Robot rig in development
could speed up drilling times, leading to cost savings for opera- tors.
A
WeST Drilling Products (WDP) has entered into a joint industry project with Statoil, ConocoPhillips and Shell for pi- loting of their newly developed CMR Drilling Technology. The fully robotised technol- ogy enables continuous drilling leading to efficiency improve- ments and corresponding cost reductions. WDP says that the new technology will also lead to sev- eral well related improvements such as better pressure control and reduced differential sticking that will increase drilling safety. The company says the tech-
nology allows for fully auto- mated and constant drilling operations by enabling drill pipe and casing to be fed continu- ously into the well. The CMR allows for well construction without any inter- ruptions in the drilling process. It can pull drill pipe and run casing continuously with full circulation. The project has a $33m de-
velopment budget, with nearly $7m being provided through the Norwegian Research Council’s Demo 2000 programme. The Demo 2000 technology
focused programme is targeting three main goals: new field de- velopment on the Norwegian Continental Shelf through new and cost efficient technology and
Norwegian com- pany is developing a continuous motion rig (CMR) that
Robot rig
CMR technology could speed up traditional drilling times
WeST Drilling Products is developing a continuous motion rig
designed to save time and money on drilling
implementation models; in- creased safety for implementa- tion within budget and plan; and new Norwegian industrial prod- ucts for sale in a Global market. WDP said the research rig
will strengthen the drilling tech- nology cluster in the Stavanger region.
WDP said: “During the last
20 years, the drilling industry has been through extensive mechanisation and automation of tasks on the drill floor previ- ously done manually. But the ef- ficiency of operations has on the contrary declined throughout this development. “The costs of rig rental and services associated with drilling operations have had a significant increase during the same period. The lowering of drilling costs is therefore essential.” The new robotic rig is being
developed at the Ullandhaug site near Stavanger. WDP says it will be able to cut drilling times by between 30% and 40% while reducing costs per well by as much as 45%. The company is aiming to
have the prototype ready by late 2014 or early 2015.
Offshore Technology November/December 2012
Enegi to test buoy technology
ENEGI OIL has secured acreage in the North Sea to advance its potentially game changing buoy technology.
In Brief
The company said the two licences it has been offered are suitable for its innovative un-manned oil production technol- ogy.
Block 22/12b is located near operating fields and it hosts the Phoenix discovery which is estimated by Enegi to contain between 15-99 million bbl of oil in place. Enegi says the initial work will involve 3D seismic as well as accessing the existing well. Block 3/33 is located on the south west margin of the East Shetland basin, and it contains the Malvolio appraisal prospect. Chevron encountered oil in a 1988 well. Enegi believes its buoy technology has the potential to re- duce capital and operational costs, which will reduce the eco- nomic thresholds and make these fields commercial. The venture is being pursued through a partnership with
ABTechnology, a separate company associated with the Enegi management team. “Buoy technology is a game changing technology for the
UKCS and we are delighted to have been awarded these blocks with a view to implementing it,” said chief executive Alan Minty.
“These licences, which were specifically identified, are all in the optimum operating envelope for ABT’s buoy technology and we believe this technology offers the best chance of com- mercialising the discoveries and prospects that have already been identified on them.”
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