SERVICES | SUPPLIERS

Nov. 3, 2014

CHECK-6

Check-6, the leader in accelerating human performance, announced the launch of the company's revolutionary Checklist Ops with RIGOR, a culture-driven initiative with an intuitive checklist-based mobile app that puts procedural discipline and verifiable compliance in the palm of the user's hand.

Check-6's Checklist Ops with RIGOR seamlessly integrates into an organization's existing Crew Resource Management strategy, giving end users a higher level of reliability and human error mitigation. Based on an aviation-style checklist development structure, Checklist Ops with RIGOR ensures every critical checklist step has an action, so that supervisors and workers find a reliable and consistent workflow during high-risk operations.

"Check-6 is delivering to the oil and gas industry the capability to solve the experience gap," said Yarko "JJ" Sos, CEO of Check-6 International Inc. "Built around an operation's most critical tasks, checklists become the heartbeat of any healthy organization helping competent crews perform with step-by-step precision. Checklists make the manner in which tasks are performed predictable, and management's ability to verify compliance is a game changer in crew safety and productivity."

Checklist Ops is the company's scalable consulting service that helps operators and drilling contractors identify and develop checklists for critical tasks most susceptible to Lost Time Incidents (LTIs), Total Reportable Incident Rates (TRIR), downtime, flat time, and Non-Productive Time (NPT).

Complementing Checklist Ops is RIGOR, a digital checklist and compliance system that gives crews the tools to respond with methodical actions and reactions in both normal and emergency situations. With RIGOR, critical steps are simplified, actions are deliberate, and all checklist execution data is captured and tracked for reporting purposes.

For crew members, the pressure to memorize each step of a procedure is minimized, while management's confidence in their crews is maximized. Checklists are executed in a predetermined sequence with a deliberate swipe from a stylus pen or finger.

RIGOR software is currently operated on either a full-size Apple iPad tablet or Apple iPad Mini tablet, and offered with a Class I Division II intrinsically safe cover to meet equipment safety requirements at the rig site.

STWA, INC.

A developer of integrated solutions for the energy industry, STWA, Inc., announced that it has engaged Southern Research Institute a highly-regarded contract research organization in the environmental and energy science to provide technical services in support of expansion of commercialization of AOT Viscosity Reduction System and STWA Joule Heat pipeline flow assurance technologies within the global energy industry.

Based in Birmingham, Alabama, Southern Research, a scientific and engineering research organization, provides environmental and energy services and solutions through its Environment and Energy Department, which is focused on the testing and development of innovative technologies to produce cleaner energy and further environmental sustainability.

Working in collaboration with STWA engineers and its supply chain partners, a team of Southern Research chemists and scientists, under the direction of Southern Research's Brian Mastin, Ph.D., will conduct real-time chemical analysis of a variety of commercially produced condensates and various grades of crude oil to identify optimum temperature, pressure, and performance characteristics when treated with AOT and STWA Joule Heat.

Due to the unprecedented surge in "light and tight" oil production in the nation's shale formations, output of ultra-light oils called condensates has grown dramatically in recent years. According to RBN Energy, a consulting firm to the industry, condensates accounted for approximately 14 percent of U.S. crude production in 2013, equating to some 1 million barrels a day-up 66 percent from just three years ago.

Specializing in solid-state flow assurance technologies that deliver measurable performance improvements to crude pipeline infrastructures, STWA is the developer of two families of patent-protected industrial equipment for the global energy industry:

AOT™ Viscosity Reduction System lowers the viscosity of crude oil for less drag resistance, speeding the flow of oil and increasing toll rates, while achieving greater operational efficiencies. Once deployed on the pipeline pumping station, oil production and transportation companies benefit from the safer, more cost-effective delivery of greater volumes of oil, while reducing energy consumption at pumping stations, thereby mitigating CO2 emissions.

STWA Joule Heat is a compact, highly-efficient pipeline non-resistive core heating solution designed to deliver optimal heat conductivity and performance with less power and in a smaller form factor than other, less energy-efficient systems in use.

FORTIS ENERGY SERVICES

Fortis Energy Services has taken delivery of two 550 series workover rigs, specifically designed for their work in the Bakken, Utica and Marcellus shale plays, to meet the needs of a growing list of clients in these markets.

One rig is dedicated to the Northeastern region where Fortis is deeply entrenched in the Utica and Marcellus shale plays. The second rig was delivered to the Rocky Mountain region, to service companies in the Williston basin. In preparation for their recent growth, Fortis selected Hubbard Enterprises as their rig manufacturer of choice.

