Demand for automated technology continues to grow throughout the industry despite the decline in oil price and reduction in capital spend across the board. Driven by sub-optimal industry conditions, operators are searching for faster, safer and more consistent wells, leaving drilling contractors the difficult task of optimizing their rigs. Contractors are faced with several challenges to compete in the current market: how to maintain operations with a shrinking workforce, how to enhance their existing fleet, and how to safely manage a multitude of third parties vying to optimize the control of their assets.

The oil and gas industry has a history of collaboration between organizations, including operators, contractors, manufacturers and distributors, in efforts to continuously improve efficiency and safety. Incidents are often triggers that lead to this type of collaboration. This article highlights an example where an incident led to a drilling contractor, manufacturer and distributor to work together to design, produce and put in place a tool that will greatly reduce the chances of similar incidents reoccurring and, thus, improve safety on the job. The incident occurred in April on a Sidewinder Drilling rig in Oklahoma during a routine operation. It was 9:30 p.m., and the crews were pulling out of the hole and laying down drill pipe at the end of the well. The drill pipe elevators were fitted with a piece of rope approximately 3 ft in length for the purpose of tripping the elevators open. There were scattered thunderstorms at the time with gusty winds and occasional rain and hail. The rig is equipped with a top drive with a link tilt system and a hydraulic catwalk machine.

GE Oil & Gas has signed a framework agreement with Statoil Petroleum AS to provide subsea operations services for the company’s operated fields Tordis, Vigdis, Snorre and Troll, located northwest off the coast of Stavanger. GE Oil & Gas will run the services from their...

In the 15 or so years since the unconventional oil and gas boom began, the industry has learned that unlocking the secrets of the subsurface is the key to tapping additional resources. Operators now know that the complexity, heterogeneity and unpredictability of unconventional plays and tight oil and gas formations require a deeper characterization of the geology and an understanding of the effects of hydraulic fracturing on the rock. Today, models can provide a 3D view of the formation and simulate hydraulic fractures, with the capability of making real-time adjustments. They have become essential in designing completion strategies that enhance production. A pivotal piece of that process involves listening to the rock and detecting subsurface stress – microseismic monitoring.

Vantage Drilling Company received a notice dated 31 August 2015 from Petrobras America (PAI) and Petrobras Venezuela Investments & Services B.V. (PVIS) stating that PAI and PVIS were terminating the Agreement for the Provision of Services Contract for the Titanium Explorer...

The Well Control Institute (WCI) has been hard at work establishing priorities and near-term goals, said Steve Kropla, Vice President of IADC’s Offshore Division...

After a brief retirement from the industry, Randy Smith returned and launched a new well control training company, Smith Mason & Co, a year ago. Mr Smith has begun training students in the new WellSharp curriculum...

In his welcome speech at the 2015 IADC Well Control Conference of the Americas in Galveston, Texas, on 25 August, IADC Chairman Ed Jacob related what he considers the most valuable advice on well control he has ever received...

At the 2015 IADC Well Control Conference of the Americas in Galveston, Texas on 25 August, IADC President and CEO Stephen Colville presented an Exemplary Service Award to Hector Moreno.

IADC has been in ongoing discussions with the Texas Railroad Commission regarding the agency’s revisions to Rule 13, collaborating with the regulator to ensure appropriate and fit-for-purpose regulation...