North America

UTEC, a geo-services brand in Acteon’s data and robotics division, has launched ‘iSite Subsea’, a cloud-based platform which gives users an intuitive 360° visualisation of subsea assets and data.

It is developed from UTEC’s iSite collaborative virtual asset and data management platform and is specifically designed to meet the needs of the offshore renewable energy market and oil & gas subsea asset owners. Through iSite Subsea, users can source, view, manage and report on seabed, survey and asset data using a single secure cloud-based interface, enabling interrogation and comparison of data over time, remotely, 24/7 and without specialist software knowledge. Ultimately, this helps to reduce costs, lower risk, enhance health and safety, and deliver better informed decisions.

The new platform facilitates the digital delivery, throughout the lifecycle of a subsea asset, of geophysical, geotechnical, structural integrity monitoring, inspection, and maintenance surveys. It is designed to give developers and contractors access to the data they need to plan, evaluate, execute, and solve safety, environmental and risk scenarios. The end-to-end service delivery ensures that the latest data sets are always available to all users and eliminates the risk of double handling, incomplete data entries, multiple versions, and lost data/information.

“Energy customers have been using iSite to drive safety and efficiency, reducing costs on their above-water assets for more than 10 years,” said Paul Smith, Managing Director, UTEC. “We are now bringing the advantages of our product to the subsea market as a dedicated tool. iSite Subsea development has been driven by our customers’ needs. It is designed to help them reduce the time and costs associated with multiple visits, lower risk and achieve significant health and safety improvements through smart data management and interrogation tools that inform decisions.”

Global leader in well integrity and production optimisation, Coretrax, has successfully delivered its DAV MX circulation sub; a solution which will cool an estimated 400⁰C geothermal well bottom hole temperature by nearly 200⁰C in the US.

The solution was deployed during a planned closed-loop geothermal well project by a US operator, where the estimated bottom hole static temperature was 400⁰C. Operating at temperatures this high poses a high threat of equipment failure, so an effective and reliable ‘staging’ method was required in the hole to cool down the temperature-sensitive measurement while drilling (MWD) technology.

Staging is common practice for high temperature wellbores to prevent MED failures which normally involves pumping conventionally through the drill bit to cool the BHA. However, this method can result in the motor rotating the drill bit, causing possible damage in the cased and upper granite section as well as damage to the tech itself, meaning a more reliable method is required.

The application of Coretrax’s DAV MX delivered significant time savings while maintaining well integrity and improving safety. Estimated bottom hole temperatures were reduced from the estimated 400⁰C to 210⁰C. The tool was deployed with the Split Flow Dart, which allowed a limited flow through the motor and drill bit, reducing the rotations per minute while delivering high flow rate to effectively cool the BHA and borehole.

John Fraser, Chief Executive Officer, Coretrax, said, “The geothermal market has experienced significant growth in recent years in response to global environmental objectives and Coretrax already has a tangible track record in supporting these developments globally. Our range of downhole circulation tools are ideally placed to support the high temperatures and complexities of geothermal wells.

“The latest project is a strong example of how technology which has traditionally been applied to oil and gas operations can support this expanding sector to address the most complex well challenges while delivering enhanced reliability and greater efficiencies.”

The downhole circulation tool can be used across a wide range of applications including hole cleaning, displacements, lost circulation material spotting and blowout preventer jetting, among others.

Intelligent Wellhead Systems (IWS), a supplier of digital technologies that improve oil and gas well completion operations, has welcomed Shiblee Hashem to the executive management team as Vice President of Operations.

In his new role, Hashem will lead the growing operations team, including the regional managers and US facilities teams, and work closely with the COO to drive the company’s transformational strategies to meet financial goals.

Hashem brings more than 25 years of oil and gas consulting and operations management experience and throughout his career, he has worked closely with some of the largest independent and national oil companies in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, North and South America, and North, East and West Africa. Drawing upon this extensive experience, he offers a diverse professional background in both executive and technical management. Prior to joining IWS, he held senior management positions with AccessESP (a Baker Hughes Company) and Halliburton.

The new member of the executive management team belongs to the Project Management Institute (PMI) and the US Gulf Coast Section of the SPE. He is currently serving as the Program Chairperson of the SPE’s Bangladesh Section.

Based in Houston, Hashem reports to Steve Sinclair-Smith, Chief Executive Officer of IWS.

