AFGLOBAL
AFGlobal Corporation has announced that it has agreed to acquire Managed Pressure Operations (MPO), a subsidiary of MHWirth. As a vertically integrated supplier, this acquisition further solidifies the company's position as a specialized original equipment manufacturer (OEM). The resulting combination of companies creates the most complete deepwater managed pressure drilling (MPD) offering currently available in the market, with technology covering both onshore and offshore applications.
The new business group within AFGlobal's oil and gas segment will be known as Advanced Drilling Systems. The complete portfolio will include riser gas management systems, early kick/loss detection, managed pressure drilling, dual gradient drilling and continuous circulation.
One primary benefit to clients is the company's premium in-house design, engineering, and manufacturing capabilities-all managed by a single provider. Blending world-class products and manufacturing with transformational drilling technology will create a new family of the next generation well construction products and services. The new combined offering will create value across a broad client spectrum, targeting both the offshore and land markets.
BOOTS & COOTS SERVICES
Boots & Coots Services, a Halliburton business, announced that it has developed the Global Rapid Intervention Package (GRIPSM), a suite of services to help reduce costs and deployment time in the event of subsea well control events. GRIPSM provides well planning and well kill capabilities facilitated by the company's global logistics infrastructure and existing product service lines. This includes both an inventory of well test packages, coiled tubing units and relief well ranging tools.
In addition, GRIPSM features the new high temperature, 15,000 psi RapidCapTM Air-Mobile Capping Stack. Sourced from Trendsetter Engineering, Inc., RapidCap incorporates a specially designed gate valve-based system making it significantly lighter, less expensive, and more mobile than options currently on the market.
Capping stack systems currently available are extremely difficult to deploy due to their size and weight (roughly 220,000 - 300,000 lbs.) and are expensive to transport and reassemble on a job site. It can take weeks to deploy existing systems, especially from locations that lack the infrastructure to timely move the systems into position.
To address the need for a more portable and cost-effective solution, RapidCap aims to reduce deployment time by up to 40 percent over competing systems. Rather than requiring specialized infrastructure, RapidCap can be air transported on a Boeing 747-400F and lifted by a 110 ton or lighter crane. GRIP and the RapidCap Air-Mobile Capping Stack are expected to be ready for deployment by the end of 2016.
CATALYST ARTIFICIAL LIFT
Catalyst Artificial Lift recently decided to bring the honing of sucker rod pump barrels in house, and by doing so the Iola, Kansas-based company increased part quality and expanded its product line with precision barrels, using sound business strategy and a Sunnen HTG tube honing system.
Catalyst Artificial Lift provides sucker rod pump components to U.S. onshore exploration and production companies. The company makes all the parts for the pump assembly, building new pumps and supplying replacement parts. Previously, Catalyst's rod pump barrel products were limited due to reliance on outside sources for pre-honed pipe. The company began searching for options that would allow it to not only gain better control of its production processes, but also refine and enhance its barrels.
Sucker rod pumps are long slender cylinders with both fixed and movable parts. The assembly is inserted in the well to gather fluids and lift them to the surface - a process known as "artificial lift." The barrel, along with the valves and plunger, is one of the key components. Consistent diameter, roundness and straightness are important factors in preventing slippage or leakage past the plunger. The compression ratio is also affected by the fit of the plunger to the pump barrel. Properly fitted parts increase the compression ratio and may reduce the effects of free gas and help prevent gas locking.
Catalyst purchases raw material in 24' to 26' lengths and sells it in this length or cuts it to the customer's requirements after processing. The OD ranges from 1.625" to 2.75" (41.28 mm to 69.85 mm) and ID range from 1.25" to 2.25" (31.75 mm to 57.15 mm).
Prior to acquiring the tube hone, Catalyst produced only soft-pack barrels, which had fairly loose tolerances of -0.002" to +0.006". The hone enables the company to produce a precision barrel line with tolerances as tight as 0 to +0.0002".
Catalyst also expanded its product line to include chrome-plated barrels for heavily abrasive and corrosive well conditions.
For increased speed and accuracy, the HTG uses a new precision hydraulic feed system that combines the brute force of hydraulics with the finesse of a sophisticated control. This includes servo position control of the feed system actuator, electronic pressure control and closed loop feedback. The machine features a 0-100 foot/min (30.48 m/min) stroke velocity and standard 0-300 rpm spindle, though Catalyst's machine is equipped with a 600-rpm spindle option. The machine can produce a tool feed force of up to 2500 lb. (11,200 N).
GOLAR LNG LIMITED
Golar and Schlumberger announced the creation of OneLNGSM, a joint venture to rapidly develop low cost gas reserves to LNG. The combination of Schlumberger reservoir knowledge, wellbore technologies and production management capabilities, with Golar's low cost FLNG solution, offers gas resource owners a faster and lower cost development thereby increasing the net present value of the resources.
