ESP system for high-temperature applications

Built on the Schlumberger REDA Hotline550 electrical submersible pump (ESP) system, the REDA HotlineSA3 high-temperature ESP system incorporates a newly integrated design that effectively extends the ESP operating envelope and run life. The system can produce from wells with bottom-hole temperatures up to 250°C (482°F), thus enabling the installation of the ESP at the early stages of development.

The REDA HotlineSA3 integrated motor is designed for high-temperature operation. (Image courtesy of Schlumberger Ltd.)

Reduction of sub-cool and steam oil ratio (SOR) is achieved with integrated surveillance and control through fluid pressure, temperature, and internal motor measurements. The new ESP system enables operators working in high-temperature applications – steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD), steam floods, in situ combustion, and geothermal – to improve economics through increased recovery and the ability to begin producing earlier, while also reducing downtime and intervention costs.

The REDA HotlineSA3 has passed extensive testing while running at maximum-rated temperatures, including strict third-party qualifications and extensive field testing in SAGD fields throughout Canada and steam flood fields in Oman. According to Schlumberger, the system has logged more than 2,000 combined cumulative running days for eight operators. Individual units have exceeded 250 days at the highest rated temperatures to date. www.slb.com/hotlinesa3.

Metrology system measures GoM subsea structures

Parker Hannifin Corp.'s energy products division has expanded its SICAMS subsea metrology and dimensional control offering to the Houston area to acquire accurate subsea measurements of existing structures in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM). The single-camera unit can deliver data for centerline distances, diameters, and pitch and roll without acoustics or a full survey crew and has an accuracy measurement of 1 part in 5,000 or higher, the company said. The metrology system also includes a built-in reporting tool. According to Parker, SICAMS can produce precise 3-D models using multiple photos taken from many angles and delivers images on site. www.parker.com/epd.

Wellbore cleaning system tackles extreme environments

The Baker Hughes X-Treme Clean XP wellbore cleanup and displacement system can improve efficiency and reduce operational risks in high-cost environments including deep water; horizontal, extended-reach, and deviated wells; and wells with high dogleg severity.

According to the company, the latest generation cyclone-based system removes debris with the industry's highest allowable mandrel rotation speed, a non-rotating tool string, a large circulation area, advanced debris carrying capabilities, and higher-than-drillpipe tensile and torque ratings. The system's rotating mandrel has an allowable rotation speed rated to 150 rpm versus 60-100 rpm for typical cleaning systems.

Baker Hughes studies indicate that cleaning efficiency increases significantly at 90-120 rpm. Because other system components such as scraper blades, the brush, and stabilizers do not rotate, damage to the casing, liner, or riser is minimized. www.bakerhughes.com.

Mura display technology delivers content over multiprojector setups

Matrox Mura MPX Series display wall controller boards can produce seamless imagery for small- to large-scale projection environments such as corporate boardrooms, digital signage, and control rooms, the company said. Built on a PCI Express x16 Gen2 platform, the display wall controller boards are supported by a new PowerDesk Edge Overlap feature that facilitates multiprojector soft edge blending by duplicating the GPU's output edges and allowing up to 24 projector edges to physically overlap one another from a single system. The high-performance board's design has universal input channel support, enabling Mura MPX customers to capture up to four 1920 x 1200 digital or analog video signals per board from a variety of devices and display them anywhere on the unified multiprojector display. http://www.matrox.com.

Shown on the left, the X-Treme Clean XP riser brush and boot basket. At right, the XTreme Clean XP casing scraper. (Image courtesy of Baker Hughes Inc.)

Chemical resistant coating takes the heat

Nansulate EPX insulation, corrosion prevention, chemical, and flame-resistant coating was created by Industrial Nanotech Inc. to insulate both metal and nonmetal surfaces around 205°C (400°F). The durable two-part epoxy formula's applications include steam and chilled water pipes, boilers, valves, heat exchangers, tanks, and other hot equipment in harsh and humid environments. According to Nanotech, benefits include lowering energy costs by an average 20% and enhancing worker safety due to the reduction in temperature. As a water-based coating, Nansulate is splash resistant to acids, bases, and fuels and can be easily applied with a texture sprayer, trowel, or stiff brush while equipment is in-service. www.nansulateindustrial.com.

Proppant storage silo reduces wellsite carbon emissions

Halliburton's new proppant storage silo addresses two critical operating issues – problematic wellsite planning and carbon emissions from oilfield operations.

The SandCastle PS-2500 unit saves on-site storage space by using a smaller pad size for fracturing operations and transitioning from a horizontal position to an operating vertical position using its own solar power generation. This latter component enables it to bypass conventional diesel engines to effectively reduce wellsite carbon emissions. Operators also can monitor proppant volumes in real time with the silo's integrated weighing system. Total working volume is 2,500 sacks (250,000 lb), and proppant can be discharged from two separate bins at a rate of more than 200 sacks/min, allowing for a variety of downhole proppant concentrations at the high rates typically required in shale play fracturing. www.halliburton.com.

Next-gen kickover tool enhances trouble-free gas lift

Wireline Engineering has introduced downhole technology that enhances the efficiency of gas lift mandrel interventions while lowering intervention costs. The Advanced Kickover Tool improves both wire-line conveyance and tool orientation, reducing access failure risks in high deviation wells where the gas lift madrel is set at challenging depths and angles. The tool's advanced design also minimizes downtime by enabling gas lift valve retrieval at the first attempt, the company said. The first successful application was completed at a highly deviated well in BP's Magnus field in the East Shetland Basin of the UK North Sea, in 186 m (~600 ft) water depth. www.wireline-engineering.com.

Wireline Engineering’s downhole technology reduces access failure risks in high deviation wells. (Image courtesy of Wireline Engineering)