Hashem commented, “Safety and efficiency have always been part of the IWS mission. As the company grows in 2023, our focus is on delivering the highest service quality while maintaining safe and efficient operations.”

In other news, Pason Systems has increased its non-controlling investment in IWS through the acquisition of outstanding common shares of IWS for an aggregate purchase price of US$7.9mn and an agreement to invest up to US$25mn in preferred shares of IWS.

There was also cause for celebration when the company’s inVision Digital Valve Control technology received a Special Meritorious Award for Engineering Innovation (MEA) in the Digitalization category from Hart Energy.

As the focus on environmental sustainability has never been more prevalent across all industries than it is right now, the race is on to find long-term renewable solutions to the climate crisis.  Operators across the globe are trying to make their innovations in the oil and gas industry as green as possible, but that is not an easy stepping-stone to overcome.

Geothermal energy could be the answer so many are looking for. It is a method of clean energy which bridges the gap between the oil and gas industry and renewable energy sources in order to reach net zero. The US has already increased federal funding by millions of dollars in 2022 alone to widen the scope of geothermal projects up and down the country, tapping into the underutilized potential beneath our feet.

A key area of interest within the geothermal industry is that of repurposing end-of-life oil and gas wells. Geothermal companies can turn these assets back into active wells, only producing a slightly different end-product, negating the need for decommissioning services and the associated costs.  Operators can turn their liabilities into profitable assets at a quarter of the cost while producing green energy.

In spite of the benefits associated with geothermal, there are a number of issues holding the industry back from becoming a mainstream alternative. For one, the extortionate upfront costs associated with starting geothermal projects from scratch prove a wall too vast to climb in most instances, as well as the technological challenges that present themselves when working with temperatures of this calibre.

Nevertheless, advanced methods and technologies are working at mitigating against the challenges posed by geothermal extraction, using expertise from the oil and gas industry to finesse already existing drilling equipment in order to marry the industries together to be able to harness a green energy source born from an oil well.

Read the free report, including expert opinions and an analysis of the oil market, here.  

Trendsetter Engineering Inc. has been awarded a contract to support the development of Beacon Offshore Energy LLC’s Shenandoah project in the Gulf of Mexico.

The awarded scope includes a multi-year rental and servicing agreement for the provision of a 20,000 psi Subsea Well Intervention package, with the system delivery expected for Q3 2023.

Trendsetter’s TRIDENT intervention systems provide an innovation solution for subsea well interventions, suitable for offshore mobilisation to a vessel of opportunity and capable of rapid re-configuration to facilitate hydraulic, riser-less light well and risered medium well subsea intervention operations.

“We are excited to extend our partnership with Beacon and support its Shenandoah development,” said Mike Cargol, Vice President of Intervention Solutions, Trendsetter.

“This award reaffirms Trendsetter’s commitment to the industry for innovative, safe and cost-effective HPHT well control and well intervention systems, building upon our successes with the 15,000 psi TRIDENT system and multiple 20,000 psi well control response packages delivered in recent years.”

Trendsetter’s involvement with the Shenandoah field projects extends beyond the implementation of the intervention system. Earlier this year, the company was also awarded contracts to deliver components of the subsea production and export equipment, including a six-slot production manifold, subsea valves, and Trendsetter’s own TCS connectors.

Chevron Corporation has announced a joint venture with Baseload Capital to develop geothermal projects in the US.

Through its Chevron New Energies business, the two companies will collaborate on driving geothermal opportunities, including identifying locations with the best prospect for development and streamlining the next generation of geothermal technologies from conception to commercialisation. The agreement will allow the two companies to highlight the importance of geothermal energy and raise awareness on the criticality of it as a supply option.

Chevron and Baseload Capital believe the answer to reaching a low-carbon future is through the utilisation of all energy forms working together, and geothermal will provide a reliable source of baseload power which will be a critical element in developing future energy systems. The joint venture will leverage the two companies’ operational experience, combined with core competencies from the oil and gas sector, particularly surrounding subsurface, wells, drilling and completions to advance geothermal technologies.

The first project site has already been identified as Weepah Hills, Nevada. Previous geothermal research and exploration projects already exist in Esmerelda County, and the two companies will pursue development of these going forward.

Barbara Harrison, Vice President, Offsets and Emerging, Chevron New Energies, said, “We believe that to make the geothermal ecosystem a reality, we must take these important steps through collaboration and partnership, and this example with Baseload Capital is a great start towards pursuing our lower carbon goals for the future.”

