Archive | January/February
Challenging ultra-deepwater frontiers beckon for well construction, completion technology
Posted on 29 October 2009 in 2008, January/February
By David Walker, Dan Daulton, Percy Lormand, Glenn Baccigalopi, BJ Services When the Jack-2 well test broke production records in 2006, it didn’t just open a valve to drain oil from the Lower Tertiary play: It opened the floodgates for other operators to venture into the ultra-deepwater regions of the Gulf of Mexico. In water [...]
Deeper, more deviated wells push development of smart drill stem rotary shouldered connections
Posted on 29 October 2009 in 2008, January/February
By Bruno Lefevre, William Gamisans, VAM Drilling The continuous developments in oil and gas drilling operations have resulted in a significant increase in the application of extended-reach wells and horizontal drilling procedures as well as HPHT downhole conditions. These deeper and more deviated wells require the use of a drill string that has both higher [...]
Underbalanced drilling of oil wells in Saudi Arabia: case history and lessons learned
Posted on 29 October 2009 in 2008, January/February
By Muhammad A Muqeem and Clark M Jarrett, Saudi Aramco; Hassan J Abdul, Weatherford CPD&T Underbalanced drilling (UBD) has been accepted as an enabling technology for its various benefits. UBD can avoid or minimize drilling-related issues like stuck pipe and lost circulation and increase rate of penetration. Saudi Aramco has identified the minimization of fluid [...]
Theme of this year’s conference is ‘Sustainable Strategies for Today’s Realities’
Posted on 29 October 2009 in 2008, January/February
2008 IADC/SPE Drilling Conference looks to the cutting-edge of today, plans for the challenges of tomorrow With hydrocarbon demand soaring, and supplies at a premium, the challenges, opportunities and responsibilities for the global drilling and completion industry have never been greater. Oil and natural gas may not be renewable fuels, but to efficiently and safely [...]
Updated ANZI standards require industry to use stronger fall protection equipment
Posted on 29 October 2009 in 2008, January/February
By Jim Graef, Capital Safety The use and enforcement of fall protection equipment on drilling and service rigs has come a long way in the last decade or so. Unfortunately, it has taken several high-profile accidents to spur an increased focus on safety and compliance with established industry standards. Fortunately, however, compliance rates continue to [...]
Innovative casing drive system may help improve safety for crews working from heights
Posted on 29 October 2009 in 2008, January/February
By Warren P Schneider, TESCO Corp Safety statistics indicate that the number of fatalities experienced during drilling and related rig operations doubled from 2002 to 2003. Since then, the number of fatalities has remained near that level. Conversely, that means the number of fatalities has not decreased. Among the most dangerous occupations of the rig [...]
Baker Oil Tools uses ‘whole-body’ learning to accelerate HSE training, improve retention
Posted on 29 October 2009 in 2008, January/February
By Fiona Grant, Baker Oil Tools Many health, safety and environment (HSE) training programs are seen as low-value, boring and time-consuming – and with retention rates between 9% and 15% one month after program completion. The problem is compounded in international companies, where language barriers impede traditional “chalk and talk” training methods. At Baker Oil [...]
RECLAIM technology cuts costs for oil-based mud treatment in Wyoming pilot field trial
Posted on 29 October 2009 in 2008, January/February
By Alan Gilmour, J.O. Pruett II, M-I-SWACO A chemically enhanced centrifugation process, designed to remove the bulk of fine colloidal particles and/or increase the oil/water ratio (OWR) in oil- or synthetic-based drilling fluids, has proved its capacity to reduce costs significantly during a Wyoming field trial. The patented RECLAIM technology comprises proprietary flocculants and surfactants [...]
Case study: Health programme improves personnel fitness, morale on Grand Banks
Posted on 29 October 2009 in 2008, January/February
By Jason Wilson, Transocean, and Mike Wahl, Definitions Fitness Company Worker health and well being is a global issue that should be managed by all organizations. It is directly relevant to all drilling companies and has the potential to significantly impact operational and financial performance. Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) clearly demonstrate that [...]
INTEQ takes unique approach to improving long-term safety behaviour
Posted on 29 October 2009 in 2008, January/February
By Joe Greener and Tracey Adam, with contributions from Kenneth Lang and Jack Hinton, INTEQ Despite a number of significant improvements in engineering controls that previously resulted in reduced injury rates, recent statistics from the UK Health and Safety Executive demonstrate that further improvements are still needed. There is a recognised downward trend in fatal [...]
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