New products

Vol. 232 No. 9

New well containment system dedicated to emergency response

Wild Well Control has launched its Global Subsea Well Containment System (GSWCS), the only dedicated emergency response system of its kind available for immediate and global deployment. The system is purpose-built for capping a well, subsea containment, debris removal and deploying subsea dispersant. These elements were designed and packaged based on recent experiences with the Macondo well blowout in the Gulf of Mexico. Wild Well has invested $37–-40 million in the equipment.

A powerful new lightweight and compact portable data acquisition system, Dash  MX, has been introduced by Astro-Med, Inc. The system includes a full-featured high-speed multi-channel system designed and engineered for capturing high-frequency data and transient signals as well as long-term trending. The standard Dash MX records up to eight channels of isolated voltage inputs to an internal 320, GByte hard drive at sample rates up to 200 KHz per channel. High-frequency data captures can be saved directly to hard drive for review and post analysis. Includes support for IRIG time codes A, B & E. The system is built into a compact, lightweight (20 lbs. including input modules), and rugged case for field or lab use. Operating on 100 to 264 VAC, the system includes an internal rechargeable battery for power backup and up to 30 minutes of operation. The Dash MX provides a wide variety of capabilities, including low-pass, high-pass, band-pass and band-stop filtering.

Real-time reservoir fluid characterization technology

Baker Hughes has introduced the next generation of its Reservoir Characterization eXplorer (RCX) and In-situ Fluids eXplorer (IFX) formation testing services. Used jointly, these services accurately characterize fluid properties in real time—eliminating the need for extensive and time-consuming analyses. Combined with other formation evaluation techniques, they provide critical information about a reservoir’s commercial viability. The RCX service is designed for enhanced reliability in challenging high-pressure, high-temperature wells. Its high-capacity pumps also improve operations in highly overbalanced wells. Designed primarily for deepwater and high-temperature wells, the IFX service characterizes downhole fluid compositions in real time to allow robust fluid identification, to optimize sample collection and to provide input to the petrophysical evaluations for early assessments of a reservoir’s value.

FEI Company has released its Versa 3D DualBeam system, which provides high-resolution, 3D imaging and analysis on a wide range of sample types. The Versa 3D’s highly configurable platform allows customers to adapt the system’s capabilities to their specific requirements. Versa 3D is available with either high-vacuum-only or high-and-low-vacuum electron imaging hardware. Low-vacuum electron imaging capabilities allows the system to accomodate contaminating or outgassing samples that are incompatible with high-vacuum operation. Low vacuum also provides the ability to compensate for charge build up in non-conductive samples even at the high currents required for analysis techniques, such as energy dispersive (X-ray) spectroscopy (EDS) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD).

Variable transmission improves pump jack productivity

Turbo Trac USA has released its Infinitely Variable Transmission line, which can be applied to both pump jacks powered by electric motors and internal combustion engines. The transmission line offers improved pump production, lower operating costs and extended equipment life.

Sturdy surveillance camera resistant to both explosions and corrosion

Bosch Security Systems introduced its Extreme Series Camera EX65 model. This high-performance camera holds international explosion-protected certifications to provide safe surveillance for hazardous locations, including both onshore and offshore oil and gas. Designed for extreme environment operation, the electropolished 316L stainless steel construction protects the camera from corrosion by reducing the risk of imbedded contamination.

Fracture completion system enhances reservoir contact

Halliburton’s Rapidfrac horizontal sliding sleeve completion system uses a metering process that enables a single ball to open multiple sleeves isolated within an interval by swellable packers.  Each RapidFrac sleeve can be tailored to specific fracture requirements along a horizontal wellbore so as to enhance post-frac production. Up to 90 sleeves can be incorporated into any one horizontal completion, ensuring maximum stimulated reservoir volume.

Fracturing system capable of 60 stages

Packers Plus Energy Services has released its RepeaterPORT sleeve that enables fracturing of up to 60 stages per lateral. This new stage multiplier technology effectively increases the number of stages available in the StackFRAC HD system.  By using the same size ball, the RepeaterPORT sleeve multiplies the number of available stages that can be fractured, allowing for crew optimization and less fracture fluid.

New alternative for directional drilling

Weatherford International Ltd. 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 provides full 3D directional control while maintaining drillstring rotation to effectively reduce drilling time and mitigate lost-in-hole risk.