Acoustic evaluation service provides high-fidelity data, advanced processing capabilities
Halliburton’s Wireline and Perforating business has released the Xaminer Sonic Service, an evolution in acoustic formation evaluation that provides operators with high-fidelity data and advanced processing capabilities to more accurately characterize a wide range of reservoirs, including those in deep water, mature fields and unconventionals, a release stated. The service debuted at the Society of Petroleum Engineers Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition on Sept. 28. This technology works by recording acoustic waveforms that travel from a transmitter through the formation to a receiver. As a result, operators can measure seismic properties and analyze reservoir characteristics and geomechanical properties. These acoustic applications provide information to help users optimize completion and stimulation design and reduce drilling and completion risks. halliburton.com

Deepwater safety valve designed to close if well control is lost
Baker Hughes has released its DeepShield deepwater safety valve, the industry’s first V1-validated subsurface safety valve tested to help ensure fail-safe operations as defined in the new American Petroleum Institute Specification 14A. The DeepShield valve incorporates debris mitigating features and is designed to close if well control is lost—even in the presence of debris buildup—establishing a reliable safety barrier to help minimize the likelihood of reservoir fluids escaping up the wellbore and any resulting HSE impacts, a press release stated. The DeepShield valve features a patented redundant operating system that enables the valve to function at extreme depths and pressures. Unlike conventional valves, the DeepShield valve can be held open at lower pressures, reducing infrastructure costs required to maintain higher wellbore pressures during operations. bakerhughes.com

Hydraulic submersible pumps offer about three times the life of an ESP
The hydraulic submersible pump (HSP) from SPX’s ClydeUnion Pumps is designed to provide ultrahigh reliability and long service life, a product announcement said. This pump has typically about three times the life of an electric submersible pump (ESP) equivalent and offers increased availability, providing substantial reductions in offshore opex, the company said. The removal of electrical power systems and componentry is designed to reduce equipment failures, reducing the need for costly
interventions to replace/repair in-well pumps. Rubbing element bearings and seals also have been eliminated as the HSP adopts a hydraulic balancing system and bearing arrangement in a single-shaft design to create high rotodynamic stability, enabling the HSP to run at high speeds and making it capable of a very wide operating performance envelope. This flexibility is beneficial in accommodating variances in predicted pump performance at the site. The HSP is supplied as a plug-and-play unit and is more compact in length than an ESP, making it easier to install even with large dogleg subverted angles. The HSP
is designed to resist wear and corrosion for the full life of a well. Designed to handle heavy oils and multiphase fluids, the HSP avoids gas locking as it automatically speeds up or down depending on the fluid density, meaning gas does not become entrained in the machine. spx.com

Tubular handling system encases batches of tubulars in fixed frame
Global Gravity’s tubular handling frame transports, lifts and stores drillpipes, casing and tubulars more efficiently, cost-effectively and safely than conventional wire bundling, a press release noted. The company is now considering opening a facility in Aberdeen to help meet demand. TubeLock, the company’s patented new-generation tubular handling system, has successfully completed its three-year operational debut in the North Sea, with operators confi rming improved safety through reduced injury, achieved cost savings and improved drilling operations. Developed specifically for the oilfi eld casing and tubular goods sector of the industry, TubeLock encases batches of tubulars in a fi xed frame. Once they are securely locked in place, “packs” of tubulars are transported from source to the quayside where they can be can be safely and efficiently lifted for onward transportation to offshore installations where they are offloaded, stacked and stored. globalgravity.dk

Drillstring camera with jet blasting function could slash rig time by 50%
A new joint-industry project (JIP) has been launched to progress camera technology that could deliver significant savings during drilling operations, a product announcement said. The Industry Technology Facilitator began the project with Clearview Well Services of Perth, Australia, with the support of two global oil and gas operator members. Clearview Well Services will build a prototype to live-test its CDFC, a new multifunctional camera and jet blasting function that operates during visual inspections. The technology requires about 50% less rig time than traditional methods. The CDFC can be rapidly deployed to the wellsite by helicopter where it can carry out the operations in one trip of the drillstring. The camera and functions are operated via fiber optics from the surface. It is estimated it could save about $430,000 per 1,000 m (3,281 ft) in rig time, which would increase the deeper the well. The designs have been reviewed by the operators, and the JIP funding will be used to create a prototype for a live test within six months. It is hoped the technology will be qualifi ed and moving to manufacture before summer 2016. itfenergy.com

Sand-tolerant pump designed to increase runlife, optimize costs in high-sand wells
Weatherford International has expanded its artificial lift portfolio with a new sand-tolerant pump (STP). Aimed to optimize the life of wells, slow production declines and reduce workovers, the STP is an alternative to standard rod pumps in wells with high sand production, the company said. The STP prevents abrasion caused by sand accumulation in the barrel/plunger that results in decreased pump effi ciency or total failure. The STP is designed to operate at depths reaching 2,743 m (9,000 ft). A wiper assembly and filter coupling reduce sand damage by moving sand upward through the pump and away from the barrel/plunger interface. Based on field trial results, the STP has demonstrated up to 5.5 times longer runlife than conventional rod pumps in sandy conditions. The STP is available in most American Petroleum Institute pump sizes and can perform in temperatures up to 182 C (360 F). By lubricating the plunger/barrel interface and keeping sand out of this critical area of the plunger system, the STP provides efficient and reliable performance and extended run times. weatherford.com/STP

(Image courtesy of Weatherford)

Wireless networking product line designed to lower oilfield communication costs
ABB has released the TeleOS product line, a set of unlicensed band point-to-multipoint radios that provide power-effi cient SCADA communications with input/output capabilities. Using TeleOS, upstream oil and gas companies can now bring modern wireless communications to off-grid well pads, reducing capital and operational expenses, helping maximize oil production efficiency and enhancing environmental and worker safety, according to a product announcement. Power-efficient TeleOS products offer 10 to 100 times higher throughput than narrowband radios. The cost of powering a TeleOS radio with solar is less than half the cost of powering a broadband radio, the company said. With higher throughput than narrowband SCADA radios, TeleOS enables more frequent polling of measurement from automation devices, resulting in higher resolution data and enhanced decision-making capabilities. TeleOS radios include two 10/100BASE-T wired interfaces to provide connectivity for well pad equipment. The units’ serial interfaces as well as their analog and digital input/output capabilities support connections to equipment such as pressure sensors and tank level sensors. These communication capabilities support vital oil and gas field activities such as water treatment and injection as well as emergency shutdown. abb.com

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