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Vol. 225 No. 10 |
Calculate energy savings
A free computer program from seepex, Inc., calculates the savings realized when users switch from an air-operated double diaphragm pump to an electrically operated progressive cavity (PC) pump. The program is available in Visual Basic for personal computers or for Palm OS. It uses actual manufacturer's performance data and generally accepted formulae. Users provide fluid flow and pressure, number of PC pump stages, pneumatic system pressure, normal hours of operation, AODD pump inlet size, electricity cost, number of compressor stages and the estimated compressor efficiency. The program calculates annual power consumption for both the AODD and the PC pumps. The system operates in standard US and SI units of measure and will accept several different currencies.
Severe duty motor brochure
 Baldor Electric Co., a manufacturer of industrial electric motors, drives and generators, has a new 40-page brochure on its line of Severe Duty motors, available from 1/2 to 1,500 hp. The motors are available in both high and Super-E premium efficiencies, with choice of base or C-face mounting. Super-E motors meet or exceed NEMA Premium efficiency. The brochure features an exploded view of a Severe Duty motor with internal and external features described. Performance data, dimensions and connection diagrams are provided as well as catalog numbers, horsepower and efficiency.
Single-trip perf/pack system
Halliburton's STPP-GH completion system improves completion efficiency for production, injection or disposal wells. Designed to both perforate and provide FracPac service to a zone of interest in a single pipe trip, the system provides numerous safety and economic benefits, which increase as well parameters become more severe. The system eliminates a pipe trip out of the wellbore with the spent perforating assembly and a pipe trip into the wellbore with the FracPac tool assembly, reducing completion cycle time. It also enhances well control safety by eliminating additional pipe trips and reducing the possibility for well-control situations. In addition, STPP-GH enhances the target formation's production potential by reducing completion fluid loss. The system also improves wellbore debris management, especially in highly deviated, long-reach well geometries. The system can perforate long intervals up to 200 ft and can separate the FracPac assembly from the perforating operation.
Hydrate control in gas wells
Nalco Co. has introduced a new condensate recirculation process for lower-cost hydrate control in natural gas systems that have high water production. In the past, it has been necessary to have less than 0.8% water cut in natural gas wells for new-generation, low-dosage hydrate inhibitors (LDHIs) to deliver optimum results. This new program utilizes platform infrastructure and proprietary application processes in combination with the FREEFLOW family of LDHIs to eliminate methanol usage in these types of wells – resulting in a 75% or higher overall cost reduction for hydrate mitigation. As part of the program, condensate is pumped through the pre-existing methanol injection system, along with the LDHI.
Pressure-while-logging formation tester
 Schlumberger Oilfield Services introduced the PressureXpress combinable reservoir pressure-while-logging service, which provides formation pressure and fluid mobility data, typically in less than a minute, with less risk of differential sticking than conventional methods. This can eliminate the need to complete or hydraulically fracture depleted zones, enhancing production from aging fields. The PressureXpress service is designed to be run as a standard addition to the Platform Express integrated wireline logging tool during the first logging pass, and is also fully combinable with most openhole tools. The probability of getting successful pressure and mobility measurements is calculated in real time during the logging pass. The formation pressure tool also reduces overall pressure-testing expenditures through increased reliability, operational efficiency, reduced potential for fishing and associated lost-in-hole costs.
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Reservoir seismic receiver
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Z-Seis Corp. has developed and successfully tested a new 200-ft-long receiver system with the ability to acquire twice as much data in a single pass as the 100-ft unit it replaces – effectively cutting in half the time required for data acquisition during bore-hole (crosswell) seismic surveys. In addition, the system employs multiple hydrophones in each of its 20 arrays, for higher resolution and data quality improvement. The system is capable of withstanding temperatures as great as 350°F and pressures of up to 10,000 psi. With the use of this device, Z-Seis's crosswell imaging process becomes substantially more cost-effective.
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Orifice plate technology
The Rosemount 405 Compact Conditioning Orifice Plate and 1595 Conditioning Orifice Plate from Emerson Process Management enable users to extend the use of orifice plates into measurement points previously limited by existing piping configurations. These products deliver accurate and repeatable results downstream of a variety of flow disturbances that normally cause swirl in the flow process. The Conditioning Orifice Plate technology consists of four equally spaced holes that condition the flow profile for a more stable, accurate measurement. The orifice plates require less straight run, significantly reducing material, labor and procurement costs, and can be installed virtually anywhere. They offer an economical way to retrofit installations that have experienced poor results caused by limited straight-run. Integrating the Conditioning Orifice Plate primary with Rosemount transmitters as a flowmeter provides a more cost-effective and reliable measurement. The unit arrives assembled, configured, and ready to install. The 3051SFC flowmeter combines the Compact Orifice design with the scalable architecture of the 3051S transmitter. This flowmeter provides user-configured flow units, low flow cut-off and customized process alerts. Users are able to install a flowmeter directly in the process piping and position display and communication ports at grade level.
