Insight into an operator’s drillsite

Operational efficiency is the key to running a well-organized job. But what if things aren’t going as smoothly as they could be? The OptiWell well construction performance service offered by Schlumberger scrutinizes downhole and surface conditions, helping users pinpoint risks and areas of improvement, and it ultimately lowers HSE risks, invisible lost time and nonproductive time, according to the company. The service is customizable to better address the needs of wells. For one well in deepwater Vietnam, the OptiWell service diminished riser running time by 14% and average in-slip time by 13%. And in an onshore pilot well in United Arab Emirates the service saved the operator two days of drilling time. The customizability of this service empowers operators to identify and correct specific inefficiencies in their current plan for a clean job that runs smoothly and effectively. slb.com

Remote surveillance for subsea equipment manufacturing

DNV GL developed a solution for remote surveillance service for subsea equipment manufacturing, a press release stated. The primary goal of this new alternative was based on cost savings, improved safety for surveyors, increased flexibility on testing schedules, availability of experts and transparency for all stakeholders. Remote witnessing equips technicians with hardware and software that provide remote support or, depending on the type of test and its critical points, a standalone camera system that can be installed to increase savings and flexibility. At the local office a DNV GL surveyor is connected to the technician, delivering technical expertise in a timely manner. dnvgl.com

Real-time monitoring system designed to improve uptime

National Oilwell Varco (NOV) has developed and refined the CTES condition-based monitoring (CBM) system to cover intervention applications for coiled tubing (CT) and nitrogen equipment. The CTES CBM system is a custom real-time monitoring system designed to improve uptime and reduce maintenance costs by identifying potential failures early, according to the company. In CT applications the system can be configured to monitor pump, bearing, filter and engine health along with hydraulic power and lubrication systems or specific bearings of motors or pumps. If equipment is not within acceptable tolerances, a visual alarm is displayed, and recipients on- and offsite are notified. When used in liquid nitrogen (LN2) applications, the system monitors the condition of LN2 in the pumps and piping while simultaneously observing wear components. The system monitors and visually reports on current equipment health, subsystems and processes, including the boost bump, high-pressure pump and vaporizer. Using the CTES CBM system in LN2 applications allows collection of data for analysis while also helping the operator optimize equipment placement to improve performance. www.nov.com

New ROV for energy market

UUV Aquabotix Ltd. has released a new model of its Endura ROV designed specifically for the energy market, a press release stated. The Endura NRG is engineered to be more dependable in high-current situations offshore and effective across a wide range of underwater inspection applications, including infrastructure, dams and reservoirs. The Endura NRG features a grabber arm for stability that enables the vehicle to stay anchored in high currents as well as a 360-degree external camera, unavailable on other inspection class ROVs, which allows users to drive the vehicle into currents and point the camera toward inspection areas. aquabotix.com

Drilling jar clamp designed for increased safety, well integrity

Emerson Automation Solutions has released its PolyOil jar handling clamp for increased safety and well integrity, a press release stated. One key threat to well integrity and safety in drilling and completions operations is the danger of jars firing prematurely at the surface prior to being deployed into the well. Jars are mechanical devices used downhole to deliver an impact load to another downhole component (especially when that component is stuck) and include a firing mechanism that activates when the necessary compression or tension has been applied to the running string. The inadvertent firing of such jars prematurely, however, can pose a hazard and lead to possible injuries and the dropping of the bottomhole assembly if pins are sheared. The new PolyOil jar handling clamp acts a safety device to prevent the jar from cocking and firing, with the jar unable to fi re unless the fi shing neck—designed to enable running and retrieval tools to reliably engage and release—is closed. Therefore, when the clamp is fi tted to the jar, the rod is kept in the open position, thereby preventing premature fi ring during the handling of the jar at the surface. The clamp also prevents the jar rod from being damaged during transportation and keeps it debris-free during storage. Applications for the new jar handling clamp include drilling, drillstem testing jars, coiled tubing and wireline applications. emerson.com

Gangway to support work in higher sea states

Ampelmann has launched its latest gangway for personnel transfer: the A-type Enhanced Performace (AEP). The gangway provides users with 10% greater workability in sea states with signifi cant wave heights up to 4 m (13 ft). The AEP also has the ability to use smaller vessels to obtain similar performance (compared to the current A-type). The gangway features an advanced motion compensation control system with precision controls to enable fast landing and comfortable people transfers. The system signifi cantly improves operational uptime on projects year-round and provides benefi ts to operators in rougher waters, including the North Sea and the coasts of South America and the Middle East. ampelmann.nl

Buoyancy design eliminates VIV in high currents

A major milestone was successfully completed under the joint development agreement between Diamond Offshore Inc. and Trelleborg, which focused on the creation of a helically grooved buoyancy design with enhanced performance for drilling riser operations in high current conditions. Test results revealed that when using the patented design, vortex induced vibration (VIV) is effectively eliminated in high currents, with the added bonus that drag loading on the riser is also reduced to a level comparable with fairings, a press release stated. In June tow tank testing on the helically grooved design was performed in Trondheim, Norway. The extensive test program provided valuable hydrodynamic data confi rming the design’s drag reduction and VIV suppression performance. Fixed and dynamic drag coeffi cients of the new design were recorded during separate fi xed and free vibration tow testing. Drag coeffi cients at an average of 0.65 were observed for relevant fl ow regimes, which is comparable to the performance of riser fairings. This is achieved through the highly successful VIV suppression of the design, effectively eliminating VIV response and subsequent drag amplifi cation in the high excitation response range of offshore drilling risers. Forced motion testing of the helically grooved design was also performed to better understand excitation of the riser under high current conditions and for the development of lift coeffi cient data for use in analytical fatigue damage prediction programs. The helical drag reduction and VIV suppression performance shows strong independence of current speed, which is consistent with the behavior of an external helical strake. However, the underlying fl ow physics causing the suppression are quite different, leading to the suitability of the helically grooved design for large-diameter drill riser buoyancy. trelleborg.com

Please submit your company’s updates related to new technology products and services to Ariana Benavidez at abenavidez@hartenergy.com.