Another Patent Awarded...

Today, I was doing research for an upcoming project that involved compiling a list of patents, either issued or filed for, that I am listed as an inventor on.

Through this process, I was able to determine that another patent has been issued here in the US. This brings the total up to 3 issued in the US. I think as of right now, at least one of those has also been issued in the EU and Canada.

That leaves about 6 still pending. At least for what has been filed so far.

The patent I m referring to today is:

Sweep Efficiency for Hole Cleaning | US Patent No. 9759645

Babelfish are Here!!!!!

Google has finally brought us the Babelfish! For $159 US?

We are the next step closer to a universal translator. I want this! I want to be nosy around people speaking foreign languages...I want to be able to communicate with most people I encounter on travels. I would have loved to have this back when I was traveling the world for work!

But the most intriguing feature of the Pixel Buds is the integrated Google Translate feature. Demoed on stage at Google's event today, this feature lets two Pixel Bud wearers chat in their native languages by translating conversations in real-time. In the demo, a native English speaker and a native Swedish speaker had a conversation with each other, both using their native languages. Google Translate in the Buds' translated the English phrases into Swedish, and the Swedish phrases into English, for each user. There was barely any lag time in between the speaker saying a phrase and the Buds' hearing those words and translating them into the appropriate language.

Read the full article, "Google Pixel Buds are wireless earbuds that translate conversations in real time" at  Ars Technica.

DW MPD Retrofits: On the rise...

This is turning into a trend...surprised it hasn't been explored in detail before. My thoughts are that it was depending on waiting to ensure the risers could handle the extra pressure and service providers / manufacturers getting their equipment right for the application.

This is  the next step in overcoming challenges of difficult formations in deepwater and advancing drilling automation.

https://www.spe.org/en/jpt/jpt-article-detail/?art=2610&mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiTkdRMk5HVXpaREl5WVdWbCIsInQiOiJpb2NxR2wrb09QVndiTUhka0MxUTFBZGtWcFFBamFZQnNSR3pVS21wbGhIXC91Q3NKQUJqUWM5NHB4M1VCR3JTdVB6ZzlJRmo5QUtaRytGb2VoRG9lVm0wdERLN0d3TEpVTWpTVytnbzVxbFJnREVMWTVZd2M4YjRXNE55RVZOQkIifQ%3D%3D

Halliburton-Baroid Selected for OTC 2016 Spotlight Award

Hey! Guess what?!? We got an award! This is for our automated Real Time Density and Rheology Unit. This is some of the stuff I have been working on for the last 5 years.

OTC picks 2016 Spotlight winners - OE Digital:

The Offshore Technology Conference (OTC), which takes place 2–5 May 2016 in Houston, announces that 13 technologies will receive the 2016 Spotlight on New Technology Award. The awards will be presented at 1600 hours, 2 May, in the NRG Center Rotunda Lobby.

The Spotlight on New Technology Awards—a program for OTC exhibitors—showcases the latest and most advanced hardware and software technologies that are leading the industry into the future.

Spotlight Winners for 2016:

• AFGlobal Corporation, producer of Riser Gas Handling (RGH) System
• Baker Hughes, producer of Integrity eXplorer Cement Evaluation Service
• FMC Technologies, producer of InLine ElectroCoalescer (IEC)
• GE Oil & Gas, producer of SeaPrime I Subsea MUX BOP Control System
• Halliburton, producer of BaraLogix Density and Rheology Unit (DRU)
• Lankhorst Ropes, producer of LankoDeep - Soft Rope Systems
• Oceaneering International, producer of Remote Piloting and Automated Control Technology
• OES Oilfield Services Group, producer of DOPP
• OneSubsea, producer of OneSubsea AquaWatcher Water Analysis Sensor
• OneSubsea, producer of OneSubsea HyFleX Subsea Tree System
• SkoFlo Industries, producer of Subsea Back Pressure Regulator Valve
• Teledyne Oil & Gas, producer of Electrical Optical Flying Lead (EOFL)

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What is ECD?: A Primer on What Affects Equivalent Circulating Density

I am cross-posting this between between my personal blog, Oilfield, Tech, and Stuff and the LinkedIn Pulse article system.

It appears to me that most people involved with drilling wells have a basic understanding of what Equivalent Circulating Density or ECD is. While having a basic understanding, most do not have a realize the different factors that affect ECD. So, I will detail below the main categories that effect ECD and provide a high-level explanation of how they achieve this.

I am also including a Three Letter Acronym (TLA) Dictionary for the terms used in this article due to sheer abundance of TLAs used in the Oilfield and so the casual reader can understand what they stand for.