Golar and Schlumberger have 51/49 ownership of the joint venture. Golar and Schlumberger have agreed an initial investment commitment to cover the estimated equity needed to develop the first project. In addition, the parties will on a project-by-project basis discuss additional debt capital as required. This future financing will take into account Golar's FLNG intellectual property through an equitable contribution mechanism to be agreed between the parties.
OneLNGSM will be the exclusive vehicle for all projects that involve the conversion of natural gas to LNG, which require both Schlumberger Production Management services and Golar's FLNG expertise. After reviewing the current market opportunities where 40% of the world's gas reserves can be classified as stranded, both parties are excited at the future prospects of OneLNGSM and are confident that it would conclude 5 projects within the next 5 years.
FORUM ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES
Forum Energy Technologies has expanded its specialist syntactic foam manufacturing capabilities with the opening of a new plant near Houston.
The six-acre facility in Bryan, Texas, brings Forum's Syntech product line closer to clients in the oil and gas industry and has the capacity to support future growth.
Syntech will share the property with another of Forum's brands, Dynacon, to create a production hub with an enhanced engineering capability and streamlined process.
Forum Syntech is one of world's largest original equipment manufacturers in the niche ROV market for syntactic foam. The product is used to provide buoyancy modules for use in ROVs and other submersible equipment. The new plant not only allows the expansion of Forum's ROV flotation manufacturing capabilities, but also includes the expansion into manufacturing larger installation buoyancy modules, rigging buoyancy and custom/project specific flotation modules.
FUGRO
Fugro is to commence a major program of offshore geotechnical investigations under a contract awarded by ONGC.
Valued at approximately USD 26million, the contract involves site investigation work to gather geotechnical and geohazard data at the field, which is located in the KG-DWN-98/2 block off the east coast of India. The information will support the design and subsequent installation of wellheads, manifolds, platforms, FPSO anchors, umbilicals, pipelines and flow lines.
Fugro will deploy its deepwater geotechnical vessel, Fugro Voyager, which will perform the work in water depths ranging from 50 to 1,500 meters. The fieldwork will be followed by extensive laboratory testing, data analysis, interpretation and integration with other data acquired by Fugro.
NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO
National Oilwell Varco, Inc. and GE Oil & Gas announced the execution of an agreement to collaborate on delivering integrated solutions for Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels. The agreement brings together the complementary product offerings and engineering capabilities from two industry leaders to optimize engineering design and supply comprehensive topside solutions for FPSO projects.
NOV engineers and manufactures advanced fluids pumping, treatment and processing systems; composite piping systems; cranes and deck machinery; and sophisticated, disconnectable turret mooring systems for FPSOs and related vessels. Additionally, NOV has successfully installed and commissioned equipment on hundreds of vessels in dozens of shipyards for the oil and gas drilling industry.
GE Oil & Gas engineers and manufactures advanced technology solutions for many of the world's most complex power generation and gas compression projects. Also, with its Subsea Production Systems, GE Oil & Gas offers a comprehensive range of solutions including subsea trees, manifold & connection systems, and power & processing technology.
GE Oil & Gas may also involve other GE businesses in the collaboration with NOV.
The new, combined platform will provide industry-leading topside systems with repeatable deliveries, scale economies and standardized interfaces, which are expected to reduce risk of construction delays and cost overruns for deepwater oil and gas customers. Additionally, the new platform will incorporate digital solutions, which will optimize performance and provide predictive analytics through the life of the vessels, enabling FPSOs to efficiently adapt to a wider array of operating parameters.
The industrialized manufacturing supply chain, combined with digital solutions and global service and aftermarket capabilities, is expected to maximize life-cycle efficiencies and drive down the cost of offshore oilfield development.
NOV and GE Oil & Gas expect to complete joint engineering efforts and commence offering topside package solutions to the oil and gas industry by early 2017.
ONESUBSEA
OneSubsea, a Schlumberger company, has been awarded an engineering, procurement and construction contract totaling approximately $300 million from Woodside Energy Ltd. OneSubsea will supply a subsea production system and a dual multiphase boosting system for the Greater Enfield Project, offshore northwest Australia.
The scope of contract includes six horizontal SpoolTree* subsea trees, six horizontal trees for the water injection system, six multiphase meters, a high-boost dual pump station with high-voltage motors, umbilical, topside, subsea controls and distribution, intervention and workover control systems, landing string, and installation and commissioning services.
PK SAFETY SUPPLY
PK Safety Supply announced the addition of real-time gas monitors to the line of products for oil and gas industry. BW Clip Series are reliable, maintenance-free gas detectors, specifically engineered for hazardous environments and extreme temperatures.
