Rigless ESP system helps operators bring wells on production faster

The Baker Hughes TransCoil rigless-deployed electric submersible pumping (ESP) system was developed to help operators bring wells on production faster and lower the costs associated with installing and replacing ESPs, the company said. By eliminating the need for a rig in fields where availability is a concern or where high intervention costs can limit artificial lift options, operators can minimize deferred production and lower overall lifting costs to extend the economic life of their assets. The TransCoil system—developed in participation with Saudi Aramco—is an inverted ESP system with the motor connected directly to a new proprietary power cable configuration. This eliminates the traditional ESP power-cable-to-motor connection to improve overall system reliability. There is no in-well wet connection as in wirelinedeployed ESPs, and thus there is no need for a rig to pull the tubing and replace the wet connection if it fails. Additionally, because the system can be installed through a deviation in the wellbore, operators can land the ESP closer to the producing zone for greater reservoir pressure drawdown and reserve recovery. bakerhughes.com

Service provides monitoring, diagnostics of artificial lift systems

The Schlumberger Lift IQ production life-cycle management service offers monitoring, diagnostics and optimization of artificial lift systems in real time. This new service securely collects, transmits, evaluates and interprets data from wells to improve production efficiency, extend equipment runlife and reduce operating costs, the company said. The Lift IQ service comprises four service tiers to ensure the best fit for an operator’s unique requirements, including visualization, real-time surveillance and diagnostics, well optimization, and field optimization. From Artificial Lift Surveillance Centers (ALSC) around the world, service engineers monitor equipment alarms and events using Schlumberger best practices and systematic workflows to identify probable causes and report remedial actions for implementation. Data are gathered through satellite or cellular connections with three convenient storage options of on-premise, in-country or global. In conjunction, engineers at the 24/7 ALSC provide in-depth analysis to proactively manage commissioning and restarts as well as avoid shutdowns typically caused by high gas and low flow conditions. http://www.slb.com/services/production/artificial_lift/advanced_lifting/lift-iq.aspx

Cement retainer, bridge plug designed for Sakhalin wells

Weatherford International Plc has developed and deployed a high-performance cement retainer and bridge plug for use in wells in Sakhalin Island, Russia, a press release stated. After identifying a need for a higher performance cement retainer and bridge plug to provide isolation in Sakhalin wells, a major operator on Sakhalin Island contacted Weatherford to develop a technology that reliably meets more stringent industry standards. The downhole tool is one of few on the market qualified for use in Sakhalin wells (i.e., it has been tested at the pressures, temperatures and geometries expected throughout the service life of the tool). After successfully pressure-testing the tool, Weatherford performed further surface qualification testing to demonstrate that the cement retainer could be easily and reliably drilled with a milled-tooth rock bit. weatherford.com

Service provides global coverage of offshore projects, discoveries

Stratas Advisors’ new Global Upstream Project Analytics (GUPA) provides worldwide coverage of offshore projects with a focus on recent and future developments. This thorough, detailed coverage includes multiple measures of specific project economics throughout the project life cycle, analysis of publicly announced E&P projects and detailed fiscal models by country. The company’s transparent modeling lets operators see the calculations, adjust the assumptions as desired and analyze the results. Equally important to project success, Stratas experts have a thorough understanding of the global regulatory environment. Because of the size of the investments required to take advantage of these opportunities, global offshore project decision-making carries high business risks. stratasadvisors.com

Robotic sea snakes perform offshore tasks

Eelume’s robotic sea snake, a new underwater intervention vehicle, is moving closer to becoming commercially deployed after taking a 150-m (492-ft) winter dive in a Norwegian fjord near Trondheim, proving its abilities to maneuver, record video and snap photos. Since testing carried out in November and December 2016 the company further developed the slender robot with snake-like swimming movements that could revolutionize the subsea inspection, maintenance and repair (IMR) sector in tight spaces. “We are building a new vehicle right now that will go even deeper and be able to operate tools subsea,” Eelume CEO Arne Kjørsvik told Subsea Engineering News in a statement. “The plan is to make the vehicle available on the market in late 2019.” The next version of the robot will be capable of diving down to 500 m (1,640 ft). The robot will carry out inspections and light intervention work on the seabed, where it will be permanently installed and called upon whenever a job arises. eelume.com