TLA Dictionary:

TLA	Full Name	Category	Sub-Category 1	Sub-Category 2	Sub-Category 3	Sub-Category 4
ECD	Equivalent Circulating Density	Drilling	Fluids	Cementing	Tubulars	Geomechanics
ESD	Equivalent Static Density	Drilling	Fluids	Cementing	Tubulars	Geomechanics
IEF	Invert Emulsion Fluid	Drilling	Fluids	Geomechanics	Cementing
PV	Plastic Viscosity	Drilling	Fluids	Cementing
YP	Yield Point	Drilling	Fluids	Cementing
TVD	True Vertical Depth	Drilling	Fluids	Cementing	Tubulars	Geomechanics

The main categories that influence ECD are: 

• Flow Geometry
• Fluid Resistance to Flow
• Pressure of Flow
• Fluid Density
• Fluid Temperature 
• Acquired Solids

Flow Geometry - Bore hole geometry introduces pressure loss based on drag on the fluid as it passes through the various components of the fluid flow path (Standpipe, Drillstring Components, Open Hole, Casing, etc.) and hydrostatic pressure based on the True Vertical Depth (TVD)  of the point in question.

Fluid Resistance to Flow -  Resistance to flow is related to the rheology of the fluid. While the Plastic Viscosity (or PV) and Yield Point (or YP) play a part in the rheology, they are only a general measurement and are more accurate for quantifying a Newtonian fluid​, such as water, than a non-Newtonian fluid such as Invert Emulsion Fluids or IEF. On the other hand, the Herschel-Bulkley n, k, and Tau Zero calculations better represent an IEF for rheological purposes.

Pressure of Flow - The pressure at which a fluid is being forced to flow (pump pressure) has a big impact on ECD. The higher the pump pressure, the higher the ECD in most cases.

Fluid Density - Fluid density, by definition, is a main component of ECD and ESD.

Fluid Temperature - Fluid Temperature affects ECD due to thermal expansion in IEF. When the fluid heats up, the base fluid, usually some form of biological, natural, or synthetic oil, expands, thus resulting in more volume of base fluid per given amount of weighting material, resulting in a lower density overall for the fluid. BUT, when taken into account with the TVD portion of the geometry aspect, hydrostatic pressure also compresses the same base fluid, so both parameters need to be taken into account when calculating ECD.

Acquired Solids - Acquired solids are the final component discussed today. From a drilling perspective, this is drilled cuttings and or formation cavings that have been liberated from the formation and  carried in the fluid column.

I hope this helps to promote understanding of what factors influence ECD. Please  respond in the comments to let me know if this information is helpful. 

EDITED: The factors covered above are the basic influences and assume a vertical hole and does not address Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) or the effect of drillstring rotation (RPM). MPD involves applying back pressure to the wellbore via the choke to maintain hydrostatic pressure on the wellbore. RPM has a minimal effect compared to the main factors detailed above. Drillstring Eccentricity (the drillstring's displacement from the center of the wellbore towards the wall of the wellbore, mostly seen in deviated/horizontal hole.)

Greenpeace boards rig heading for Barents Sea

I was going to comment that it should be fairly easy to get them off of the rig, but after doing some quick research, it's not that easy.

According to this answer about boarding a vessel without the captain;s permission, "boarding a ship without the permission of the captain or an officer or crewmember designated by him is a violation of international maritime law". It goes on to say that such boarders can be considered stowaways at minimum or even be charged for piracy in some countries, as this same group was last year in the Pechora Sea.


The point that makes it difficult, though, is that if the boarding occurs "...for the purposes of saving a life, preventing a personal injury or property damage...", then it is not considered piracy. I can already see claims that they were preventing damage to the Artic region.
The other point is that it would also make for bad publicity if the boarders were treated badly. 
Statoil said in a statement it wouldn't drill into oil reserves of the targeted Hoop area in the Barents Sea until a complaint from Greenpeace has been assessed by the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment






Greenpeace boards rig heading for Barents Sea:

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How YOU Can 'Stick It To The Man'!

You may or may not have ever had thoughts of getting one over on the government...other than whatever deductions you can take on your taxes. There are many ways that you can 'Stick It" as evidenced by the list described by the CNI Blog.

 I picked my favorite ones to discuss here. I didn't invent the ideas I cover below, but I believe in them.


Save your money instead of spending it.

     If you don't spend your money, you don't have to pay taxes on it again. If you don't spend your money, you have it available in case of emergencies. If you don't spend you money, you have a resource that can enable you to purchase something if a great deal suddenly pops up. (yeah, I know, kinda like a Yogi statement.)

