Technology in the oil and gas industry covers the gamut of unusual applications. On June 24, press releases on two quite different technologies illustrated the divergence well.

Sterling Global Operations (SGO) put a tracked, armored vehicle to work in the field in Kurdistan, supporting oil and gas operations. The Micro MineWolf was designed and built by MineWolf Systems AG, Stockach, Germany. SGO is operating the equipment to remove landmines and other unexploded ordnance in Iraq, Afghanistan and other parts of the world.

The remote-controlled Micro MineWolf uses a “tiller” at the front of the vehicle with flails and cutters that revolve around a circular drum, which smashes down on buried mines and other explosive devices. The vehicle got its first use for oil and gas companies in Kurdistan.

Unexploded ordnance left from various conflicts around the world can be a major safety issue in the oil patch. “This is a remarkably effective new tool in overcoming various types of explosives that up to now were dealt with by human beings,” said SGO President Alan Weakley in the press release. And that translates into greater safety for the oil and gas companies as well as the people who live in the area.

At the other end of the spectrum for deepwater operations, Maersk Drilling ordered the industry’s first 20,000-psi BOP stack and riser system as part of the Project 20K Rigs design program, which is under a joint study agreement between BP and Maersk. The equipment is scheduled to enter service in the first half of 2018.

GE Oil & Gas will design, test and build the BOP and riser systems at its Houston Technology Center. The company is working with Maersk and BP to develop the drilling system technologies to meet new ultradeepwater production goals.

“The 20,000-psi drilling system will include a number of new, real-time monitoring and condition-based maintenance technologies aimed at improving uptime by reducing unplanned maintenance,” said Andrew Way, president and CEO of GE’s drilling and surface business for GE Oil & Gas, in a press release. “This next-generation system can make accessible new offshore drilling frontiers.”

This new BOP stack should be a sight to see. Given the size of the 15,000-psi system, I can only imagine how big the new system will be. Onshore, I remember writing about Parker Drilling’s first 15,240-m (50,000-ft) drilling rig. The BOP stack was immense.

Perhaps the new design will be able to reduce the size and weight of the BOP. We will have to wait and see.

Both of these technological advances are focused on safety and the environment. The technologies are at opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to applications, but the emphasis on developing the technologies needed to solve the myriad problems facing the industry is the same. Meeting those technological challenges is the key to unlocking future oil and gas production.

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