Knowing the health of operating equipment

ABB Ability AssetInsight gathers siloed data collected from equipment, transforming those data into valuable information that can be acted upon and shared across the organization, a press release stated. The new technology gives oil, gas and chemicals decision-makers a clearer, real-time picture of the health of their operating equipment via a web browser. The tool enables operators and supervisors to prioritize actions so they can better plan maintenance and operations strategies with the goal of moving toward a more cost-effective predictive maintenance strategy. ABB Ability AssetInsight gathers information from disparate systems across disciplines—from devices and instrumentation to automation to IT—to provide one aggregated view of condition status on a systemwide level. abb.com

Digital downhole data logger records, transmits pressure and temperature

Emerson Automation Solutions has released the Paine 328-12-0010 pressure and temperature data logger and digital transmitter, a tool for process measurement and data logging in downhole drilling applications, a press release stated. Paine 328-12-0010 acquires, stores and transmits critical information. Downhole drilling operators must measure pressure and temperature to optimize drilling processes and ensure safety. These measurements are typically made with a variety of downhole tools, either mounted just above the drillbit to provide continuous measurement while drilling or as separate tools inserted into the drill hole on a periodic basis. Once drilling is complete and production begins, these measurements are needed to optimize throughput, maximize uptime and ensure safety. emerson.com

System provides ship motion prediction

Developed by Wärtsilä’s Dynamic Positioning (DP) unit, SmartPredict is designed to provide safer and more efficient vessel operations by reducing the risks associated with maneuvering, a press release stated. The system displays the vessel’s predicted future position and heading and uses proven DP analysis algorithms to evaluate forces affecting the vessel, thereby providing advanced motion prediction. SmartPredict also features a configurable prediction time display. Most conventional prediction systems are able to use only basic input parameters and thus offer limited usability. Wärtsilä’s SmartPredict software module, however, uses all of the parameters used for automated control by the DP and adjusts them for the motion characteristics of the specific vessel. Such inputs include the vessel’s current position and heading as well as its velocity and rate of turn and all associated accelerations. Also taken into consideration are the manual commands from the coordinated control joystick and environmental input from the onboard wind sensor(s). These factors are continuously evaluated to provide a constant update of the vessel’s path. wartsila.com

Tool manages large volumes of data

petroWEB’s Enterprise DB (EDB) is designed to be a cost-effective single authoritative tool for managing large volumes of subsurface data for oil and gas companies, a press release stated. EDB stores all well-related information including well headers, well log files and associated documents in a single view. The tool offers companies a total end-to-end well and log data management workflow (load, search, view and export). Additionally, EDB Data Manager, the first release of the web app replacement for EDB Admin, provides direct intuitive interaction with the data, enabling users to easily and effectively load, quality-control, audit, discover and export E&P data throughout the well life cycle. petroweb.com

Type curve analysis for easy decision-making

Sproule has released its Type Curve Analysis, a comprehensive production profile dataset available for 14 key resource plays across Western Canada, a press release stated. The Type Curve Analysis is designed to shorten the time spent screening opportunities, evaluating producing wells and benchmarking performance. Sproule has developed a proprietary process for creating its type curves. “Differentiating reservoir performance and reservoir behavior enables assessment of completion type, completion effectiveness, well length and minor variations in reservoir quality within the area,” said Steven Golko, vice president of capital strategies. “Well performance varies within any individual geologic bin, so we’ve created a type curve suite for each geologic bin that covers the range of well results from least to best performing in any area.” The framework is transparent and creates consistency across an organization for better decision-making. sproule.com/typecurve

Acoustic insulation jackets shorten the application process

Advanced Insulation has released a new range of ContraFlex acoustic insulation jackets, an adaptable product protecting personnel from high-sound pressure levels that are designed to significantly shorten the application process using a combination of absorbent materials and a mass-loaded barrier inside a removable jacket solution, a press release stated. Workers are exposed to a variety of different mechanical noises every day, including loud turbines, pumps, valves and pipes. Chris Read, sales support manager at Advanced Insulation, said, “The system provides high-performance acoustic insulation and combined thermal insulation for industrial applications such as onshore refineries, offshore environments and a wide range of bespoke solutions for pumps, compressors and engines.” advancedinsulation.com