This new generation of gas detectors include the real-time digital display of gas levels, the ability to calibrate the device, and the ability to put it into hibernation mode when not in use. H2S and CO models provide up to three years of operation and hibernation capability, and all models are maintenance-free with no need for battery charging or sensor replacement. BW Clip Series Real-Time Gas Detectors are based on Surecell™ and Reflex Technology™. Surecell™ is a unique dual reservoir sensor design that dramatically improves instrument performance, response time, and longevity.
Reflex Technology™ is an advanced automated internal test function that routinely checks the operating condition of the sensor to increase safety, up-time, and overall worker confidence. Specifically, there is an automated self-test of battery, sensor and electronics within the BW Clip Series.
The instrument management option with the IntelliDoX Management System combines smart docking modules, updated Firmware V 7.000, and Fleet Manager II 4.3.31 software. It ensures quick bump tests and calibrations, unmatched configurability, enhanced productivity, and the highest level of protection.
SHAWCOR
Shawcor Ltd. announced that its pipe coating group has received a conditional contract worth approximately $300 million from Infraestructura Marina del Golfo (IMG), to provide pipeline coating solutions to the Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE) Sur de Texas - Tuxpan gas pipeline project. The Tuxpan Gas Pipeline project will transport natural gas along an underwater route in the Gulf of Mexico, from the South of Texas, USA to Tuxpan, Veracruz. It will supply natural gas to the CFE's power generation plants in multiple regions of the country. IMG is a Mexican company majority-owned by TransCanada Corporation and partially owned by IEnova
The contract involves coating approximately 690 km of 42" pipe with the application of concrete weight coating in a variety of thicknesses (2.25", 2.752" and 3.5") and supply the installation of 5,000 sacrificial anodes. Coating is expected to commence in the beginning of 2017 and complete by the end of 2017.
The company will execute the work at Shawcor's new coating facility in Altamira, Tampico, MX. The new Altamira facility was strategically developed to serve offshore projects in the Western Hemisphere from Mexico. Development started in January, 2016 and will be fully mobilized and functional by the third quarter of 2016 to serve the Sur de Texas - Tuxpan project requirements. The facility is comprised of a dedicated automated pipe inspection and repair plant and two high capacity concrete weight coating plants capable of coating pipes of up to 48" in diameter. Located with access to substantial adjacent storage areas located within 2km of the commercial port quays for receipt of pipe and raw materials.
SIEMENS
Siemens has won an order from the Trans Adriatic Pipeline consortium for six 15-megawatt SGT-400-driven turbo compressor trains. The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) will open up the so-called Southern Gas Corridor for Europe. Installation is scheduled for 2017 and the pipeline is expected to begin operating in late 2019.
The pipelines in the Southern Gas Corridor will transport natural gas from the Shah Deniz II field in Azerbaijan in the Caspian Sea to Europe. TAP represents the missing link that will enable this natural gas resource to be exploited. The 878-kilometer-long Trans Adriatic Pipeline will connect with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline at the Turkish-Greek border at Kipoi, crossing Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea to come ashore in southern Italy. The landfall in Italy provides multiple opportunities to transport the natural gas to large European markets such as Germany, France, and the UK.
Each of the six gas turbine-driven compressor trains comprises an SGT-400 industrial gas turbine and a Siemens barrel-type STC-SV compressor. Siemens will deliver three compressor trains to the compressor station in Kipoi, Greece. This marks the beginning of the TAP at the border to Turkey. The TAP's landfall in Albania will be 17 kilometers northwest of Fier, up to 400 meters inland from the shoreline. Another three units will be installed in this compressor station. Here, the natural gas will be compressed to up to 130 bar and make its way along the 105-kilometer seabed from the Albanian to the Italian coast.
SUBSEA INDUSTRIES
With an increasing trend for thruster and rudder manufacturers finishing their products with self-cleaning protective hard coatings, Antwerp headquartered Subsea Industries has introduced a filler coating for use with its Ecoshield hard coat system.
Ecofix, specifically formulated to provide ship repairers and OEM's with a cost-effective solution for the repair of corroded or pitted steel surfaces, returns the thruster or rudder to its original state prior to touching up the repaired area with Ecoshield.
Ecofix is an effective alternative to metal facing or very expensive fillers because of its bonding and hardness properties. Since Ecofix uses the same basic resin as Ecoshield, the coating can be applied just one hour after applying the filler.
WEATHERFORD
Weatherford International plc announced that its new model WUDP-10 deep-set safety valve has been certified to V1 standards under the American Petroleum Institute (API) Specification 14A.
The valve is designed for deepwater applications and is effective at depths in excess of 12,000 ft. (3,658 m). Additionally, because it operates independent of tubing pressure, the valve can also be set in shallow applications.
The tubing-retrievable valve uses conventional hydraulic functionality to provide long-term, reliable operation that is not dependent on nitrogen storage. The simple design minimizes leak paths and incorporates a heavy power spring for fail-safe closure.