CEO of Baseload Capital, Alexander Helling, commented, “It is time for the geothermal industry to take its place as an obvious part of the energy mix. Right now, everything is in the industry’s favour to move from niche to mainstream.

“We have no time to waste and no excuse for not picking up the pace here and now. Together with Chevron, we believe that the transition to a greener planet, with the help of geothermal, is going to be much faster.”

Technology firm BeyonC has been selected to join Chevron Technology Ventures’ (CTV) Catalyst Programme, an initiative to help start-up companies enhance their technologies in order to benefit the energy sector.

The programme acts as an incentive for BeyonC to further develop its proprietary technology designed to improve the safety of subsea inspections all the while reducing carbon emissions, improving asset reliability and reducing costs.

The BeyonC technology platform has been shown to dramatically reduce CO2 footprints with its mini-ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicles) when it comes to providing asset integrity data, as opposed to surveys carried out by large offshore vessels. The technology supplies CP status and visual surveys for offshore installations, mapping the integrity status for offshore facilities and providing operators with decision-data.

With its patent-pending technology, BeyonC will target oil and gas pipelines and plans to deliver the first offshore wind integrity survey in 2023.

From its launch in 2017, the CTV Catalyst Programme aims to accerlate the maturation of early-stage companies which show promise in creating technologies that will prove beneficla to the energy industry. By joining the programme and meeting the milestones head on, BeyonC will be presented the opportunity to have its technology commercialised and complete trials with global operators.

Thomas Sperle, Chief Executive Officer, BeyonC, said, “We are proud and excited to join the CTV Catalyst programme. This is a major recognition from the industry that we expect will enable BeyonC to accelerate development and commercialisation of our propriety and unique technology. We are delighted that out technology-focused approach has been recognised by Chevron Technology Ventures and we look forward to counting collaborations in the next phase of our growth and development.”

The omens for the offshore decommissioning market are looking positive as the industry prepares for 2023 and all that it has in store.

While a turbulent geopolitical environment has caused market fluctuations over the last few years (with Covid restrictions giving way to war in eastern Europe), a healthy oil price has been enjoyed through most of 2022, which is expected to settle in short- to medium-term. In addition, the pandemic revealed more than ever the pressing concerns around the fragile nature of our environment and has spurred the energy industry to promote sustainable practices wherever possible. In the case of the latter in the offshore world, there has been a renewed focus on decommissioning responsibilities, to ensure operators leave their stomping grounds as tidy and climate-friendly as possible.

Such concerns have been expounded by developments in Australia where the ongoing decommissioning of the Northern Endeavour FPSO (and the controversy around the trailing liabilities attached to it) has pushed this issue even more to the fore. The understanding of the forthcoming decommissioning wave has never been so developed, and the perception that we must get ahead of this, lest we get swept away by it, is sharp. By example, a recent report by Offshore Energies UK indicated that around the UK more than 2,000 North Sea wells are to be decommissioned at a cost of around UK£20bn. OEUK Decommissioning Manager, Ricky Thomson, said, “The UK’s decommissioning sector is snowballing and will continue growing for years to come.”

Fortunately, a healthy oil price and an ever-growing demand for oil and gas is filling the coffers of operators across the globe, making the burden of end-of-life activities easier to bare. Owing to these developments, industry reports are indicating that the global offshore decommissioning market will experience a strong growth in the immediate and long-term future. One report published by Visiongain, for instance, has forecasted that the market (which it valued at US$10.275bn) will grow at a CAGR of 6.5% between 2023 and 2033.

The opportunity to capitalise here is a tantalising one, with Thomson adding that with right government support the decommissioning challenge can be turned into gain, with the potential to create thousands of jobs. Indeed, many in the industry are not ignorant of this opportunity but are making moves to capitalise on this potentially lucrative market. At the end of 2022, for example, Harbour Energy, ConocoPhillips, Spirit Energy and Repsol Sinopec formed a well decommissioning collaborative initiative in conjunction with the Net Zero Technology Centre (NTZC). The initiative will enable new technologies to be trialled and tested in collaborative field trials enabling faster, lower-cost trials and wider industry adoption.

So, while no one knows for certain what 2023 will hold for the decommissioning sector, the strong position it has started the year in is a positive sign for its future growth and development in years to come.