Tech Trends

Reservoir modeling software enhances sweet spot visualization

The latest version of Baker Hughes' reservoir modeling software improves the understanding of unconventional plays with integrated 3-D models and allows for enhanced visualization of all relevant datasets while viewing thousands of wells at once, the company said.

JewelSuite 2012 features the Blue Marble Geographics' GeoCalc coordinate transformation library for correct well placement and incorporates advanced Multi-Point Statistics with easier usability and faster run times. The software also enables batch processing of property modeling and includes an unconventional play workflow for sweet spotting from a variety of reservoir and well models run in different production scenarios. .

Remote-controlled hot tap machine improves safety with diverless capability

A hot tap can be carried out using the lightweight Subsea 1200RC tapping machine via remote control. (Image courtesy of T.D. Williamson)

The new Subsea 1200RC Tapping Machine by T.D. Williamson allows hot tapping to be carried out remotely from the safety of a diving support vessel or platform without the need for diver assistance in deep waters.

According to the company, the hot tap system has demonstrated the feasibility of conducting critical tapping operations entirely by remote control. As a compact and lightweight machine, the diverless subsea system is topside-driven, allowing for direct control with its passive ROV interface that can be operated from an onboard laptop. Another benefit of the technology is that it provides visibility during the tapping operation where previously there was none. Built-in sensors allow continuous recording of actual pressures, temperatures, rotation, and movement of the pilot drill and cutter, offering a view of what is taking place within the enclosed space at the heart of the cutting operation, the company said. .

Drilling data server and repository manages well data analytics

DDSR, a drilling data server and repository from Point-Cross Inc., manages petabyte-sized drilling data across all wells. It includes interoperability with external tools for extracting patterns from surface and subsurface logs to develop predictive analytics and models.

According to the company, the technology harmonizes units and normalizes mnemonics of datasets for analysis across disparate wells by using extracted, indexed patterns for detection or building predictive models and geotechnical markers for drilling safety, operations, and optimizing reservoir management.

Resin-coated fracturing proppant now available to Canadian operators

The Oilfield Technology Group of Momentive Specialty Chemicals Inc. has begun offering its OilPlus resin-coated proppant to fracturing service companies and operators in Canada. The proppant is an advanced curable resin-coated fracturing sand available in 20/40, 30/50, and 40/70 mesh sizes that can be used to optimize oil and gas production by maximizing flow capacity from the reservoir to the well bore. Specifically designed for fracturing treatments in oil and liquids-rich reservoirs, the OilPlus proppant has demonstrated four times more oil flow through the proppant pack than conventional proppants, according to Momentive.

The company's resin-coated proppant line consists of five different curable resin-coated sands and one procured resin-coated sand. .

New buoyant tower provides storage, flexibility offshore Peru

The CX-15 shallow-water buoyant tower, which is planned for installation at the Corvina field in 3Q 2012, will be the first application of this design. (Image courtesy of GMC and Horton Wison Deepwater)

GMC and Horton Wison Deepwater have formed a joint venture to design and supply a shallow-water buoyant tower solution based on proven cellspar technology at the BPZ Energy-operated Corvina field offshore Peru. According to the companies, the design provides multiple benefits for fields where other concepts would be problematic, requiring high capital costs and expensive crane barges for installation. The tower can operate in up to 213 m (700 ft) water depth. It also can be relocated to allow small marginal plays to be exploited in a cost-effective manner while eliminating separate shallow-water drilling units and can used for hydrocarbon storage if necessary.

The Corvina field's CX-15 shallow-water tower will consist of four cylindrical cells connected to the seabed by a single suction pile integral to the hull structure. A total of 24 drill

slots will be available for potential use for gas and water reinjection wells. The platform is designed for 12,200 bbl/d of oil, gas compression capacity of 12.8 MMscf/d, and produced water handling and injection capacity of 3,500 bbl/d. Fabrication is under way at Wison Offshore and Marine's yard in Nantong, China.

New motor, RSS enhance downhole drilling performance, efficiency

Sperry Drilling, a Halliburton business line, has introduced the SperryDrill XL/XLS and GeoForce XL/XLS series motors to its fleet of positive displacement drilling motors and the Geo-Pilot EDL rotary steerable system (RSS) to its Pilot fleet of automated drilling systems.

The XL and XLS series motors feature downhole drilling technology for harsh drilling conditions and special applications such as air drilling, extended-reach drilling (ERD), and high-temperature drilling and configurations that can suit any drilling environment. According to Halliburton, the new motors are able to achieve higher build rates unattainable with conventional motors because of a shorter bit-to-bend. They also deliver the highest torque and weight-on-bit ratings and toughest bearing assembly.

Sperry Drilling's new Geo-Pilot EDL 9600 RSS is ideal for drilling well trajectories for ERD applications where consistent doglegs are required to drill the surface hole in shallow, soft formations, the company said. The high build-rate RSS features an enhanced dogleg capability and allows for drilling of the vertical, curve, and lateral sections in one bottomhole assembly with no added trips for motors. The system has been used in offshore and onshore operations to drill hole sizes ranging from 8/ 8 in. to 17 1/ 2 in. In its first extensive global application, the Geo-Pilot RSS was used to drill six complete build sections from vertical to horizontal, delivering excellent performance, the company said, including consistent dogleg capacity up to 8°/30.5 m (100 ft), with reserved deflection capacity reaching 10°/30.5 m. .