As well designs develop and change in all of their regions, Fortis continues to select and offer the most heavily-rated, robust equipment to meet the constantly changing needs of their growing customer base. This initiative of updating their fleet with new, highly capable and reliable, heavy duty equipment is a direct result of the Fortis growth strategy, internally dubbed "Project Rejuvination," and development of differentiated services recently added to meet the needs of new customers as the market continues to grow in each region.

ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS, LLC

AdEM has been selected as a Winner of the Top 50 Startups in 2014 by the prestigious TiECon Awards Program in Santa Clara, CA. In addition, the company successfully was awarded its first SBIR Phase II grant through the National Science Foundation for its proposal titled "Advanced Hydrodesulfurization Catalysts". During the Phase I, AdEM developed a high performance catalyst product, "AdeSulfur™". This advanced catalyst accomplishes desulfurization for lowering sulfur levels well below the levels possible with currently available catalyst technologies.

The high performance catalyst technology has the potential beyond sulfur removal for a number of other technological applications such as sulfur tolerant hydrogenation within chemical industry. Using the funds in Phase II, the company intends to demonstrate commercial scale production at tons per day.

AdEM is a spinoff company of the University of Louisville, researching fuel improvements, fuel alternatives, and nanowire applications to improve energy efficiencies. The company holds an exclusive license agreement, with a patent portfolio of 9 issued and 4 pending U.S. patents through the University of Louisville Research Foundation's Office of Technology Transfer. The original technology was developed by researchers at University Louisville's Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research. The innovations include processes for making advanced nanomaterials and their formulations for catalysts, adsorbents, composites and batteries.

TiE is a global, not-for-profit network of entrepreneurs and professionals dedicated to the advancement of entrepreneurship. The TiE50 track record since inception in May 2009 shows that 94% of the winners and finalists have been funded.

PRECISION FRAC

Innovators in the oil and gas industry with their water transfer supplies, Precision Frac and new-comer Karmic Energy, announced a new digital frac water tank measurement and monitoring system at their oil-and-gas industry party last night at The Blue Door in Midland, Texas. This new advanced product, Karmic Energy Automated Tank Measurement & Monitoring System, is a solar-powered, satellite-linked, wireless water tank monitoring system created specifically to increase fracking site productivity and provide accurate water tank level and temperature measurements at water storage and transfer sites.

The new sensor system can be set up and running in only a few hours. This provides a mobile solution that can be moved quickly to new sites as demands change. The system measures virtually any shaped tank, pond, or reservoir in real time, and sends data locally to ruggedized Wi-Fi connected tablets running the tank monitoring application, as well as to the Internet via a built-in satellite transceiver allowing access from remote office locations, or anywhere in the world.

The Karmic Energy solution is designed not only for quick set-up, but also for autonomous operations requiring little to no intervention after set-up. At the core of the each worksite is a solar-power and satellite-connected mobile transmission station that houses computer servers and communications systems in a SUV-towable, crane liftable trailer built to withstand widely fluctuating temperatures and wind speeds up to 100 miles per hour. In addition to withstanding harsh weather conditions, the mobile transmission station's solar power system is designed to operate without sunlight for up to seven days, an important feature especially in winter months, when exposure to sunlight can be limited.

The Karmic Energy solution system has no practical limitation on the number of tanks or sites that can be measured and monitored. The system currently has 12 of the most common water tank styles to choose from, including fixed-axle trailers, man-made ponds and a variety of industry-standard tanks, with more being introduced daily.

Tank measurements from each sensor are uploaded via satellite to the cloud-based Karmic Energy app. The software can be securely accessed from a smartphone, tablet, laptop or any internet accessible device worldwide and provides the user with the ability to set a variety of tailored water-level alert thresholds, asset tracking, and movement alerts, as well as on-site weather forecasting, making the monitoring process easy, yet comprehensive. Administrators can grant users access to all monitored sites or a combination of multiple sites.

The Karmic Energy solution is available today for limited release, with general availability scheduled for the second quarter of 2015.

PALANTIR SOLUTIONS

Palantir Solutions announced the launch of a new reserves management and planning solution, PalantirRESERVES.

PalantirRESERVES is powered by PalantirDATAFLOW, a data management planning platform. Reserves Managers are now able to track changes to their reserves portfolio in real-time by simultaneously collecting inputs and analysis from the Reservoir Engineering team. The solution has the capabilities to tightly link the reserves reporting processes to ongoing operational and strategic functions within an Oil and Gas company.

Jason Ambrose, Managing Director of Palantir Solutions states "PalantirRESERVES was initiated as the original solution around PalantirDATAFLOW. The reserves reconciliation and reporting process is a critical process for O&G companies. We developed PalantirRESERVES because there were no solutions on the market that could incorporate data management with the reserves reconciliation and reporting process." The combination of the two tools creates a reserves management platform, allowing organizations to streamline the reserves planning process.

