New products

Vol. 227 No. 7

Automated directional drilling

The new TruTrak automated directional drilling service from INTEQ combines advanced drilling motor technology with closed-loop automated rib steering. The non-rotating TruTrak system provides hole quality, high rate of penetration and minimum wear on the drillstring and downhole tools. It combines the automated steering control from the AutoTrak rotary steerable system, integrated directional MWD and X-treme motor technology to provide improved wellpath control and drilling efficiency. The system’s modular design permits the addition of additional MWD sensors, if required by the application. 

Flange spreader

The Zero-Gap II flange spreader from Equalizer International is a mechanical unit that allows the spreading of flanges where there is no access gap, and spreading wedges cannot be used initially. It may be used to assist in the replacement of ring and other types of joints. The flange spreader delivers 2 tons of spreading force on each unit from 20 ft-lb of torque, when used with the 18-mm pins, and 3 tons spreading force on each unit from 30 ft-lb of torque when used with the 22-mm and 25-mm pins. The unit can also be used in conjunction with spreading wedges, and it works with ANSI, DIN, SPO, ASME, API and BS flanges. 

Zero contamination probe sampling

Schlumberger has introduced the new Quicksilver Probe wireline sampling technology. It brings near contamination-free samples of formation fluids in much less time than with conventional sampling techniques. Based on a focused sampling method, in which two distinct flows are achieved and maintained, the technology allows zero filtrate contamination in downhole fluid analysis in hydrocarbon types ranging from condensate to heavy oil and oil-base mud. With focused sampling, pure reservoir fluid enters the center of the probe and separates from contaminated fluid entering the probe’s annular perimeter. Contaminated fluid is pumped into one flowline, completely isolated from pure reservoir fluid collected in a second sampling flowline. 

Low viscosity vane pumps

Viking Pump has introduced its LVP series, stainless steel Vane Pump. With 14-bar (200-psi) thin liquid capability, and capacities up to 45m³/hr (200 gpm), the new LVP pumps are designed for thin, corrosive liquids at higher pressures than other positive displacement pumps. The pumps provide performance, durability, application flexibility and ease of installation and maintenance. The series is available in a metric-standard design, with DIN flanges, an IEC motor mount and metric-standard shaft seal options. It is also available with ANSI flange ports, a NEMA motor mount and inch-standard seals, and it can be foot-mounted. 

No-debris perforating

During perforating jobs, up to several hundred grams of debris per shot can be left in the well. For long horizontal wells, this can add up to tons of steel chips and other debris that can harm downhole and surface equipment. One solution is to use zinc-case shaped charges, instead of steel, as the zinc breaks up into fine particles, but these particles react with certain brines, creating downhole problems. DYNAenergetics has developed the No-Debris Gun System (NDG), which leaves virtually no debris in the well by closing the shot holes in the gun after each shot. This is achieved by an internal sliding sleeve. An internal piston activated by the gas pressure produced during detonation shifts the sleeve. While the jet of the shaped charge penetrates the slider and the outer wall of the gun in 0.1 ms, the slider takes several ms to shift. The gas pressure not only shifts the slider laterally, but it also expands the sleeve and locks it into the new position, preventing reopening of the shot holes. The gun is not pressure-tight, so fluid and gas can still circulate between the inside of the gun and the wellbore. Trapping of pressure is, therefore, impossible.

Slip design reduces wellhead stress

Hercules casing and tubing heads from R&M Energy Systems have a slip feature with positive mechanical stop that limits slip travel and reduces stress in the wellhead body. An advanced top metal ring design reduces the gap between the top metal ring halves, preventing packing extrusion and minimizing water and dirt entrapment. Pressure-assisted, contoured packing assures positive pack-off with minimum compression. Slip design allows as much weight as the connection will withstand without crushing the casing ID below API drift diameter. 

Roller cone products catalog

Varel International has published a new Oilfield Roller Cone Products Catalog and a new Roller Cone Drill Bit Comparison Chart. The 36-page catalog is organized by bit type and includes complete information about the company’s tungsten carbide insert bits, including Challenger series; steel tooth bits; details about journal bearing and roller bearing packages, designed for motor applications; jet air journal bearing bits, designed specifically for underbalanced drilling applications; alternative hydraulics packages; product availability tables for each bit type; and product nomenclature. In addition, the catalog outlines premium options and new features available to customize Varel’s drill bits for special applications, such as directional drilling or drilling highly abrasive formations. 

Service rig recorder

M/D Totco has introduced the SR-WellWatch system, a service rig recorder that uses hardware and software designed to assist with wellsite activities. Electronic sensors enable crews to work quickly and safely by providing, for example, the ability to zoom in tightly on tubing pressures, giving immediate feedback as to whether or not the guns have fired. All parameters that are monitored are permanently recorded and are available anytime by authorized personnel at the rig or optionally via the internet using the company’s WellData.ca website from anywhere in the world.

Wireless communication gateway

ProSoft Technology’s new ProLinx 6000 Wireless HART Gateways use a digital HART-to-wireless interface to bring high-speed connectivity to HART field devices and enable data sharing of between these devices. The WA-HART Gateway uses proprietary ProSoft Wireless Protocol (PWP), which allows different industrial networks and protocols to share process and status data with a secure wireless connection. The protocol driver is capable of supporting the HART protocol as a master on up to eight channels per gateway, each individually configurable for point-to-point or multi-point applications, providing greater flexibility. 

Study of global gas trends

Natural Gas Market Review 2006: Towards a global gas market is an IEA publication series that gives an in-depth review of the natural gas market in the period 2000 – 2010, covering recent events, such as the Russia/ Ukraine dispute, hurricane-related supply disruptions in North America, high global gas prices and European market failures. It assesses the rapid changes in the LNG industry, investments in the gas sector and the importance of the power sector for global gas demand. The LNG industry constitutes only 6.5% of the gas market, but it is set to attract half of the sector’s spending. Investment is a high priority, as the gas supply chain becomes more and more complex, and the overwhelming majority of new power plants in the OECD will be gas-fired.