Drill Bits News

 

Get ready for a new phase of West African development

Apr 16, 2013

Exploration is expanding from West Africa’s Sierra Leone to Namibia, explains Bruce Nichols, led by sustained high oil prices, improving technology, relative political stability and a more supportive operating environment. Cobalt’s potentially…

Conical diamond technology

Apr 16, 2013

Smith Bits, a Schlumberger company, introduced the Stinger conical diamond technology last month. The bit features an ultrathick polycrystalline diamond layer that is thicker than conventional PDC cutters. The Stinger element enables high-point loading to fracture rock more efficiently…

Varel spins patented technology

Mar 20, 2013

The last few months have been busy ones for Varel International. The Texas-based drill bit manufacturer celebrated the opening of its Houston technology center and also launched two drill bit lines, the Raider and the Voyager series…

Reducing risk to maximize drilling performance

Nov 01, 2012

To meet drilling challenges, such as hole sections with long steep inclinations and severe doglegs, the keystone of a new drilling campaign offshore Thailand includes use of rotary steerable systems instead of the downhole motors traditionally used there…

Customized bits boost pre-salt rates of penetration

Sep 01, 2012

Customized bits enabled Petrobras to successfully drill hard carbonates of pre-salt reservoirs and hard and interbedded post-salt formations of two different offshore wells, while at the same time lowering vibrations, increasing rates of penetration…

Ulterra

May 27, 2012

Ulterra opened a stock point for its matrix and steel body PDC bits in Hammond, Louisiana, last month. Overseen by Rob Smith, and strategically located just 46 miles east of Baton Rouge and 58 miles northwest of New Orleans, the new facility will support Gulf Coast drilling operations.

Liner technology comes of age

Apr 01, 2012

Nearly 11 years after Weatherford first commercially deployed drilling-with-casing, the service company is still testing the limits of where and how the technology can be helpful when it comes to overcoming wellbore instability. Jennifer Pallanich catches…

Products in action

Dec 02, 2011

TORXS saves a well Baker Hughes has introduced an expandable liner hanger system that the company says is the only system of its type that is installed and released prior to a cement job, eliminating the risk of running tools becoming fixed in place during cementing…

Getting smarter and safer

Oct 01, 2011

Securing safe, smart, sustainable supply' provided the theme for SPE Offshore Europe, the biennial Aberdeen conference and exhibition that continues to bring in the crowds. A record-setting 32,025 unique visitors attended September's show. OE's Jennifer Pallanich…

Firms and faces - OE June 2011

Jun 08, 2011

Rowan Companies is selling all its shares in manufacturing subsidiary LeTourneau Technologies to Joy Global in a $1.1 billion cash deal. Rowan acquired LeTourneau, which built the majority of Rowan's jackup rig fleet, in 1994. Rowan president…

Firms & Faces - OE May 2011

May 01, 2011

Greene's Energy Group has opened an operational base in Singapore to serve the company's Asia Pacific region. The 140,000ft2 location includes offices, a warehouse and heavy equipment yard space, and will provide a regional base for all of Greene's business divisions…

Products in action - OE April 2011

Apr 02, 2011

Integrated approachIn the works for some time, Halliburton's Optimized Drilling Performance (ODP) approach is aimed at improving drilling efficiency and saving drilling time. ‘We've evolved this workflow over a few years,' said Jeremy ‘Jez' Greenwood…

Core solution

Mar 02, 2011

Coring practices and equipment used in the Gulf of Mexico's Lower Tertiary needed to adapt to formation conditions to improve on past recovery success. Petrobras' James Meyer opens OE's drilling & completion technology two-parter with a review…

Integrated drilling dynamics control - are we there yet?

Mar 02, 2011

Drilling system vibration was recognized as a potential cause of elevated drilling costs half a century ago. It has been thoroughly studied in the years since, and sound mitigation practices have been published. Shell's Mark Dykstra discusses the state of the art…

Time under the microscope

May 20, 2010

Non-productive time (NPT) associated with control systems software and hardware integration remains a significant drain on high-spec offshore asset costs, according to a study released last month.The study, by the Athens Group and ModuSpec,…

Current News

Talos Energy Makes Leadership Team Changes

Talos Energy Makes Leadership

SOVs – Analyzing Current, Future Demand Drivers

SOVs – Analyzing Current, Futu

Equinor Cleared for Drilling Ops at Johan Castberg Field with Transocean Enabler Rig

Equinor Cleared for Drilling O

Skanska Set for South Brooklyn Marine Terminal Buildout

Skanska Set for South Brooklyn

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