Natural gas engines
The Cat G3500E series of natural gas-fueled generator sets from Caterpillar Inc. is designed for maximum efficiency in extended-duty distributed generation and combined heat and power (CHP) applications. The E-Series power generation units are driven by electronically controlled, lean-burn gas reciprocating engines. Operating on the Miller combustion cycle, they deliver high mechanical efficiency – up to 44.5% – using pipeline natural gas with a wide range of methane numbers at no sacrifice of efficiency or performance. The first units in the E-Series are: 16-cylinder G3516E, operating at 50 Hz/1,500 rpm and rated at 1600 kW and 43.5% mechanical efficiency without water pumps; and the 20-cylinder G3520E, operating at 60 Hz/1,200 rpm and rated at 1600 kW and 43.5% mechanical efficiency with water pumps. The 50-Hz model has standard NOx emissions of 500 mg/Nm3 (TA Luft) or 250 mg/Nm3 (1/2 TA Luft). The 60-Hz models have standard NOx emissions of 1.0 or 0.5 g/bhp-hr. The engines use an advanced camshaft and turbocharger design to achieve high mechanical efficiency. The units are built on heavy-duty diesel-based platforms and are designed to operate reliably and efficiently with minimal operator attention. They feature an open combustion chamber design and a low-pressure fuel system.
Hydraulic crane control
 The Enerpac SyncHoist system is a hydraulically operated auxiliary attachment for high-precision load positioning with cranes. With the use of a single crane, the load can be precisely maneuvered in a vertical and horizontal plane, while reducing risk and cost and improving operating speed and worker safety. Also, weather conditions play a less critical role. Lifting power is provided by the crane while the integrated intelligent hoist system maintains a smooth and high-accuracy counterweighing and positioning of heavy loads and structures. Accurate positioning can be managed in the top of the crane by the operator or by workers using remote control units. In conventional hoisting, one crane is used for each lifting point. With the SyncHoist system, one crane can handle multiple lifting points with an accuracy of ± 1 mm.
Determine pore pressure between wells
Veritas DGC has launched P3, their new pore pressure prediction algorithm. P3 allows seismic data to be used to predict information about the spatial distribution of pore pressures between wells. The latest continuous velocity analysis methods give high-resolution velocity information, which allows reliable estimates for pore pressure to be determined. The method has been tested in the complex HP-HT environment in the North Sea and in other, less complex, overpressured environments offshore West Africa. P3 data volumes can give added confidence when planning blow-out prevention, and value can be extracted from seismic data at every stage of the upstream process. The method also offers the potential for insight into 4D pressure changes.
Instrumentation design software
Gulf Publishing Co. has released InstruCalc Version 6.0, the industry-standard desktop application for instrumentation design in the energy industry. The software features more than 70 routines associated with control valves, rupture disks, ISO flow elements, relief valves and process data collections. InstruCalc calculates process data at flow conditions for up to 64 fluids in either mixtures or single components. The upgrade features focus on improved usability and updating embedded valve-sizing programs to meet current API and ANSI/ISA standards. It also incorporates Microsoft's Visual Basic 6.0 and Microsoft Access, enhancing file-handling and usability. Separate tables for calculation data, pressure drop calculations, chemical properties composition data, water hammer data and other data sources further improve data manipulation and analysis capabilities.
Slimline process monoflange
 Swagelok-Kenmac series slimline process monoflange assemblies replace multi-valve assemblies with a single manifold. The compact design minimizes potential leak points, reduces stress from loading and vibration, and can reduce installation and maintenance time. A full range of monoflanges, including block, block-and-bleed, and double block-and-bleed flanged manifolds, is available, including bolted bonnet, outside screw and yoke (OS & Y) bolted bonnet, and integral screwed needle valve process monoflange assemblies. A two-valve isolating and venting gauge block monoflange is available for instrumentation applications. All are rated to working pressures of 150 – 2,500 lb according to ANSI B16.5.
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