Posts tagged ‘drilling’
ITF to Fund New Drilling and Completion Technologies
ITF, the global oil Industry Technology Facilitator, is calling on drilling and completions technology experts from industry, research and academia to identify the key technology drivers that will lead to increased drilling efficiency and optimized recovery at two upcoming workshops. The Technology Challenge Workshops (TCWs) are being held on May 26 (Drilling Efficiency) and May 27 (Completions Technology), 2010, at the Hilton Post Oak Hotel, Houston, Texas.
The TCWs will result in a Call for Proposals with up to 100% funding available for projects that will increase efficiency, optimize recovery and lower costs through improved drilling efficiency and innovative completions technologies.
Neil Poxon, ITF managing director said: “ITF’s major operator and service company membership has identified drilling and completions technologies as two areas that can deliver significant long-term efficiency, hydrocarbon recovery and cost benefits to the industry. The workshops will provide a forum for experts from the operating and service companies, independent technology developers, academia and research organizations to debate the needs of the industry and kick off the process of finding and funding solutions that will effect tangible technical and economic improvements.
“As oil and gas exploration moves into increasingly challenging environments, drilling costs are the biggest single item of expenditure. ITF members are keen to develop fit-for-purpose drilling techniques by exploring new methods of deployment with increased efficiency and ultimately lower cost and risk,” he added.
Worldwide drilling and completions expenditure was estimated at more than $250 billion in 2008 by petroleum consultants at Spears and Associates. With rig costs estimated to comprise $92.5 billion (37%) of this total, improving drilling efficiency, technology and equipment reliability will have a impact on the bottom line. Completions technology challenges being discussed at the workshop will likely include optimizing lower completions, minimizing control lines, effective controls of several zones, maximizing recovery and autonomous data monitoring.
Owned by 23 major operator and service companies, ITF is a champion for technology development. Working with technology developers and its members to identify exploration and production (E&P) technology needs, the not-for-profit organization supports the development and implementation of new technologies into the industry. Over the last 10 years, ITF has funded 142 joint industry projects (JIPs) with a funding value of approximately £42.6 million.
For further information visit: www.oil-itf.com/index/event-diary or to register to attend either TCW contact: a.martin@oil-itf.com.
Halliburton Releases GEM Tool for Elemental Analysis
Halliburton just released the GEM™ Elemental Analysis tool, which offers rapid and precise evaluation of formations with complex mineralogy. The new GEM tool offers operators a complete elemental analysis solution for complex reservoirs and complements Halliburton’s existing cuttings evaluation service performed while drilling. When combined with Halliburton’s real-time data acquisition software, it offers customers onsite and remote visualization of formation elemental data.
“The innovative system design allows the GEM tool to provide the most precise quantitative understanding of complex carbonates and shales for our customers,” said Jonathan Lewis, VP Wireline and Perforating, Halliburton.
The GEM tool improves the measurements of magnesium in carbonates and aluminum in clays and shale, which until now were the most difficult elements to measure but very important for describing the reservoir. An industry first, the GEM tool also can measure manganese, a common constituent of carbonates and sheet silicates. Measurement of magnesium, aluminum and manganese can help asset teams determine mineralogy to improve estimates of porosity, saturation, permeability, detection of swelling clays and rock mechanical properties. Operators are now able to obtain more accurate estimates of their reserves, design optimal completion and stimulation programs, and maximize production.
The GEM tool’s attachable cooling system and insulating flask allow the tool to run for long periods of time downhole in conditions up to 350 degrees F and 20,000 psi. Fewer trips downhole reduces operating costs and improves tool redeployment time.
Combining the superior sensitivity of the GEM tool in the vertical sections of wells with Halliburton’s LaserStrat® cutting evaluation service in the horizontal sections provides operators with an understanding of reservoir mineralogy for the entire well. The two services can also be used together to improve geosteering of horizontal sections.
Halliburton’s elemental analysis solution provides an accurate understanding of complex reservoirs, whether while drilling or during openhole logging operations.
AGR Signs Four Contracts for Drilling Risk Mgmt Software
AGR Petroleum Services has announced contract wins totaling more than £600,000 for its cutting-edge software that will allow operators to maximize performance during well construction projects. AGR’s risk management software, P1™ Version 3.8, enables companies to significantly reduce the time involved during well construction phases.
The following oil and gas companies recently signed contracts to use the software:
- NEXEN,
- Fairfield Energy,
- Petro-Canada and
- Sonangol.
