New products and services

Vol. 234 No. 11

Wireless intelligent completion system maximizes output

Tendeka, a provider of completions systems and services to the upstream oil and gas industry, recently launched its SigNet Wireless Intelligent Completion solution to help operators maximize output from new and existing wells.  Water breakthrough, large differential pressures between zones, and water and gas capacity management are problems commonly found in mature areas. As such, downhole flow control can have a significant, immediate impact. To combat flow control issues, the system introduces an interval control valve (ICV), as well as a downhole power generation capability, resulting in extended battery life. It also harnesses the monitoring capability of Tendeka’s Wireless PT Gauge.

Guar-alternative fracturing fluid system

Baker Hughes has commercialized its ClearStar fracturing fluid system, which improves reservoir performance and delivers superior fracturing in both conventional and unconventional reservoirs. The fluid system provides better flowback, for increased production and improved economic results, compared to guar, guar-derivate and borate systems. The system is a guar alternative that uses an efficient, refined cellulose derivative polymer, to attain superior viscosity and achieve a low pH, to reduce the potential for clay swelling. It delivers stable performance at temperatures up to 275°F. With delay times that can be customized, based on lateral length and pump rates, ClearStar fluids enhance sand transport through the wellbore during pumping operations, to ensure proper placement within the fractures.

Seismic-to-stimulation service to optimize productivity, well economics

Halliburton has introduced its CYPHER seismic-to-stimulation service, a collaborative workflow that integrates geoscience, reservoir, drilling and completion engineering, to allow operators to better predict and produce unconventional reserves. The service is supported by a technology suite using an iterative process that identifies the best well placement and stimulation designs, which are critical parameters affecting the total well cost and ultimate production. The service, built on collaboration, integrates all available data—seismic, cores, logs, microseismic and production—and is supported by applications for earth modeling, formation evaluation, horizontal drilling, complex fracture modeling, reservoir simulation, and more kept in. Field trials are under way in the U.S., Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.

Latest software release features open, integrated geoscientific platform

Paradigm has unveiled Epic, an open, integrated platform to be included in the upcoming Paradigm 2014 software release. In addition to Epic, the release presents workflows for full-azimuth imaging, tomography, formation evaluation, facies analysis and modeling. The platform will be released in stages, beginning with the infrastructure that unifies Paradigm’s suite of applications into a single, integrated console. Paradigm applications are already integrated at the database level, through the Epos infrastructure. The integrated application will sit on top of the existing database layer, the company said.

Gas compression engines receive suite of upgrades

Caterpillar Global Petroleum has released upgrades to its Cat GCM34 gas engine platform. Major upgrades to the engine series include an enhanced control strategy, with a new, closed loop, air-fuel-ratio feedback system, to improve both performance and emissions control. The key control strategy changes have improved the engine’s starting and load acceptance ability, as well as achieved heightened engine performance under varying site conditions.  Additionally, upgrades to cylinder heads, check valves, gas admission valves and spark plugs, offer extended maintenance intervals and improved durability. Caterpillar is implementing the upgrades on engines across North America, with the entire fleet expected to be outfitted by the end of 2013. Additionally, all future GCM34 gas compression engines will be equipped with the new configuration.

New high-definition imaging-while-drilling service

Schlumberger has released the MicroScope HD high-definition imaging-while-drilling service. The service provides logging-while-drilling (LWD) imaging for reservoir descriptions, to enable detailed fracture characterization and completion optimization in conductive drilling fluids for all well types, including horizontal and highly deviated wells. The service enables detailed, formation structural modeling to identify fracture orientation that contributes to production. For fracture characterization, the service delivers dimensions of fractures, which provides geologists a better understanding of the fracture network. The service has been field-tested extensively in reservoirs in the Middle East, Europe and Africa, as well as unconventional reservoirs in North America. More than 45 job runs have been completed, so far, confirming that high-definition images can be obtained reliably in conductive mud environments, while drilling in oil and gas carbonate, sandstone and unconventional reservoirs.

Net catches, holds objects dropped in wellbore

5D Oilfield Magnetics has introduced a new system to stop objects falling into the wellbore. The Open Hole Net is composed of highly-focused magnets that catch and hold metallic objects. The system catches dropped objects, such as a wrench, and also traps metallic objects, such as pieces of damaged pipe, that are being circulated out of the wellbore. The system prevents these objects from affecting operations, and negates the need for time-consuming fishing operations. The heaviest object caught to date is a 36-in., 18-lb pipe wrench. This was tested in water and dropped from 3 ft, with pipe in the wellbore. The system can be configured for 71/16-in., 9-in., 11-in., 135/8-in., 16¾-in. and 18¾-in. bore BOP arrangements. The system can benefit operators, rig contractors and service providers. It requires no power source, and does not require additional personnel to be present.