Issue: November 2004
Special Focus
Launched from low-cost vessels, lightweight, autonomous subsea well intervention systems can improve output and reduce expenses.
Tested in a multi-well program for Statoil, this system has proved to be a cost-effective solution to the subsea intervention challenge.
The ability to shift a majority of offshore processing facilities to the seafloor is moving rapidly toward becoming a workable reality.
Features
In deepwater exploration, operators will gain more by not being too conservative.
In recent years, polycrystaline diamond compact cutters have transformed drilling by prolonging bit life, improving economics and handling tough formations.
Just when it appears that all possible innovation in drill bit design has occurred, manufacturers have managed to unveil yet another round of new products.
With the characteristics of openness and plug and play already present, the need to access real-time data is pushing a move toward standardization of data types.
Competent management of timely, accurate information is emerging as the new method for running an operation, better known as field operational intelligence.
This technical advance, using microbial treatments, both prevents and removes H 2 S from various production facilities, as well as serving to increase oil output.
A venturi-based recovery method features no moving parts, pays for itself quickly.
In its third year, the World Oil Awards program garnered nominations from companies and governments around the globe.
Columns
IT buzzwords have integrated with drilling
Who are you? ANWR revisited
Oil and gas firms win a few tax breaks from Congress
Thermal hydraulic engine; Ocean Policy report
Interesting commercial developments; Abiogenic methane
News & Resources
Vol. 225 No. 11 Paradigm, a provider of petroleum geoscience and drilling technology, and drillstring structural experts T H Hill will jointly develop advanced softwar
Vol. 225 No. 11 Anticipating growth in the world economy, OPEC boosted its world oil demand forecast to an average 81.79 MM bopd
Vol. 225 No. 11 Industrial engine balancer Dynalco introduced the new BETA-TRAP3 Power Cylinder Balancer, a cost-effective tool for measuring and adjusting
Vol. 225 No. 11 Emerson Process Management appointed Melissa B. Herkt as president of Process Systems and Solutions – Americas, the division created to provide proc
Vol. 225 No. 11 KURT S. ABRAHAM, MANAGING/INTERNATIONAL EDITOR
Industry At A Glance
A monthly magazine offering industry news, statistics and technical editorial to the oil and gas drilling, exploration and production industry.
A monthly magazine offering industry news, statistics and technical editorial to the oil and gas drilling, exploration and production industry.
A monthly magazine offering industry news, statistics and technical editorial to the oil and gas drilling, exploration and production industry.
A monthly magazine offering industry news, statistics and technical editorial to the oil and gas drilling, exploration and production industry.
A monthly magazine offering industry news, statistics and technical editorial to the oil and gas drilling, exploration and production industry.
A monthly magazine offering industry news, statistics and technical editorial to the oil and gas drilling, exploration and production industry.
A monthly magazine offering industry news, statistics and technical editorial to the oil and gas drilling, exploration and production industry.
A monthly magazine offering industry news, statistics and technical editorial to the oil and gas drilling, exploration and production industry.
A monthly magazine offering industry news, statistics and technical editorial to the oil and gas drilling, exploration and production industry.
A monthly magazine offering industry news, statistics and technical editorial to the oil and gas drilling, exploration and production industry.
A monthly magazine offering industry news, statistics and technical editorial to the oil and gas drilling, exploration and production industry.
A monthly magazine offering industry news, statistics and technical editorial to the oil and gas drilling, exploration and production industry.
A monthly magazine offering industry news, statistics and technical editorial to the oil and gas drilling, exploration and production industry.
A monthly magazine offering industry news, statistics and technical editorial to the oil and gas drilling, exploration and production industry.
A monthly magazine offering industry news, statistics and technical editorial to the oil and gas drilling, exploration and production industry.
A monthly magazine offering industry news, statistics and technical editorial to the oil and gas drilling, exploration and production industry.
A monthly magazine offering industry news, statistics and technical editorial to the oil and gas drilling, exploration and production industry.
A monthly magazine offering industry news, statistics and technical editorial to the oil and gas drilling, exploration and production industry.
Supplement
A monthly magazine offering industry news, statistics and technical editorial to the oil and gas drilling, exploration and production industry.
Baker Oil Tools: New window milling and casing exit technology developed. The PathMAKER formation mill results from ongoing development work between Baker Oil Tools (BOT) and sister firm, Hughes Christensen (HCC), that utilizes technology from HCC's Genesis PDC line. The new formation window mill uses a special polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) compound, to effectively cut both metal and formation.
High operating temperature (HOT) cutters show gains in durability. GeoDiamond HOT cutters from Smith Bits match the thermal properties of the cutter at the rock/cutter interface. This results in a two- to five-fold increase in wear resistance when compared to conventional PDC cutters. As a result, the durability of bits equipped with HOT cutters is significantly improved, boosting overall PDC bit performance. This has proved particularly true in inter-bedded formations, sandstones and siltstones.
Security DBS has developed a patented Energy Balanced bit technology that enables a roller cone bit to be balanced, both by volume and by force. Volume balancing equalizes rock removal among all the cones, while force balancing ensures all cones are subject to equivalent loads of weight-on-cone, bending moment and force-on-bearing.
Hughes Christensen has introduced new EZ Case (EZC) bit technology, specifically designed for drilling with casing/ liner. EZC features a full, steel alloy head that allows premium PDC cutting elements to be attached to the blades, ensuring a robust cutting structure capable of efficiently drilling new formation, as well as reaming existing hole.
Roller cone bi-center design handles specialty situations. In most bi-center applications around the world, a PDC bi-center bit is utilized. However, in some cases, a PDC cutter will not stand up to all formations. With RBI-Gearhart's roller cone, bi-center situations requiring tough TCI drilling are met. In recent applications, 7-in. and 17-1/2-in. bi-centers were utilized.
DPI-ReedHycalog has developed an improved bi-center bit for small hole sizes (9-7/8 in. and smaller) and is currently named a speed reamer, casing-shoe-driller, CSD+, bi-center bit. The goal was to make improvements in bi-center bits, such as less angle drop in tangent sections, increased resistance to string vibrations, and generally better dull conditions
Adaptive design maximizes hydraulic efficiency. As rock bit design becomes increasingly sophisticated, the ability to maximize the bit's hydraulic efficiency is critical to obtaining peak performance. Smith Tool addresses this issue with the Flex-Flo Adaptive Hydraulic Design system. Flex-Flo uses three separate hydraulic configurations to deal with formation types that range from very soft and/or sticky to extremely hard and abrasive.
More abrasion- and impact-resistant polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) cutters have been one of the key technologies that United Diamond Ltd. has invested in over the years. The Cyclone cutter is a product of this investment. With the introduction of the Cyclone cutter, United Diamond PDC drill bits have been able to drill even harder, abrasive formations consistently.
PDC line for rotary steerable systems improves drilling efficiency. Varel has developed a technique to fine-tune its drilling tools to the drive system and the delivered well trajectory. SPOT 3D is a cutting force analysis tool that can be used not only to force balance a PDC drill bit cutting structure, but it can also be used to adjust the lateral aggressiveness of the cutting structure to match the needs of the drive system and well trajectory.
