New products and services

Vol. 234 No. 10

New subsea, downhole cable protector developed

HCL Clamping, specializing in subsea and downhole clamping systems, has launched Smart Protector, a new polymer-based range of downhole cable protectors developed in cooperation with Shell. Smart Protector will complement the Boss Clamp portfolio, purchased by HCL in May 2013. The lightweight, patented Smart Protector product line can be used for a variety of cable sizes and configurations. It is the first product of its kind capable of withstanding temperatures of up to 250°C, while fitting any tubing diameter.

Land drilling generator set offers more power, compact footprint

Caterpillar Global Petroleum has introduced the Cat G3516C generator set for global land drilling applications. Available in early 2014, the G3516C offers an increased power rating of 2,175 hp at 1,800 rpm. The drilling module features improved performance at low engine loads, and it maintains a compact footprint comparable to diesel power modules used in drilling applications today. Manufactured in Lafayette, Ind., the new G3516C is based on the G3516 genset platform, which has been powering oilfield drilling applications for more than eight years. Along with improved power capability and optimized footprint, the G3516C will also be EPA spark-ignited non-road mobile-certified unit upon availability in early 2014. The G3516C has been engineered to offer improved transient response, fuel tolerance and altitude/ambient capability, to maximize product flexibility for various drilling applications.

Advanced microseismic analysis service for improved reservoir modeling

ESG Solutions has introduced a new, advanced, microseismic analysis service that describes hydrocarbon drainage, as a result of hydraulic fracture stimulation. The service was launched as a new component of the company’s existing Seismic Moment Tensor Inversion (SMTI) Production Suite, a patent-pending process that helps clients to better understand reservoir processes, optimize completions and improve production from unconventional reservoirs. Advanced moment tensor analysis of microseismic events describes the orientation of fractures generated in a reservoir, and whether their mechanisms are shear, tensile opening, closures, or some combination, thereof.  However, further interpretation is required to determine whether these fractures will impact reservoir drainage. In addition to characterizing drainage volume better, ESG’s SMTI Production Suite offers a host of outputs linking advanced moment tensor results to reservoir processes.  Advanced microseismic analyses, based on moment tensor calculations, are used to define discrete fracture networks within a reservoir and provide key inputs for reservoir models.

Educational partnership formed for offshore Russian sector

Robert Gordon University and Russian oilfield educational and engineering services company OILTEAM have announced a partnership, worth more than $1.8 million, to train the next generation of Russia’s offshore energy professionals. From October 2013, OILTEAM’s academy and RGU will deliver a Master of Science degree in offshore oil and gas engineering in Sochi, to develop the country’s capabilities in capturing offshore hydrocarbon resources. Despite Russia’s re-emergence as a leader in oil and gas production, its offshore resources remain relatively untapped. Targeting graduates, as well as employees of oil and gas majors, the course aims to equip specialists with backgrounds in land-based E&P with a comprehensive overview of the challenges, technologies and know-how from the world’s leading offshore areas. The one-year degree represents a pilot product from a new team.

Ice management system aids seismic acquisition

ION Geophysical has launched Narwhal, the first fully-integrated, ice management system designed to reduce risk and improve efficiency in seismic data acquisition and drilling operations in or near ice, such as in the Arctic. The Arctic contains an estimated 25% of the world’s undiscovered hydrocarbon resources, but harsh, icy conditions pose hazards to seismic contractors and E&P operators. The Narwhal system enables operators to gather, monitor and analyze data from various sources—including satellite imagery, ice charts, radar, manual observations, wind and ocean currents—to forecast weather and predict ice movements in these harsh environments. With the ability to track, forecast and monitor potential ice threats, operators can make informed, proactive decisions to ensure the safety of people, assets and the environment, while minimizing operational downtime.

High-definition microseismic service receives update

MicroSeismic has introduced its next generation of patented, Passive Seismic Emission Tomography, PSET 5.0. With this latest release, MicroSeismic also introduced controlled amplitude processing, which allows provision of true magnitude for each event.  This allows operators to compare event magnitudes from well to well and basin to basin, and allows for highly accurate, discrete fracture networks. In addition to high-definition image processing capabilities, PSET 5.0 enables: highly accurate discrete fracture networks; event focal mechanism analysis; true and accurate event magnitudes; accurate event timing; a viewing area across the entire well or pad; unbiased imaging; calculated uncertainty for each event; and a geo-hazard alert system accessible through any wireless device.

Geosciences software aims to reduce exploration risks

Geophysical Insights has commercially launched Paradise, an advanced analysis software platform that aims to reduce the risk of exploring for hydrocarbons by providing geoscientists new insights in seismic and engineering data.  The product suite enables rapid analysis and comparison of different aspects of seismic and engineering data, while revealing complex, subtle relationships in the data. Paradise executes and manages workflows, based on advanced pattern recognition methods, including self-organizing maps (SOM) and principal component analysis (PCA). The suite features guided workflows, interactive world maps, 3D imaging and a unique 2D color mapping capability that is integrated and interactive with 3D imaging. The software has been tested in various worldwide settings.