• More by Author
• Comments
• Send to a Friend
• Print

The Wireless Vibration Sensor is an innovative system consisting of cost-efficient, high quality sensor units that communicate their measurements wirelessly to a central unit. The small, autonomous sensor unit is mounted onto a motor. The unit itself comprises a vibration sensor (accelerometer), a temperature sensor, and the means for wireless communication to a central computer. The computer system, in turn, performs the necessary data analysis and storage and makes the data available to potential users.

The shape of the prototype sensor is cylindrical with a small diameter less than 1.5 in. and a height of less than 4 in. It has a threaded hole on the bottom side for mounting on a motor close to a bearing. The shape and size are similar to traditional rugged wired accelerometers used in the industry. The frequency response of the device should ideally be flat up to 10 kHz, making the device ideal for early detection of bearing failures.
The data is communicated over the air using the recently approved WirelessHART standard, securing interoperability with other products and systems. Data sent between the sensors and the central computer is authenticated and encrypted thereby safe-guarding the integrity of the system.
The wireless vibration sensor prototype is deveolped together with SKF and SINTEF under a program sponsored by the Research Council of Norway.

Baker Hughes Developed RAM Rotatable Self-Aligning Multilateral System

The RAM Rotatable Self-Aligning Multilateral System offers a solution worldwide for extended-reach multilateral wells where getting liners to bottom may require continuous rotation. Based on the field-proven HOOK Hanger platform and developed in collaboration with an international oil company, the RAM system is the first – and thus far, only – multilateral system that allows continuous rotation of the lateral liner while simultaneously and reliably landing a completion system that can mechanically support the lateral junction.
The RAM system combines simplicity and operational efficiency to deliver reliable multilateral junctions for widely-used Level 3 and Level 5 completions. It provides mechanical support for, selective control of, and access to all lateral junctions that join cased and cemented main bores with screened or lined open-hole laterals in wells with commingled production.
The RAM system was initially developed and first successfully installed on Alaska’s North Slope in 2007. An offshore RAM installation is pending in the North Sea in early 2008, followed by applications in the Middle East.

Cubility’s MudCube™ Provides Effective Treatment of Drilling Fluids

MudCube™ is a patented step change system for cleaning of fluids. MudCube rotates a continuous screen belt, and return drilling fluid will always enter into the clean screen. It operates as a processing unit, and gives the fluids and cuttings a milder treatment. No mechanical force is given to the screen. This gives the fluids the best environment to be separated in a closed under-pressurized system.
Drilling fluid enters the rotating screen and the bindings between the solid and the fluid is broken when fluid passes one or more apertures with vacuum beneath the screen. This under pressure will effectively vacuum the fluids through the screen and into a closed-loop fluid system. The vacuum degasses the fluid in the fluid system and the gases are evacuated to a designated area or existing vent line. The solids are transported to the end of the screen-belt path, where it will fall off, and will be a dry mass before leaving the machine, then, the screen is cleaned by air knife.
The MudCube system has been tested in a full scale test loop at StatoilHydro / Cubility test centre.
The MudCube have very low weight, high capacity, wide operation window, very low noise and vibrations, no gas or oil vapor in the working atmosphere.

Delmar Systems, Inc. Uses OMNI-Max™ Anchor for MODU Mooring

The Delmar OMNI-Max™ Anchor (US Patent #7,059,263) is a gravity-installed vertically loaded anchor (VLA) for MODU moorings that offers unique performance characteristics not found in other deepwater anchor foundations. The OMNI-Max is capable of being loaded in any direction, 360º around the axis of the anchor. Under extreme loading and uplift angle conditions, the anchor will penetrate deeper into the soil to gain the needed capacity.
This anchor technology offers great benefit in design of mooring systems that reduce risk to subsea infrastructure in the event of station-keeping damage or even failure. This technology may even allow damaged moorings to survive longer in the event of multiple line failure since the load angle can change without the capacity of the foundation being adversely affected.
The first OMNI-Max anchor installation for offshore oil and gas use in the Gulf of Mexico was completed on 30 December 2007. This marks the first time a gravity-installed VLA has been successfully deployed for offshore OCS use in the Gulf of Mexico.

EVDT Enables Efficient Development of Ultra-deepwater Fields

FMC Technologies’ Enhanced Vertical Deepwater Tree (EVDT) is setting a new global standard for vertical completion systems. As a slimbore subsea completion system designed to provide large bore system capabilities, the EVDT has the capability to accommodate 7 in. tubing completions and pressures up to 15,000 psi within a 13 5/8 in. BOP stack, making it the industry’s most economic and versatile subsea completion system.
The EVDT has a number of innovative features that provide versatility, installation savings, and operational efficiency to the development of ultra-deepwater fields. 
The EVDT allows ultra-deepwater completions to be performed from a small drilling rig containing the surface blow out preventer (BOP), thus avoiding the need for expensive rigs during completion. This can yield savings of up to $15 million per well.
The tubing hanger can be installed using a tubing head when flexibility for sequencing of events is required during offshore installations. Or, it can simply land into the wellhead, eliminating the tubing head. This allows for a more efficient installation when completion and drilling operations are conducted without retrieving the subsea BOP and riser.
The EVDT incorporates a retrievable flow module and flow meter in its design, reducing production downtime for maintenance and meter replacement from days to hours.
Developed by a multi-national team to global standards, the EVDT can be produced at any of FMC Technologies’ manufacturing facilities worldwide.