AGR’s P1™ director Chris Ferrier said: “We have had a fantastic response to the release of the latest version of our software, and we look forward to working with our clients to help them realize the benefits it brings during activity. We have drawn on our extensive experience of global well construction projects to develop P1™ Version 3.8, which gives engineers the greatest opportunity to capitalize on construction activity. We understand that sometimes the most cost-effective option can bring the greatest risks, and so we have designed the software to offer a range of solutions and highlight the level of risk associated with each of these, thereby giving engineers complete control over their projects.”
Unlike traditional risk management tools, P1 Version 3.8 draws on data from previous well construction projects to offer operators a range of solutions to problems that may arise during construction work. It provides the costs associated with these problems, allowing engineers to understand the financial impact of their decision quickly and generate likely outcome scenarios of particular actions.
P1 Version 3.8 is compatible with Windows and is Vista certified. It enables engineers to compare real-time data with the model to monitor construction work as it progresses. In this way, corrective action can be taken at an early stage, keeping costs and lengthy delays to a minimum.
Graham McLaren, senior drilling engineer at AGR Petroleum Services, commented: “This software is already an integral part of the tools we use during well management projects. It gives us the ability to process information much faster and track performance as the well is drilled. As a result, productivity has increased tenfold.”
Companies of all sizes can benefit from the technology with three different software packages available: Express, Workgroup and Enterprise.
Weatherford Rolls Out Risk Mgmt Online Learning
Oilennium, provider of oil and gas training programs, is rolling out a multilingual Risk Management training program developed for Weatherford International’s Drilling Hazard Mitigation Business Unit (DHM BU). Risk assessment of all drilling operations ensures that every precaution is taken before beginning a task and that every employee understands why work must be planned and that every effort must be taken to eliminate or reduce risk.
The new program offers an overview of Essential Risk Management (ERM) and Operational Risk Management (ORM). Its primary objectives are to introduce the learner to the principles of risk and the tools to manage risk. Available in English and Spanish, the program comprises six modules. It begins with an explanation of risk and how it can be measured. It then goes on to explain how risk is managed through administrative processes. Individual procedures are examined in detail to demonstrate where, when and how they should be used in the workplace. By the time the learner successfully completes the final module, he or she will understand the concept of risk, hazards and a risk matrix and will know how to evaluate risk and how levels of risk can be reduced.
Developed by Oilennium in cooperation with the QHSE department of Weatherford’s DHM BU, Weatherford has just rolled out the Risk Management program globally via Oilennium’s online Learning Management System. Every Weatherford DHM employee can now log in to undertake training relevant to their particular region, while managers monitor their individual progress.
“DHM employees over the last six years have benefited from meaningful and extremely effective risk management training,” said Adrian Houlbrook, Global QHSE Manager, Weatherford DHM. “With the recent global rollout of the program, every DHM employee around the world can take advantage of it using the company intranet, with significant benefits in terms of efficient delivery, cost reduction by eliminating the need for classroom presentations, and ease of monitoring using the Learning Management System,which makes it possible for supervisory staff to check progress. The fact that Oilennium managed to provide us with this valuable resource for a modest investment means that it is very cost-effective, which is critical in this economic environment.”
“The Risk Management program was a massive undertaking, especially in view of the fact that it is a very important and involved subject,” said Kevin Keable, Managing Director of Oilennium. “Only by working closely with Weatherford to develop their risk training requirements could we have achieved this global rollout so efficiently. The partnership approach we rely upon to develop training is a benchmark standard that ensures that we create exactly what the client needs.”
The course content was designed to be generic, and thus it has received much wider use within Weatherford than originally envisaged. It is now a pre-requisite for other classroom courses used as a component of induction training in some regions, and it is included in the Weatherford Competency system for both technicians and engineers. It was even nominated for the prestigious Chairman’s Award.
Looking ahead, the multilingual program is also being considered for use as a component of new hire inductions and for regional staff training.
WellEz Launches WellEz On-Demand
“WellEz On-Demand has been designed to offer continuous enhancement of the client experience, while identifying additional sources of value available to clients through WellEz services,” said Charles Jeffery, President and CEO, WellEz. “The WellEz On-Demand program is both immediately responsive and engaging with our clients, leveraging the skills of WellEz technicians who are knowledgeable on oil and gas operations. Since using WellEz.NET does not require purchasing and maintaining software, our clients can invest their time in using the information on their field operations from the WellEz.NET reporting system. Being responsive and proactive increases efficiencies for our clients, and that is our priority.”
PetroComputing 