Pay cash for your car. 

     This one also deals with not spending your money, just that it may not be as obvious. If you pay cash for your car, you are buying what you can afford to spend. You don't have to worry if you suddenly lose your job or illness or disaster hits your family leaving you unable to pay a car note. You also don't have to worry about the extra money that you have to pay for the privilege of using a bank or finance association (interest).

Become self employed.  

     There is no better way to stick it to the man if the man happens to be your boss or the company that you work for. Tired of watching them make wrong decisions? Tired them killing innovation? Tired of short-sighted management practices? Start your own business and show them how it should be done!

Learn how to follow the rules.  

     By learning to follow the rules, you learn what the rules are. By knowing what the rules are, you know how far you can push the envelope. These days, it seems that the only way to succeed is by pushing the envelope further than most people are willing to go, while still staying within the rules.

Don't get on the government dole. 

     This one is PARAMOUNT! If you are existing on government money, then you have no freedom to do what you want. They want for you to think you have freedom, but the whole while, they restrict what you can do, where, & when you can do it. Plus, there is a certain satisfaction in knowing that you did it on your own!

Code Name Insight: 10 Ways to 'Stick It To The Man':

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RFID Tracking in the Oilfield

RFID tracking has lots of uses in lots of places these days. A Norwegian firm is bringing a drillpipe tracking solution to market for commercial use in the oilfield. The technology was developed as part of a Joint Industry Project with ENI, Statoil, and ConocoPhillips.

For those of you who aren't sure what this means or what this is about, here are some key terms and ideas:


Drillpipe - this is the term used for the pipe that drilling rigs use to drill wellbores. multiple "joints" of drillpipe are connected together by threaded ends to create the drillstring. This conveys the bottom hole assembly (BHA) down the wellbore to drill the rock.
 

Drillstring fatigue - Since drillstring lengths can be upwards of 40,000 feet long, the combined weight of all of the drill pipe and the BHA can be many thousands of pounds. Running the drillstring in and out of the wellbore stretches the metal in the drillpipe and weakens it, causing drillstring fatigue.

Drillpipe is normally rented or owned by drilling contrators such as Transocean, Ensco, Stena, or Maersk. Manual tracking of this drillpipe activity gives an idea of how many times and how much stress lots of drillpipe may have been under, but is not always accurate.

With RFID tracking, companies will be able to implement "Cradle to Grave" tracking of individual joints of drillpipe, thus enabling better predictability of drillstring fatigue, since they will know exactly how many times each joint of drillpipe has been run and exactly how much strain it has been under.

You can read the original article from Rigzone at the link below.

RIGZONE - Statoil, Trac ID Deal Marks Breakthrough for RFID in Upstream Industry:

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Extra Knowledge

Most land wells in "Shale Plays" are drilled to depths of 8,000 - 12,000 feet.

Wells drilled on land, inland waters, or the outer continental shelf can be upwards of 20,000 feet deep.

Wells drilled in the deepwater arena regularly are 20,000 - 30,000 feet deep, with some approaching 40,000 feet and some upcoming wells are planned for 50,000 feet. That's almost 10 miles!

Annular Volume Calculator

Below is an annular volume calculator that I created on FormLoop.com. It allows you to build formulas and save them, then create widgits using those formulas to paste into your web page (in an iFrame). Try it out & let me know what you think.

Strategy For Startups: The Innovator’s Dilemma | TechCrunch

This is a TechCrunch article on how to be successful as a "disruptive" startup...Interesting strategy...I like it a lot. Start out tackling your competitor's least profitable or smallest segment of the business and disrupt it by being successful with lower overhead or by doing it better or whatever...then capture all of the market share for that segment. The competitor will not feel obligated to spend money to hang on to it's least profitable segment, so it gives it up.

Next, you go after it's next smallest/least profitable segment...WASH / RINSE / REPEAT!



Strategy For Startups: The Innovator’s Dilemma | TechCrunch:

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Six Powerful Web Tools For Getting Unusual Things Done, From Audio Editing To File Conversion | Fast Company

A Fast Company article on cool web-based tools that replace what used to be strictly desktop applications.


Six Powerful Web Tools For Getting Unusual Things Done, From Audio Editing To File Conversion | Fast Company:

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What Do You Do?

Here are a couple of links to some stuff that describes what I do. The first tells about the service and the second is a case history from early 2010.

Baroid's Applied Fluids Optimization Service
AFO Services Overview

AFO Case History
UK North Sea Case History (pdf)

Just in case you were wondering...

Feel free to contact me for more information.