New products

Vol. 233 No. 1

Shell and Noble Corporation announced the Gulf of Mexico arrival of the Noble Bully 1 offshore drilling rig. The Noble Bully I is the first of two Bully rigs, jointly designed by Shell and Noble, that can be equipped to drill in up to 10,000 ft of water. It features a compact box drilling tower, designed to maximize productivity and safety. This allows for a significantly smaller vessel when compared to other deepwater drillships of similar capacity. The multi-purpose tower allows for offline standbuilding. More than 48,000 ft of drill pipe and casing are racked back in two carousel setbacks. Drill pipe and casing are handled in 135-ft lengths. The 2.400 kips drill tower is fitted with active heave-compensated drawworks mounted inside the tower. The design also increases personnel safety on board while providing high operational efficiency. The drillship also features attention to energy efficiency, uses less fuel and is shorter and lighter than comparable drillships.

Field software applications target unconventional assets

Weatherford has released its Field Office 2011 software suite. This release continues to help E&P companies optimize production from any field—whether conventional or unconventional—with naturally flowing and/or artificially lifted wells. The main objective is to help operators and engineers optimize the asset, using real-time data and mathematical simulation models to minimize lifting costs and downtime while increasing production. The Field Office 2011 suite has additional applications and new features within existing applications. A significant increase in interest in shale and heavy-oil assets around the globe has led to many new features in the Field Office 2011 suite to monitor, analyze and optimize production from such assets.

Lube oil viscosity testing improves compressor performance

Danfoss Compressors is using a Cambridge Viscosity small sample viscometer to test refrigerant and oil mixtures at its Tianjin, China factory. The viscometer includes the Cambridge VISCOpro2000 electronics and SPL 571 lube oil viscometer sensor with multiple piston ranges to test compressor performance using new combinations of lube oils and refrigerants. The lower the viscosity of this mixture, the more efficient the compressor is. However, if viscosity is too low, the compressor can wear out prematurely. By achieving the optimal balance of efficiency and lubricity, the company can improve compressor performance while using more environmentally-friendly refrigerants. The viscometer enables users to capture real-time data.

High-ROP cutters tackle weight and torque-limited apps

National Oilwell Varco’s ReedHycalog product group has introduced the new DuraForceXD and HeliosEdge cutters. Building on NOV-patented deep leach technology, a new, highly focused Research and Development group investigated complex wear mechanisms involving impact damage, thermal degradation and abrasive wear. Focus on these properties has led to performance improvements seen in Helios cutter-equipped bits. New geometry changes have been applied to create new HeliosEdge cutters, which allow for higher rates of penetration in torque- and weight-limited applications. With reduced internal stresses, DuraforceXD raises the bar for impact-resistant cutting technology. These new cutters have been successfully upgraded, combining improved impact resistance, along with superior thermal resistance proven through expansive field trails in some of the most demanding applications, including the Eagle Ford shale, where the cutters were recently tested.

Industry’s first well intervention simulator debuts

Shell has launched the industry’s first well intervention simulator to train its employees in emergency well control procedures in the post-Macondo environment. The simulator is being used in conjunction with an existing drilling simulator and classroom instruction to train Shell well engineers and field technicians at the rank of supervisor and above. The first group of Shell employees that used the simulator were taking part in Advanced Well Control training at the Rijswijk Learning Center. The module consists of four courses: well engineering and completion (surface and subsea), and well intervention (surface and subsea). Shell employees will be able to take the training courses at four locations—two in the EU, one in the US and one in China with more locations to follow during 2012.

Bench-top high-voltage power systems

UltraVolt, Inc. announced the extension of the BT Series line to include a new, general purpose bench-top high-voltage power system – the BT-GP Series. The BT Series of bench-top power systems is known for its high reliability as well as its easy-to-use computerized front panel and digital interfaces. The BT-GP Series continues in that tradition in a lower cost configuration for more cost conscious high-voltage applications in the laboratory, test department, or installed in process equipment. BT-GP Series units are optimal for applications such as electrostatics, air purification, process fluid cleansing, hi pot testing, and laboratory research.

CSEM plug-in fits seismic-to-simulation software

Blueback Reservoir has released a new version of its CSEM plug-in for Petrel, Bridge Electromagnetics 5.0. The software is a plug-in to the Schlumberger seismic-to-simulation product called Petrel, a platform for integration of electromagnetic data (EM) with seismic and other subsurface data. Bridge is equipped with 1D, 2.5D and 3D EM forward modeling tools, and all data can be seamlessly integrated through a variety of visualization tools. Through normalization, attribute generation and imported EM inversion results, a deeper understanding of the resistivity and electromagnetic response can be gained by joint interpretation. The Bridge Electromagnetics version 5.0 focuses on the EM inversion results analysis. Version 5.0 completes the Bridge Interpretation Loop where you can use EM attribute data, EM forward modeling, and now, tools for EM inversion results analysis.

Real-time 3D dimensional drilling software

Dynamic Drilling Systems LP(DDS) announced its partnership with Performance Drilling Technology, Inc (PDT)(Winsurv,Hawkeye3D) high performance 3D visualization software to bring it to the world of real time data. PDT has been a leader in Directional Well Planning software for over 16 years around the world. The Hawkeye3D high-resolution three dimensional package will have all the features of Hawkeye including features such as multi-well for collision avoidance, sophisticated targeting and projection tools, and lithology. This offering will bring all of the tools formerly only used in the planning phase of a directional well into the real-time world. Drilling and directional data will populate real time in this high powered directional software package and available on the rig, in the office, and at home in a web-based viewer.

Audible and visual signaling devices

Pfannenberg has introduced Safety Integrity Level (SIL) audible and visual signaling devices that are specifically designed to conform to SIL 1 and SIL 2 safety requirements. Signaling equipment is often required when designing Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) for hazardous machinery and industrial processes, however, standard devices do not offer the conformity needed to achieve the target SIL. Using multiple or redundant devices can help, but these still are not properly rated and their effectiveness can be compromised if they are tampered with or fail. Such limitations are overcome with Pfannenberg’s new SIL audible and visual signaling devices. With these full statistical data supporting conformity to SIL 1 and 2 requiremnets, these devices utilize self-monitoring circuitry and fault-indicating contact closures to alert of failure or initiate shut down/lock out of machinery until corrective action can be achieved.

Dual-wavelength light measurement technology

Spectronics Corp. has introduced the revolutionary Spectroline AccuMAX XRP-3000 digital radiometer/photometer, the new benchmark in light measurement technology. The XRP-3000 uses a dual-wavelength sensor detector to measure both ultraviolet and visible light. This microprocessor-controlled meter features automatic zeroing, integration and signal hold. It provides standard UV intensity data as well as readouts of visible irradiance in various units, and is capable of accurately measuring a wide variety of NDT light sources. The LCD readout features ±0.2% linearity. The unit provides better cosine response than current generation radiometers. The AccuMAX also offers user-defined power save and automatic shutoff modes.