pumping, cementing and well fracturing operations, these engines feature technological improvements in key systems to achieve Tier 4 Final status and also have been designed and validated to further improve fuel efficiency and durability.

Mobile on-site flowback water treatment

Ecologix introduced its new mobile system, Integrated Treatment Systems (ITS), which is capable of cleaning flowback and produced water from fracturing operations at the well head.  This water—cleaned to as low as 3 NTU—can then be re-injected back into the well without fear of environmental harm. The end result is water clean enough to inject back into the frac site, at less than one-half the cost of previous technologies. An 18-wheeler deposits the ITS unit at the well head, pre-wired and pre-plumbed. Setup proceeds quickly using standard cam-lock style quick connects or ANSI flange connections. Power comes from a mobile generator or site-provided power source. Upon completion of drilling, a truck simply moves the rig to the next wellhead.
The system is pre-fabricated on moveable skids or truck trailer, with all the necessary controls, piping, valves, instrumentation, pumps, mixers and chemical injection modules. The water treatment system clarifies wastewater through a process that mixes the wastewater under high pressure with air and special chemistry and then releases it all at atmospheric pressure in a basin. Suspended solids and other matter float immediately to the surface and can then be automatically removed from the system by a scrapper mechanism. The new business model behind ITS can cut the average cost of treating produced water by as much as 50% while allowing drillers to focus their efforts and manpower on generating oil and gas profits, rather than on water treatment.

New calibration and switching module

Built on a modular platform, the new Swagelok Calibration and Switching Module (CSM) delivers the ability to select from up to 10 samples and two calibration streams. The highly configurable unit features Swagelok modular platform component (MPC) products and the Swagelok stream selector system (SSV series) for final conditioning of samples before analysis. Users can select the configuration required for a specific system, and each CSM is delivered preassembled for easy integration into existing or new analyzer systems. Installed directly before a process analyzer, the CSM conditions and selects process streams, or selects a calibration stream for analysis. The standard model accepts up to 10 process and two calibration fluids, either all liquid or all gas.

Natural gas-driven 50 MW power turbine

GE has introduced the FlexAero LM6000-PH natural gas-driven 50-MW turbine for power generation in remote locations, such as oil and gas platforms, independently of a power grid. The skid-mounted turbine makes use of GE’s DLE2.0 technology, which reduces NOx emission to 15 ppm without the need for water. In a conventional gas turbine, up to 26 million gallons of water are required to dilute the CO2 and NOx emissions. The LM6000-PH requires only a 5-minute startup and can ramp up at the rate of 50 MW per minute; twice the ramp-rate of today’s industry benchmark. A 60-Hz version of the LM6000-PH will be manufactured in Jacintoport near Houston at the legacy Stewart & Stevenson plant and a 50Hz version will be manufactured GE’s facility in Veresegyhaz, Hungary.

Vacuum debris removal tool

M-I SWACO has released the Well Scavenger vacuum debris removal tool, which is designed to capture and remove debris from the wellbore during intervention activities. Based on a modular design, the Well Scavenger tool comprises a single-nozzle fluid-driving engine, a debris screening module, and one or more debris chambers. The engine module internally generates and maintains an efficient localized reverse-circulation flow that achieves maximum lifting velocities without the need for high pump rates from the surface. The debris screening module filters the fluid to capture larger debris and is equipped with an internal magnet assembly to collect ferrous material.

New permanently attached shackle

Useful Products has introduced the “VIC-LOK” Shackle, the strongest domestically forged shackle in the market. The VIC-LOK is a captive, permanently attached shackle that improves safety by eliminating the possibility of using incorrect shackles. The shackles cannot be removed without being cut off or destroyed. This patent-pending design has a five-to-one load safety factor and is available in ½-in., 5/8-in., ¾-in., 7/8-in. and 1-in. sizes. The shackles have certified load ranges from three and one-half tons for the smallest to 13 tons for the largest.

Total water management solutions

Halliburton is offering a complete approach to meeting water needs for wellsite operations such as drilling, cementing and fracturing. With its new approach, Halliburton will serve as a primary supplier, handling all aspects of the water management process, including acquiring and providing necessary water volumes, as well as providing proper management of the combined wastewater. Both fresh water and recycled water will be available.

Cost-effective alternative for rotary steerables

Weatherford International  has developed the MotarySteerable Tool as a bridge between mud motors and rotary steerables. The new system for wellbore directional control uses continuous drillstring rotation above a positive displacement motor (PDM) and bent sub to combine many advantages of rotary steerable systems (RSS) with proven PDM technology. The system can be applied in different drilling conditions while offering an economic advantage to rotary well trajectory control. It provides full 3D directional control while maintaining drillstring rotation to effectively reduce drilling time and mitigate lost-in-hole risk in problematic drilling environments.

Safety device combats exposure in Arctic conditions

Reflex Marine has developed a safety accessory, which is designed to combat potential exposure to wind chill while performing crane transfers at low temperatures, for use with the FROG – the Arctic Thermal Pod.  In the unlikely event of a crane stoppage mid-transfer, passengers could be exposed to very low temperatures and significant wind chill effects for up to 20 minutes while waiting for repair, or performing a manual crane line descent. The FROG offers a very reliable means of personnel access, where the passengers are not reliant on ‘holding on’ while wearing gloves and with cold hands.  The Arctic Thermal Pod is made from heat-retaining Kevlar and flame-retardant PVC to provide a clear view.  It is stored behind the seat assembly of the FROG 6 and is activated by pulling a lanyard and tucking the cover under the feet and sides.  It has been designed for two men but can be used if only one is seated.  In addition, the pods are designed to be easily jettisoned if required.