Versabuild’s Bottom Feeder Lifts Platforms From Seabed

Deployed for the first time in June 2007, a new heavy lift system designed, built, and operated by, an affiliate of Versabar, completed the task of retrieving six hurricane toppled platform topsides from the seabed. Each of the eight-leg topsides was retrieved as single lifts with peak lift weights of up to 1,600 tons. The decks were set onto cargo barges and scrapped onshore. This approach compared to small-piece removal, results in reduced personnel exposure offshore and is extremely cost-effective.
This new lift system, nicknamed the “Bottom Feeder,” has a rated lifting capacity of 4,000 tons and was designed, built, and commissioned within a period of 12 months. The Bottom Feeder has a number of unique features that make it well suited to heavy lift salvage operations. Four independent lift blocks provide an excellent degree of control during lifting operations, an essential requirement when lifting large unbalanced structures where accurate weight data is not available, as well as structures resting on the seabed at varying degrees of out-of-level. As an example, some of the lifts for the system included topsides sitting upside down on the seabed.

Well Miller® Reverse Circulating Bit to Re-establish Full Flow Conditions

The Well Miller® Reverse Circulating Bit (RCB) is best described as a tunnel power drill. The E-line equipment is built to reestablish flow in well bores by milling out hard materials and retrieving them to surface. The Well Miller®RCB is able to establish full flow conditions by drilling through even the hardest materials. Unique in the world of E-line interventions is the ability to both drill out and remove cuttings to surface, which is truly a breakthrough technology.
The Well Miller® RCB is operated in conjunction with the field proven Well Tractor® that provides weight on bit and controls the reactive torque of the drilling process. The tool consists of a basic rotational unit (BRU) including electronics, pressure compensator, and electric motor sections. The BRU drives an impeller, which creates the vacuum flow to circulate through the liquid environment tool “dragging” sand into the 0.5 in. intake holes where it will deposit in the sand trap bailers. Depending on the configuration of the tool, a different number of bailer sections can be mounted.
Interventions can be performed in a rig-less environment and with its unique ability to operate exceptionally localized with E-line depth control, the Well Miller® RCB ensures that wells are quickly restored to production.

Livhydromash Launches New Products Unique pumping unit

Pumping unit N1V 14/80 is designed by Livhydromash specialists. It is intended for pumping of stock-tank oil from drainage tanks installed at the ESPO pipeline, and complies with the highest operational requirements in the world:
Pump pressure up to 100 kgf/sq. cm;
Climatic version UHL1 (ambient temperature from minus 60 С to 40 С, installation at the outdoor site (no shed is needed);
Seismicity level – 10 points.
Special frost-resistant steel, special lubricants and paint-and-lacquer coatings were used in the unit design. Pervomaisk electromechanical plant manufactured explosion-proof electric motors in the climatic version UHL1. The pumping unit is a vertical semi-submersible helical rotor pump attached to a strong bearing flange (plate) which acts as a drainage tank throat cap. A hood with electric motor having power N-55 kW, n-1000 RPM is installed on the top of the bearing flange. The pumping unit operates intermittently as the drainage tank is filled, and is turned on at back pressure up to 100 kgf/sq. cm. The pump delivery is 8 cu. m/h. The pump design uses rolling bearings of SKF, axial face seal of Mega-TechCom (city of Stary Oskol) rated for pressure 100 kgf/sq. cm. In order to extend the range of dimension types, in addition to the pumps rated for pressure 100 kgf/sq. cm, the company has designed pumps rated for 10, 40 and 63 kgf/sq. cm.
Range of dimension types of two-screw pumps has been extended
Livhydromash has developed manufacturing of two largest dimension types of two-screw pumps previously manufactured at the plant. The prerequisite for designing of these pumps was not only extension of the dimension type range, but also market needs for the pumps designed for the specified parameters. These pumps are already operating at several petroleum refineries. There are no analogs of Russian manufacture at present. The pumps are designed for pumping of petroleum products (oil, black oil, diesel fuel, mineral oil), and oil-contaminated water. They are installed at the oil terminals, petroleum refineries, oil tankers, oil-transfer stations. The pumps can be also used as multiphase pumps for transportation of oil-containing gas and solids.
Maximum temperature of the transported liquid –150 С.
Maximum viscosity of the transported liquid – 1,500 cSt.
Electric motor power – 400 kW.
Delivery: 400-450 cu.m/h.
Pressure: from 16 to 20 kgf/sq. cm.
Unit weight: not more than 5,180 kg.

• More by Author
• Comments
• Send to a Friend
• Print