FOSTER WHEELER

Announced that one of its indirect wholly owned subsidiaries has completed the acquisition of MDM Engineering Group Limited ("MDM") on terms consistent with the merger implementation agreement entered into on March 12, 2014.

MDM will become part of the rapidly growing Minerals and Metals group within Foster Wheeler. MDM is a South African based provider of services from feasibility studies through to the engineering, procurement and construction phase.

Barclays acted as exclusive financial advisor and Latham and Watkins LLP and Conyers, Dill & Pearman acted as legal advisors to Foster Wheeler. GMP Securities acted as exclusive financial advisor and Memery Crystal LLP and Carey Olsen acted as legal advisors to MDM.

SCHLUMBERGER

Schlumberger has announced the release of the 2014 versions of its industry leading software platforms. The Petrel* E&P software platform, Techlog* wellbore software platform, Studio* E&P knowledge environment and Ocean* software development framework enhance multidisciplinary integration, collaboration and productivity.

Petrel 2014 features a new ribbon-based interface design configured in a logical, workflow-driven layout to boost productivity. Key tools are presented in context, enabling a more focused user environment. In addition, new 'perspectives' help geoscientists or engineers select a particular display that prioritizes relevant domain technologies and tools.

The new interface-tested in partnership with more than 30 Schlumberger customers-has reduced users' cursor travel by 30% and clicks by 35%, thus enabling an average of 30% more time to be focused on data and workflows.

Techlog 2014 introduces new modules for rock physics, cement pipe integrity, distributed temperature sensor (DTS) plotting and shale reservoir evaluation while bringing disciplines together in a shared wellbore approach. Customers can now standardize workflows across the hydrocarbon pathway-supporting their ability to make more informed decisions with a clear understanding of both opportunities and risks.

Studio 2014 is delivered with the Petrel platform and drives multidisciplinary collaboration. Users can find data in context, and optimally share and manage this information. New content display tools allow the preview of search results, and indexed Petrel windows are now available.

The 2014 Ocean software development framework release introduces Ocean for Studio. Leveraging the development framework with the Studio platform, best-in-class data workflows can be created and customers can design their own knowledge management systems.

KOBELCO KCA

Takaaki Hayata, President of KCA, Dottie Kaminsky, Mayor Pro Tem of La Porte, Texas, the La Porte Chamber of Commerce and city officials attended the groundbreaking ceremony celebrating the visible beginning of their new Houston service shop, a milestone for Kobelco Compressors America, Inc.

The much needed service center will provide quicker turn-around time to address the needs of Kobelco's primary customer base in Texas and the surrounding states. With the building's completion, customers will have closer and easier access to Kobelco's know-how, customer service, and compressor overhauls, ensuring reliable operation and optimum performance.

Development of the new facility matches Kobelco's mission statement, "To be a leading global provider of quality and innovative engineered compressor systems that deliver superior value for our customers, employees and investors."

CAMERON

Cameron has selected AUMA as a technology partner in developing the LEDEEN® line of electric actuation offerings for the worldwide oil and gas industry. This partnership helps complete Cameron's valve automation actuation product portfolio, providing customers with total package solutions, including LEDEEN electric, electrohydraulic, pneumatic, hydraulic, direct gas, gas-over-oil, subsea, and compact actuators.

AUMA is at the technology forefront and is a leading global manufacturer of electric actuators. AUMA is a privately held company, established for 50 years, with state-of-the-art facilities, research and development, engineering, and manufacturing worldwide.

Cameron is a leading provider of flow equipment products, systems, and services to worldwide oil, gas, and process industries. Leveraging its global manufacturing, engineering, and sales and service network, Cameron works with drilling contractors, oil and gas producers, pipeline operators, refiners, and other process owners to control, direct, adjust, process, measure, and compress pressures and flows.

CRAIG GROUP

Family owned shipping and energy services firm, Craig Group, has announced the launch of two new D-class IMT 950 Emergency Response and Rescue Vessels (ERRVs).

Part of a £70million investment plan for North Star Shipping which will see a total of six vessels delivered between 2014 and 2016, they have been named the Grampian Dynamic and the Grampian Dynasty and will create 48 new jobs.

Built at the Balenciaga Shipyard in Northern Spain, the vessels have secured contracts with North Sea Operators, commencing immediately following delivery from the shipyard.

50 metres in length, the vessels will be outfitted as a minimum with one daughter craft, one fast rescue craft and state of the art survival facilities. An additional two D-class vessels, the Grampian Deliverance and the Grampian Devotion will be launched by North Star Shipping in 2015, followed by two F-class IMT 958 multi-role ERRVs in early 2016, completing the investment plan.