EQUIPMENT | SOFTWARE | LITERATURE

Dec. 3, 2012

New dual fuel engine handles onshore drilling operations

New Cummins Dual Fuel engines designed for land-based oil and gas drilling applications will use Cummins Dual Fuel technology.

The first one in the line is the Tier 2 QSK50, rated at 1,480 hp at 1,200 rpm. Other QSK Series engines will follow, including engines capable of meeting upcoming US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tier 4 Final emissions regulations.

The QSK50 operates with integrated controls that optimize the substitution rate based on operating conditions, and seamlessly and automatically transitions between diesel fuel and dual fuel modes. Cummins Dual Fuel technology enables drilling equipment to operate on 100% diesel fuel or in dual fuel mode.

In dual fuel mode, the substitution rate, which is the percentage of natural gas relative to total fuel flow, is the critical parameter affecting fuel savings. In traditional operating conditions, engines with Cummins Dual Fuel technology can be expected to deliver a maximum substitution rate of 70%, the maker says.

The dual fuel solution will be applicable to new QSK50 engines and as a retrofit on existing QSK50 engines. Cummins's global distribution network will handle upfit, commissioning, and warranty on dual fuel solution engines.

Source: Cummins Inc., 500 Jackson St., Columbus, IN 47201.

New frac tool aids shale operations

The new FracPoint MP sleeve with DirectConnect ports for shale operations allows for increased contact with the reservoir, offering more controlled hydraulic fracture initiation points and improving connectivity to the pay zone (OGJ, Nov. 5, 2012, p. 142).

The system uses openhole packers to isolate multiple stages and ball-activated sleeves to divert the fracturing treatment into the formation. With the new sleeve, a single ball is used to open five sleeves per stage. Each sleeve includes eight DirectConnect ports placed 45o apart over the extension of the sleeve.

At each stage, a ball is dropped, the sleeves are opened, and hydraulic pressure pushes the telescoping DirectConnect ports into the formation at high velocity. The ports act like chisels to initiate fractures at controlled points along the wellbore. This results in accurate placement of the fracture treatment and better connectivity to the reservoir, the company says. With the FracPoint MP sleeve with DirectConnect ports, operators are able to fracture through five sleeves per stage with as many as 17 stages/well, connecting with the reservoir through as many as 85 sleeves and 680 ports.

Source: Baker Hughes Inc., 2929 Allen Parkway, Suite 2100, Houston, TX 77019.

New drilling fluid system

Newly released RHADIANT ultrahigh temperature nonaqueous drilling fluid system helps eliminate drilling fluid product degradation, prevent wellbore control issues such as barite sag, and provide a thin filter cake for enhanced logging conditions.

The system is specially formulated to maintain a stable rheological profile with little maintenance required. It maintains extreme-temperature stability even during prolonged static conditions. Stable rheologies in tandem with ultrathin and slick filter cake deposits clear the path for logging, casing, and cementing operations. These characteristics of the fluid system help enable accurate perforation placement, optimized completions, and quality reservoir characterization.

In an ultrahigh temperature exploration well in the Gulf of Thailand, the RHADIANT drilling fluid system effectively delivered filtration control and filter cake quality with stable rheological properties while drilling with zero lost circulation, the firm notes. For logging operations, the fluid system enabled the customer to perform seven openhole wireline logging runs, despite the fluid remaining static for more than 90 hr. Typical problems associated with the usage of conventional nonaqueous drilling fluids, such as barite sag and stuck pipe, were eliminated, the firm adds.

Source: M-I Swaco, 300 Schlumberger Drive, Sugar Land, TX 77478.

Gas infrastructure map series

A new map series aims at providing a compact and regular overview of existing gas infrastructure and outlook for its development as well as of actual supply and demand situation at both the European and national level from the perspective of a respective year.

The new map series aims at establishing an easy reference for such information and at mapping trends and their development over time. As such it contributes to enhanced transparency of the gas market.

The series is a cooperative effort of the European network of transmission system operators for gas (ENTSOG) and Gas infrastructure Europe (GIE).

Source: ENTSOG AISBL, Avenue de Cortenbergh 100, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium.