Equipment/Software/Literature

This multistation manifold uses a common air supply to provide electronic proportional control of output pressure from any combination of four, six, or eight station units through the use of a DeviceNet communication protocol.

An eight-bit digital signal describing the required output pressure for each electronic regulator is sent by DeviceNet to the Type 5500 node. The Type 5500 converts the digital signal into the appropriate 4-20 ma signal that is sent to each corresponding I/P transducer, which adjusts output pressure to the desired setting.

Each manifold requires only one power cord and one fieldbus connection for up to eight pressure outputs from one node. This simplified system helps reduce setup time and wiring costs. An optional pressure sensor feeds back a diagnostic signal by DeviceNet to the controller, which then monitors pressure output from each I/P. Individual pneumatic shutoff valves allow adding, changing, or removing electronic pressure regulators without shutting off the main air supply. It also allows servicing one station while the others remain in operation.

The Type 5500 has RFI/EMI effect protection. Output ranges include 3-15 psig, 3-27 psig, 6-30 psig, 2-60 psig, and 3-120 psig. Maximum supply pressure is 150 psig. Temperature limits are –20º F. to +150º F. Built-in volume boosters provide flow capacity of up to 20 scfm. Mounting is available as wall or DIN Rail.

Source: ControlAir Inc., 8 Columbia Drive, Amherst, NH 03031.

Upgraded casing, riser wear analysis tool

Version 7 of CWEAR casing and riser wear analysis and prevention model calculates and monitors the progression of wear due to rotary contact of drill pipe with casing, riser, and other downhole elements.

The extent, magnitude, and location of the wear is calculated as well as its effect on burst and collapse pressures. This allows users to change operational procedures to reduce wear.

CWEAR addresses wear in casing, riser, and flex joints. Features include online help and a large database of wear factors. These wear-factor data also capture a large body of empirical data from laboratory tests with a variety of materials, fluids, and other drilling conditions.

The new version 7 of CWEAR has been upgraded and enhanced to make it an easy to use tool by including:

• Mathematical algorithms for calculating wear with the ability to account for wear caused by contact of the drill pipe body with the casing. This can be important in doglegs when the tension forces are high.
• Multiple riser strings can be specified. This feature allows users to simulate tapered stress joints in the riser string.
• An enhanced database of drill pipe, drill collars, and casing.
• A 2D well planner utility to create wellpath surveys quickly for simple or complicated wells for use in planning analyses.
• Data and parameters can be easily imported or exported to other applications via this firm's Galaxy database.

Source: Maurer Technology Inc. Div., Noble Corp., 13135 South Dairy Ashford, Suite 800, Sugar Land, TX 77478.

Inspection system has interchangeable camera heads

The newly expanded CA-ZOOM PTZ-6.0 digital inspection system now comes with interchangeable camera heads.

Users can select the PTZ140 (139 mm [5.47 in.] diameter) or new PTZ100 (98.4 mm [3.875 in.] diameter) depending on inspection needs or size of access areas. Both camera heads offer wide-angle and telezoom views and can be equipped with the optional parallel laser measurement accessory. The smaller PTZ100 camera head is offered in anodized aluminum, weighing 1.8 kg (3.9 lb), which is 40% lighter than the PTZ140.

The new PTZ100 offers a variety of new camera features:

• 10x optical with 4x digital zoom (total 40x) capability.
• Four high-intensity LED lights.
• High-resolution video and still image capture (470 HTV lines).
• Parallel laser measurement accessory.
• Integrated still image and motion video viewing, recording, measuring, comparing, and playback.
• On-screen temperature, pressure, PTZ position, time-date, and on-screen text display.

The CA-ZOOM PTZ System offers an integrated image capture and management tool. The exclusive iVIEW technology platform allows for still and video image management, comparison measurement, audio, and text annotation. This integrated hardware and software platform allows users easily to view, screen capture, and organize a variety of images for in-the-field or off-site assessment. It features the hand-held controller equipped with a large full VGA-resolution LCD monitor (16.0 cm / 6.4 in.) as well as dual joysticks to control camera pan and tilt, and menu navigation.

Buttons control zoom, focus, lighting, image brightness, and menu control for image management. In addition, the system is housed in a portable shipping and storage case; the system is ready for operation within 30 sec of initial setup.

The iVIEW features also include advanced imaging controls, including freeze frame, image save, split screen, image invert, image recall, audio and text annotation, laser-based measurement, file management, and on-screen control of a remote digital video recorder. The iVIEW software is easily upgradeable and the system is compatible with iVIEW Remote, which provides full remote control capability of the CA-ZOOM PTZ-6.0 system from a PC in a remote location.

In addition to the standard hand-held controller, camera control unit-processor, and camera, several accessories and enhancements are available. Depending on inspection needs, users can equip their system with extended cable reels, a second hand-held controller, extension poles, tripods, mini-DV digital recorder, or other video recording device, laser measurement, and keyboard.

Source: Everest VIT Inc., 199 US Highway 206, Flanders, NJ 07836.